The Black School Soccer Corridor of Fame in downtown Atlanta was abuzz with celebration and historical past on Saturday evening throughout its sixteenth annual induction ceremony.
Honored was a brand new class of legends whose achievements have formed the legacy of HBCU soccer.
A Night time of Honors and Reflection
Hosted by NFL Community broadcaster and Howard College alumnus Steve Wyche, the occasion drew over 30 earlier inductees, VIPs, and supporters from throughout the nation, all gathered to acknowledge the contributions of Black faculty soccer’s most interesting.
Doug Williams, BCFHOF co-founder and 2011 inductee, captured the spirit of the evening:
“What we’ve got with the Class of 2025 is an unimaginable showcase of the expertise that has come from Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities through the years. When the Black School Corridor of Fame was established, its objective was to just do this, elevating and recognizing the previous, current, and way forward for Black School Soccer. Congratulations to the Class of 2025.”
Meet the Class of 2025
Six new members have been enshrined, every representing a special chapter in HBCU soccer historical past:
Henry Dyer (Grambling State College): Grambling’s first 1,000-yard rusher, Dyer was a first-team All-SWAC choice from 1963-65 and led the nation in scoring with 110 factors. He was drafted within the fourth spherical of the 1966 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
Rashean Mathis (Bethune-Cookman College): A 3-time All-MEAC First-Crew honoree, Mathis excelled as a defensive again from 1999-2002 earlier than a distinguished NFL profession.
Jacquay Nunnally (Florida A&M College): Nunnally was a standout large receiver for the Rattlers from 1997-2000, recognized for his record-setting catches and electrifying play.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State College): Rodgers-Cromartie starred as a defensive again from 2004 to 2007 and later grew to become a two-time NFL Professional Bowler.
Jay “Sky” Walker (Howard College): The dynamic quarterback led Howard to new heights within the early Nineteen Nineties and stays a revered determine in Bison soccer historical past.
Coach Fred “Pop” Lengthy (Wiley School): A training legend, Lengthy’s profession spanned over 4 many years (1921-1965), leaving an enduring impression on Wiley School and Black faculty soccer as a complete.
Tennessee State U legend and 12-year NFL vet Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is amongst 6 greats to be enshrined into the Black School Soccer Corridor of Fame tonight. DRC joined me on NFL Community to debate that, the state of HBCU soccer and former NFL gamers teaching at HBCUs. pic.twitter.com/lj4D6jbJ01
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) June 7, 2025
The ceremony additionally spotlighted two excellent fashionable stars:
Jada Byers (Virginia Union College) obtained the 2024 Black School Soccer Participant of the Yr award, incomes the Deacon Jones Trophy for his outstanding season.
Cobie Durant (South Carolina State/Los Angeles Rams) was named the 2024 Black School Soccer Professional Participant of the Yr, an honor offered by the NFLPA.
Jackson State soccer was honored because the HBCU workforce of the yr, and head coach T.C. Taylor was acknowledged as Coach of the Yr.
A Legacy Preserved
Since its founding in 2009 by James Harris and Doug Williams, the BCFHOF has inducted over 100 gamers, coaches, and contributors, preserving the tales of HBCU soccer excellence. The Corridor’s everlasting exhibit on the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in Canton, Ohio, continues to teach and encourage future generations.
Because the Class of 2025 took their place among the many greats, the ceremony bolstered the enduring affect of HBCU soccer and the people who’ve paved the way in which for at this time’s stars. The night was not only a celebration of athletic achievement, however a strong testomony to the tradition, historical past, and ongoing impression of Black faculty soccer
