D.J. Dozier, Steve Wisniewski Return to College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
D.J. Dozier and Steve Wisniewski, both key components of Penn State’s 1986 national championship-winning football team, were selected to the College Football Hall of Fame ballot again, the National Football Foundation announced Wednesday. The class will be named on Jan. 9, and inducted on Dec. 8, 2015.
Dozier was the first Nittany Lion running back to lead Penn State in rushing yards for four straight years. In 1987, the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the first round, where he spent four years before finishing his career with the Detroit Lions. He then switched to baseball, where he played a year in the New York Mets’ farm system.
In 1986, Dozier rushed for 811 yards and 10 of his 25 career touchdowns, and was also selected as an All-American. He finished his collegiate career with 3,227 rushing yards, the fifth-most in school history. A six-yard touchdown scamper in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl capped Penn State’s second-ever football national championship and sealed an undefeated record.
(Skip to the 10:08 mark to see the run.)
Wisniewski was only the third Penn State offensive lineman to be named an All-American twice. The three-year starter also played a prominent role in Penn State’s 1986 national championship squad. “The Wiz,” as he was affectionately called, was drafted in the second round by the Dallas Cowboys, before playing 13 seasons with the Raiders. His nephew, former Penn State standout guard Stefan Wisniewski, now plays for the Raiders.
Wizniewski and Dozier were both on the 2014 ballot as well, but were not selected. Last year, linebacker Shane Conlan became the 18th Penn State player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
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