ATLANTA -- Gary "Big Hands" Johnson of Grambling State, Harold Jackson of Jackson State and longtime coach Billy Joe are among the latest class selected for induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Parnell "Paydirt" Dickinson of Mississippi Valley State, Robert Porcher of South Carolina State and Tennessee State, and Isiah Robertson of Southern University were also selected to be part of the 2017 Hall of Fame class.
Inductees were chosen by a 12-member selection committee composed of journalists, historians, former NFL executives and previous inductees. The selections were announced Wednesday.
The induction ceremony will be held in February in Atlanta.
Johnson played defensive line for Grambling from 1971-74 and went on to become a four-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.
Jackson led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in receptions and yards twice from 1964-67.
Dickinson played quarterback for Mississippi Valley State from 1972-75 and led the SWAC in total offense three times.
Porcher was a first-round NFL draft pick in 1992 and three-time All-Pro.
Robertson was a linebacker who went on to become a first-round draft pick and NFL defensive rookie of the year in 1971.
Joe won 243 games, second only to Eddie Robinson among coaches at black colleges. He had stints at Cheyney University, Central State University, Florida A&M and Miles College.