Meet the Black College Football Hall of Fame 2021 Class

Here’s a look at the 2021 Black College Football Hall of Fame and some of the best HBCU football players in history. 

Yesterday saw the official enshrining of the 11th Black College Football Hall of Fame class. The 2021 class includes five players from the SWAC and SIAC respectively and a head coach that won seven CIAA championships in his career.

This class is historic as it features the first induction of a punter in the Hall of Fame’s history. These inductees bring the total to 96 overall in the HBCU football Hall of Fame including now 78 players and 12 coaches. Here is a comprehensive look at the 2021 Black College Football Hall of Fame class.

Coy Bacon DL, Jackson State University (1962-1966)

After playing four years with the Jackson State Tigers, that saw him help lead the team to a SWAC championship in his freshman season, Coy Bacon began his professional career in the minor leagues playing in the UFL, COFL and PFLA respectively. He entered the NFL in 1968 as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Bacon would stick around in the NFL for the next 13 seasons playing with the Rams, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Washington Football Team. He was named to three Pro Bowls in his career.

Greg Coleman P, Florida A&M University (1972-1975)

Greg Coleman is the first primary punter to be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. After a successful college career, that saw him be inducted into Florida A&M’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, he went on to play in the NFL. As a result, Coleman is the HBCU punter in NFL history.

Coleman would play 12 seasons in the NFL including 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He finished in the top five in total punts five times including the 1982 seasons in which he led the league in that category.

Jimmie Giles TE, Alcorn State University (1973-1976)

Jimmie Giles is one of two Alcorn State Braves alumni to be inducted into the 2021 class. Giles won two SWAC championships with the Braves in 1974 and 1976 while also being named to an All-Conference team. He would go on to be selected 70th overall in the 1977 NFL Draft.  Giles would play 13 seasons in the NFL including nine with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he made nine Pro Bowl appearances. He finished his career with 350 receptions for 5,084 receiving yards and 41 touchdowns.

Winston Hill OL, Texas Southern University (1959-1962)

In his time with Texas Souther, Winston Hill was selected to three All-SWAC teams. He then entered the NFL where he played 15 seasons spending 14 with the New York Jets. He was named to eight Pro Bowls including seven straight from 1967-1973. As the lead blocker for Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath, Hill played a pivotal role on a Jets team that would go on to win Super Bowl III their only win to date.  He would go on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2020 making him the only player in this class to do so.

Roynell Young DB, Alcorn State University (1977-1979)

In just three years at Alcorn State, Roynell Young was named to three All-SWAC teams and an NAIA All-American team. He was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2017. Young was selected 23rd overall in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles where he spent his entire nine-year NFL career. He finished with 23 career interceptions making a Super Bowl appearance in his rookie year and a Pro Bowl in his second year.

Willard Bailey Coach, Virginia Union University (1971-1983; 1995-2003), Norfolk State University (1984-1992), Saint Paul’s College (2005-2010), Virginia University of Lynchburg (2011-2013)

Willard Bailey’s coaching career began at the high school level where he served as coach of the basketball, baseball, and track and field teams for Essex County High School in Virginia.  of finished his 42-year coaching career with an overall record of 238-168.

His best tenure came with the Virginia Union Panthers in which he led them to six CIAA championships (1973, 1979, 1981-1983, and 2001) and five Division II playoff appearances (1979-1983). He was inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame in 2004.