Julius Peppers, Armanti Edwards named to College Football Hall of Fame

A Tar Heel two-way player and an outstanding App State QB were named to the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

Julius Peppers, a Wilson native and one of the top two-sport players ever to come out of North Carolina, and Armanti Edwards, the quarterback who led Mountaineers to the upset of the decade, are among those who will be inducted to the hall on Dec. 10, 2024, at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Peppers played defensive end for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1999-2001, and he walked on to the basketball team, where he averaged 7.1 points and 4.0 rebounds. In 2000, he led the nation with 15 sacks and established a school record with 24 tackles for loss. Peppers won both the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player and the Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman in 2001.

He stayed home when the Carolina Panthers drafted him second overall in 2002, and played 17 seasons in the NFL with the Panthers, Bears and Packers.

Peppers is also one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. The Class of 2024 will be announced Feb. 8.

Armanti Edwards played quarterback at Appalachian State from 2006-2009, leading the team to two FCS national titles and the historic 34-32 upset of No. 5 Michigan to open the 2007 season in Ann Arbor.

Edwards, too, was drafted by the Panthers, in 2010. He played four seasons in the NFL, with Carolina and Cleveland.

2024 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS

PLAYERS:

Justin Blackmon – WR, Oklahoma State (2009-11)

Paul Cameron – TB, UCLA (1951-53)

Tim Couch – QB, Kentucky (1996-98)

Warrick Dunn – RB, Florida State (1993-96)

Armanti Edwards – QB, Appalachian State (2006-09)

Deon Figures – CB, Colorado (1988, 1990-92)

Larry Fitzgerald – WR, Pittsburgh (2002-03)

Toby Gerhart – RB, Stanford (2006-09)

Dan Hampton – DT, Arkansas (1975-78)

Steve Hutchinson – OG, Michigan (1997-2000)

Antonio Langham – CB, Alabama (1990-93)

Randy Moss – WR, Marshall (1996-97)

Julius Peppers – DE, North Carolina (1999-2001)

Paul Posluszny – LB, Penn State (2003-06)

Dewey Selmon – NG, Oklahoma (1972-75)

Alex Smith – QB, Utah (2002-04)

Kevin Smith – CB, Texas A&M (1988-91)

Chris Ward – OT, Ohio State (1974-77)

Danny Woodhead – RB, Chadron State [NE] (2004-07)

COACHES:

Mark Dantonio – 132-74-0 (64.1%): Cincinnati (2004-06), Michigan State (2007-19)

Danny Hale – 213-69-1 (75.4%): West Chester [PA] (1984-88), Bloomsburg [PA] (1993-2012)

Frank Solich – 173-101-0: Nebraska (1998-2003), Ohio (2005-2020)