Ki-Jana Carter’s name has long echoed through the halls of Penn State football lore. Now, it will be etched into the sport’s highest collegiate honor. The former Nittany Lions star has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class, a recognition that cements his legacy among the all-time greats of the game.
Carter becomes the 21st former Penn State player-and the 28th overall Penn Stater-to receive this honor, a testament to the program’s rich history and Carter’s standout role within it. He’ll be officially inducted at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas on December 8 and will be honored in front of the Beaver Stadium faithful during a Penn State game this fall.
For those who watched him in the '90s, Carter wasn’t just another talented running back-he was electric. His 1994 season remains one of the most dominant in college football history.
That year, he carried the ball 198 times for 1,539 yards, averaging a staggering 7.8 yards per carry and finding the end zone 23 times. He notched nine 100-yard rushing games that season-a Penn State single-season record-and helped lead the Nittany Lions to a perfect season.
Carter’s performances didn’t just fill box scores; they created moments. His most iconic came in the 1995 Rose Bowl, when he ripped off an 83-yard touchdown run against Oregon on Penn State’s first offensive play.
That burst set the tone for the game and capped off a season that ended with Carter being named the game's MVP. He was a unanimous first-team All-American, a Heisman Trophy runner-up to Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam, and a finalist for both the Maxwell and Doak Walker awards.
By the time he wrapped up his collegiate career, Carter had rushed for 2,829 yards and 34 touchdowns on just 395 carries. He added another 172 yards receiving, bringing his total yards from scrimmage to an even 3,001. More than just numbers, those stats reflect a player who brought power, speed, and vision to every touch-a back who could take it the distance on any play.
“Ki-Jana Carter represents everything that is special about Penn State Football,” said Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft. “He played a major role in defining an era that elevated our program. Being elected to the College Football Hall of Fame is a fitting and well-deserved honor.”
Penn State head coach Matt Campbell echoed that sentiment, calling Carter “one of the most dynamic players ever to wear the uniform.” Campbell added, “His competitiveness and pride in representing Penn State defined who he was as a player. The College Football Hall of Fame recognition is well deserved, and we're proud to celebrate Ki-Jana's place among the greats.”
Carter’s collegiate success led to him being selected No. 1 overall in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Though his professional career was hampered by injuries, he still managed to carve out a nine-year run in the league, playing for the Bengals, Washington, and New Orleans. He totaled 1,144 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, along with 469 receiving yards and another score.
Now, Carter’s name joins a loaded 2026 Hall of Fame class that includes some of college football’s most recognizable stars: Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald, Syracuse’s Marvin Harrison, Georgia’s Garrison Hearst, Alabama’s Mark Ingram, Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis, Kansas State’s Terence Newman, and Florida State’s Peter Warrick.
The College Football Hall of Fame, located in Atlanta, will now house Carter’s legacy alongside the legends of the game. But for those who watched him glide through defenses in the blue and white, his place among the greats was never in question.