Ki-Jana Carter Earns Long-Awaited Spot in College Football Hall of Fame
At long last, one of Penn State’s most electrifying players is getting his due. Ki-Jana Carter, the former Nittany Lions star who tore through defenses in the mid-90s, has been selected to the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.
Carter’s college résumé speaks for itself. He was the engine behind Penn State’s last undefeated team in 1994 - a squad that went 12-0 and lit up scoreboards across the country.
That season, Carter ran wild behind a dominant offensive line, racking up 1,539 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns while averaging a staggering 7.8 yards per carry. That’s not just elite production - that’s video game stuff.
His performance earned him first-team All-America honors and a second-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting. And when the lights were brightest, Carter delivered.
In the 1995 Rose Bowl against Oregon, he made an unforgettable statement on the very first offensive play: an 83-yard touchdown run that set the tone for the day. He added two more scores and walked away with MVP honors in what would be his final college game.
That game cemented his legacy, but Carter’s impact went far beyond the box score. He was the face of a Penn State offense that was ahead of its time - fast, explosive, and relentless. His blend of vision, speed, and power made him nearly impossible to contain, and it’s no surprise he became the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft.
Now, after years of being on the ballot, Carter will officially join college football’s elite. He’s part of an 18-player Hall of Fame class that includes some heavy hitters: Aaron Donald (Pitt), Mark Ingram (Alabama), Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), and Marvin Harrison (Syracuse), just to name a few. The induction ceremony is set for December 8 in Las Vegas.
Penn State head coach Matt Campbell, newly appointed to lead the program, didn’t hold back when reflecting on Carter’s legacy.
“When you talk about the history of Penn State Football, Ki-Jana Carter stands out as one of the most dynamic players ever to wear the uniform,” Campbell said. “His competitiveness and pride in representing Penn State defined who he was as a player.”
Athletic director Pat Kraft echoed that sentiment, calling Carter’s Hall of Fame selection a “fitting and well-deserved honor.”
“Ki-Jana Carter represents everything that is special about Penn State football,” Kraft said. “He played a major role in defining an era that elevated our program. We are incredibly proud to welcome him as Penn State’s 28th Hall of Famer.”
That’s right - Carter becomes the 28th Nittany Lion to enter the College Football Hall of Fame, joining a prestigious list that includes recent inductees like Paul Posluszny (2024), LaVar Arrington (2022), Kerry Collins (2018), and Shane Conlan (2014).
It’s been a long time coming, but Carter’s place in college football history is now officially etched in stone. For Penn State fans who watched him dominate in the blue and white, this moment is more than just an honor - it’s a celebration of a player who helped define a golden era in Happy Valley.