PRINCESS ANNE — So far, three former Hawks are enshrined in the Black College Hall of Fame, a venture started in 2010. Now Johnny Sample, Art Shell, and Roger Brown might have some company in this new yet vaunted hall, as former Hawks tailback Emerson Boozer was selected as one of the 25 finalists for the 2016 class.

Boozer, already a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, competed for Maryland State College from 1962-1965 under coaches Skip McCain and Sandy Gilliam. According to university records, in 29 contests, Boozer rushed for 2,549 yards while scoring 22 touchdowns. In that span the Hawks went 18-10-1, including a pair of 5-2 seasons in his freshman and senior seasons.

After graduating from Maryland State in 1966, he was drafted by both the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and the AFL’s New York Jets. Boozer chose the Jets and enjoyed a ten-year career from 1966-1975. He would run for 5,135 yards, score 52 touchdowns and play in two Pro Bowls (1966 and 1968).

While playing for New York he was one of five Hawks to play in Super Bowl III—along with Earl Christy, Charlie Stukes, James Duncan, and Sample—a mark that is tied with Florida State for the most athletes from a single school to compete in a single Super Bowl.

The 2016 inductees will be announced on October 27th, with the enshrinement ceremony taking place in Atlanta next February.