BARRY SANDERS
1968 –
Inducted – 1998

One of the greatest running backs in history, Barry Sanders was one of the youngest persons ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He won the 1988 Heisman Trophy winner while a junior at Oklahoma State University after rushing for an NCAA record 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns. Sanders was the first true junior to be drafted by the NFL when he was selected as the No. 3 pick in the 1989 draft. Sanders retired with 15,269 career rushing yards, just 1,457 yards behind the all-time rushing record of 16,726 set by Walter Payton. He was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1994 and ’97 and the league’s Co-Most Valuable Player in 1997. During the 1997 season, Sanders set an NFL record by gaining over 100 yards in 14 consecutive games - totaling 2,053 yards for the season. Although just 5-foot-8 and playing most of his games on artificial turf, Sanders never failed to rush for at least 1,100 yards in any season. Five times he ran four over 1,500 yards, including four straight years. He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 NFL seasons. Sanders earned all-state honors as a senior running back at Wichita North High School in 1985. Inducted College Football Hall of Fame, 2004. Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2004. Born July 16, 1968 – Wichita, Kansas. Graduated Wichita (KS) North High School, 1986: Attended Oklahoma State University, 1986-89.