Wed May 7 15:39:38 2008

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Randle among six selected to Divisional College Hall of Fame

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Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Seven-time NFL All-Pro defensive end John Randle headlines six selections from the Divisional Class for the College Football Hall of Fame.

The divisional class features players and coaches from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), Division II, Division III and NAIA.

Randle, who starred collegiately at Texas A&I -- now Texas A&M-Kingsville, is joined in this year's class by North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon, Mount Union quarterback Jim Ballard, McMurry College (Texas) halfback Brad Rowland, and coaches W.C. Gorden and Doug Porter.

This year's class will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame July 18-19 in South Bend, Indiana.

Randle, already a member of the Division II Football Hall of Fame, was a first-team All-American in 1988 and helped Texas A&I to a pair of Division II playoff appearances. He played 14 years in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks and retired as the NFL's all-time leader in sacks by a defensive tackle with 137 1/2.

McKinnon is the only defensive player to win the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II, and led North Alabama to three straight Division II national championships in the early 1990s. The three-time All-America selection played 10 seasons in the NFL, nine with the Arizona Cardinals before finishing his career with the New Orleans Saints.

Ballard helped Mount Union to its first-ever Division III national title in 1993, was a first-team All-America pick in 1992 and '93, and won the inaugural Melberger Award as the division's player of the year. He broke 17 Division III records and threw for more than 12,000 yards and more than 150 touchdowns.

Rowland, selected by the National Football Foundation's Honors Review Committee, has held six school records for more than a half-century since his playing days at McMurry ended in 1950. He led the Texas Conference in rushing in each of his four years and was a two-time first-team All-America choice.

Gorden compiled a record of 119-47-5 as coach at Jackson State from 1976-91 and is the winningest coach in school history. The Tigers won eight SWAC titles and made nine trips to the NCAA playoffs during his tenure.

Porter posted a mark of 166-107-5 while coaching at Mississippi Valley State, Howard University and Fort Valley State in a career that spanned from 1961 until 1996.