NOTE: Click here to visit NFF Media Central for links to photos, video clips and one-on-one interviews with the 2024 honorees. Click here to watch an ESPN+ replay of the dinner, and click here for an ESPN+ replay of the press conference. Permission to use video footage is granted for news purposes only during the customary seven-day window, and the National Football Foundation should be credited for the footage.
  
LAS VEGAS (Dec. 10, 2024) – The Bellagio Hotel & Casino played host to an all-star cast of history's greatest football legends and the sport's most promising student-athletes during tonight's 66th National Football Foundation (NFF) Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas.
 
More than 1,800 people attended, and countless more watched on ESPN+ as star-studded 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class received college football's ultimate honor. The NFF also honored 16 of the game's top student-athletes, who collected postgraduate scholarships as members of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments®. More than 50 previous Hall of Fame inductees returned, and 125 colleges and universities sent representatives to attend the fabled affair.
 
The festivities began with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe claiming the 35th William V. Campbell Trophy® as college football's top scholar-athlete and receiving a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. The evening culminated with the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame induction and heartfelt remarks from Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arkansas DT Dan Hampton and Coach Mark Dantonio on behalf of the 2024 Class.

The 66th edition marked the fourth-consecutive year the NFF Annual Awards Dinner was held in Las Vegas, and the NFF announced that the event will return in 2025 and 2026. Standout broadcaster Charles Davis, who currently works for the NFL on CBS and the NFL Network, entertained the crowd as the emcee for the annual celebration, which lived up to its historic role of bringing the college football community together at the end of the regular season to pay tribute to the game and its greatest legends.
 
The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class was introduced by NFF Board Member Archie Griffin, a Hall of Fame running back and two-time Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State, while NFF Chairman and Hall of Fame inductee Archie Manning (Mississippi) conducted the Official Hall of Fame Ring Ceremony.
 
The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class included Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), the late Paul Cameron (UCLA), Tim Couch (Kentucky), Warrick Dunn (Florida State), Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State), Deon Figures (Colorado), Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Dan Hampton (Arkansas), Steve Hutchinson (Michigan), Antonio Langham (Alabama), Randy Moss (Marshall), Julius Peppers (North Carolina), Paul Posluszny (Penn State), Dewey Selmon (Oklahoma), Alex Smith (Utah), Kevin Smith (Texas A&M), Chris Ward (Ohio State), Danny Woodhead (Chadron State [NE]), and coaches Mark Dantonio (Cincinnati, Michigan State); Danny Hale (West Chester [PA], Bloomsburg [PA]); and Frank Solich (Nebraska, Ohio). 

The 19 players and three coaches bring the total number of players in the College Football Hall of Fame to 1,093 and the number of coaches to 233. Fitzgerald, Hampton and Coach Dantonio captured the emotion of the night in their insights on behalf of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class.
 
"It is a tremendous honor," said Fitzgerald. "There is nothing greater than to be able to do something you truly love with your brothers and to be recognized, you know, in the highest way. All these men have done unbelievable things in their playing career, in their communities and paved the way for the next generation of players coming behind them."
 
"Everybody loves the game, and we are so fortunate," said Hampton. "Larry wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be here. Coach wouldn't be here if it wasn't about the actual team. And you know, at the end of the day, we were so fortunate. You say 1% We're the lucky 1% because we were given an opportunity to go out and play this fantastic game."
 
"I know we're up here because we win a lot of games and things of that nature, but the wins and losses will not define you" said Coach Dantonio. "It'll be the people that played for you and how they handle adversity and go through their lives and become men and have families and the things that they do after."
 
Click here to watch the full remarks for Fitzgerald, Hampton and Coach Dantonio.
 
The 2024 class included 19 First Team All-Americans, three coaches, eight unanimous First Team All-Americans, eight consensus First Team All-Americans, eight multi-year First Team All-Americans, 10 winners of college football major awards and three national coaches of the year.
 
The 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments® joined the Hall of Famers on stage. Comprised of 16 of the brightest and most talented football players in the nation, each member of the class received an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and was a finalist for The William V. Campbell Trophy®. NFF Vice Chairwoman Kathleen Murphy led the presentation of the Scholar-Athlete Awards while NFF Vice Chairman Jack Ford had the honor of presenting the 35th Campbell Trophy® to Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
 
"We're called student athletes for a reason," said Milroe "I've used football to help me achieve all my goals that I have set for myself when it comes to on and off the field. I think academics are truly a reflection of how much you put into something, and I was trying to [make it equivalent between] the football field and academics, which is trying to pursue to the best of my ability and be the best version of myself. I just want to say thank the National Football Foundation for this tremendous opportunity and for the people who paved the way."

Click here to watch Jalen Milroe's full acceptance speech.
 
Majoring in management and graduating cum laude last December with a 3.52 GPA, Milroe is currently pursuing a master's in sports management. A proven threat with both his arms and legs, his career totals include rushing for 1,572 yards and 33 touchdowns (the most by a QB in Tide history) while passing for 5,824 yards and 44 touchdowns. A two-year captain, Milroe has helped Alabama earn two College Football Playoff appearances, including a berth in the 2021 national title game, a 2023 semifinal. This year, Alabama finished the 2024 regular season ranked No. 11 with a 9-3 record, and Milroe will now lead the Tide against Michigan in the Reliaquest Bowl.
 
 
The other members of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments included Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech), Robert Coury (Carnegie Mellon [PA]), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Beau Freyler (Iowa State), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Ashton Gillotte (Louisville), Brody Grebe (Montana State), Mark Gronowski (South Dakota State), Terrance Hollon (Howard), Jack Kiser ( Notre Dame), Luke Lehnen (North Central [IL]), Brayden Long (Slippery Rock [PA]), Jake Majors (Texas), Seth McLaughlin (Ohio State) and Jackson Woodard (UNLV).
 
Click here to watch the video presentation, highlighting all the finalists.
 
The night also saw the presentation of NFF Major Awards to several individuals, including the late head football coach Buddy Teevens (Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award), Michigan Athletics Director Warde Manuel (John L. Toner Award for excellence in athletics administration) and the Voice of the Balor Bears John Morris (Chris Schenkel Award for a distinguished career in broadcasting). NFF Legacy Awards for extraordinary contributions to the NFF and its mission were presented to former American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco, former Pop Warner Little Scholars Executive Director Jon Butler, former Sports & Fitness Industry Association President & CEO Tom Cove and former LEAD 1 Association President & CEO Tom McMillen.
 
Steve Hill, the CEO/President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the event's presenting sponsor, provided the official welcome while the invocation was done by Tyrone Jones, the lead pastor at Church for The City in Yuma, Arizona. Country music singer & songwriter Sierra Black performed the National Anthem, and America's Beloved Tenor Daniel Rodriguez took the stage to sing "God Bless America."
 
The NFF also recognized South Carolina State quarterback Eric Phoenix and Morgan State defensive lineman Elijah Williams as the 2024 MEAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. MEAC Commissioner Sonja O. Stills formally announced them earlier in the day as the top 2024 MEAC players during the NFF Annual Awards Press Conference Presented by SideQuests.
 
The five 2024 NFF Chapter Leadership Award recipients, one from each region of the country, were also recognized for their leadership at the local level: Todd Fultz (NFF Minnesota Chapter), Christian Gascou (NFF Los Angeles Chapter), John Kulka (Central Pennsylvania Chapter), Kerri Lamb (Vermont Chapter) and Lanness Robinson II (Tampa Chapter).
 
Earlier today, Arkansas Senior Associate Athletics Director Kevin Trainor moderated the NFF Annual Awards Press Conference Presented by SideQuests. Streamed on ESPN+, the press conference featured insights from the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class and the announcement of the 2024 MEAC Players of the Year. Click here to watch a replay.
 
Other happenings included FOX Sports Lead College Football Analyst Joel Klatt hosting the announcement of the Travis Hunter (Colorado) as the recipient of the 2024 Lott IMPACT® Trophy, presented by Allied Universal on Monday. Other finalists in attendance included [Caleb Downs (Ohio State); Mikail Kamara (Indiana); and Nic Scourton].
 
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) presented the 2024 Team USA Collegiate Recognition Awards during a Tuesday luncheon, honoring the colleges that contributed the most medals during the 2024 games. The SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum took place at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Dec. 10-11, and 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Jackson Woodard participated on a panel on the student-athlete perspective during the SBJ event. Comedian, actor Josh Mancuso took over the NFF social media accounts, providing entertaining reports for fans during two fun-filled days.
 
Rafanelli Events, led by President Deborah Farley, served as the event coordinator for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas. The Award Dinner was executive produced by Steve Hubbard and James Avery of Element Experiential. The videos featured in the program were produced by Annabel Hardin of Dallas-based LDWW.
 
The NFF corporate partners, who all support the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, include Bruin Capital, CAA Executive Search, Catapult Sports, College Football Playoff, Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Hampshire Foundation, Jostens, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, LDWW, New York Athletic Club, "The Original" Bob's Steak & Chop House, The Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Riddell, Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, SideQuests, Sports Business Journal, and the United States Naval Academy Department of Athletics.
 
Other event sponsors and supporters for the event included Beasley Media Group, ESPN, FOX Sports, FWAA, iSix, Learfield, Lott Impact Trophy, and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
 
"Tonight's 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas was spectacular," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "Many people came together to support this year's event as we celebrated an outstanding group of honorees. I want to thank all of our corporate partners and sponsors, especially the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and CEO/President Steve Hill for serving as the event's presenting sponsor. Football transforms lives, opens doors and instills the characteristics in our young people that make our country great. When you listen to the accomplishments of tonight's honorees, you know that the Future For Football remains bright."
 
A replay of tonight's event can be watched on ESPN+ by clicking here.