GRAMBLING, La. | Former Grambling State University football player Everson Walls has been named a finalist for the National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame.
 
Walls, who will be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in February, became a finalist on his final year of eligibility for the pro football hall of fame. To be elected, a finalist must get a minimum of 80 percent of the votes cast by the selection panel. A maximum of five can be elected from the modern era. A hall of fame class is between four and eight (two seniors, one contributor and up to five from the modern era.
 
Walls played 13 seasons in the NFL, including his first nine with the Dallas Cowboys (1981-89). He was selected to four Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro once and second-team twice in his career. Walls led the league in interceptions three times (1981, 1982 and 1985) and finished his career with 57, tied for 13th-most in NFL history.
 
The finalists will be determined on "Selection Saturday" (Feb. 3) by the NFL's Hall of Fame committee the day before Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.
 
Walls was previously announced an inductee for the Black College Football Hall of Fame on Oct. 25.
 
 The Class of 2018 includes Harold Carmichael (Southern), Raymond Chester (Morgan State), Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson (Langston University), Leo "Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis (Lincoln), Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State), Everson Walls (Grambling State) as player inductees and Coach Bill Hayes (Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T).
 
"This class represents three Super Bowl rings, 18 Pro Bowl selections and several Black College Football championships," said BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee Doug Williams. "Take a look at what they've done off the field as well, and each has earned this incredible honor."
 
Votes were tallied from the 12-member Selection Committee, comprised of prominent journalists, commentators and historians, as well as former NFL General Managers and executives, and from previous BCFHOF inductees to determine the 2018 Inductees. 
 
The Class of 2018 will be honored at the Ninth Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons on February 10, 2018. The Induction Ceremony takes place at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. 
  
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video