COLUMBIA, Mo. – Former University of Missouri football standout Jeremy Maclin (2006-08) was one of 18 players and four coaches named to the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced Monday.
The announcement of the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class was made today during “Championship Drive Presented by Mercedes-Benz” leading up to tonight’s College Football Playoff National Championship.
Cited by many as the most electrifying player to ever don a Mizzou uniform, Maclin dazzled fans in Columbia, impacting the game on offense and special teams during one of the most successful runs in school history. He is the only Tiger ever to be named a two-time First Team All-American, and the Kirkwood, Missouri, native now becomes the eighth Mizzou player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame, joining QB Paul Christman, C Darold Jenkins, RB Bob Steuber, OT Ed Travis, DB/RB Johnny Roland, DB Roger Wehrli and TE Kellen Winslow.
The only freshman in Missouri history to snag First Team All-America honors, Maclin claimed consensus honors in 2007 as an all-purpose/return specialist. In 2008, he earned First Team status again, making him the only player in Missouri history to be a two-time First Team All-American. Maclin holds the NCAA record for all-purpose yards as a freshman (198.3 ypg in 2007), and he led the FBS in all-purpose ypg (202.4) in 2008, competing as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award that season.
Playing for College Football Hall of Fame Coach Gary Pinkel, Maclin and the Tigers amassed a 22-6 record during his run in Columbia. The team notched consecutive bowl victories, claiming a 37-8 win in the Cotton Bowl over Arkansas after the 2007 season. The following year, the Tigers beat Northwestern, 30-23, in the 2008 Alamo Bowl, and Maclin earned Offensive MVP honors after catching an overtime game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback and NFF National Scholar-Athlete Chase Daniel. Mizzou finished with a No. 4 national ranking in 2007 and a No. 16 national ranking in 2008.
A two-time First Team All-Big 12 performer, Maclin earned conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2007. He set Big 12 records for all-purpose yards as a freshman (2,776 in 2007) and as a sophomore (2,833 in 2008), and the Tigers claimed back-to-back Big 12 North titles.
In just two years at Mizzou and after missing the 2006 season due to an injury, Maclin broke school records for all-purpose yards in a career (5,609), single season (2,833 in 2008) and single game (260 vs. K-State in 2007). He boasts the top two single-season all-purpose-yard performances in school history, and he holds nine of the top 20 single-game all-purpose-yard performances in Mizzou annals. His average combined kick return yards in a career (19.7) and single-season combined kick return yards (1,346 in 2007) stand as school records, and he ranks second all-time in 100-yard receiving games (10) and single-season receiving (102 receptions for 1,260 yards in 2008). He ranks fifth all-time at Missouri in career receiving yards (2,315) despite only playing two seasons.
He finished his career with 182 receptions for 2,315 yards and 22 touchdowns, adding 91 career rushes for 668 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. He tallied 48 career punt returns for 577 yards and three touchdowns and 85 kickoff returns for 2,049 yards and two touchdowns.
Drafted in the first round (19th overall) by Philadelphia in 2009, he played for the Eagles until 2014, Kansas City from 2015-16 and Baltimore in 2017. He was a 2014 Pro Bowl selection. Maclin was inducted into the Mizzou Athletics Intercollegiate Hall of Fame in 2014, and he was named an SEC Legend in 2019.
After retiring, he became a high school football coach at his alma mater, Kirkwood High School in the St. Louis area. He founded the J-Mac Gives Back charitable foundation, which provides donations and opportunities to underprivileged children, and he has hosted numerous football camps, backpack giveaways and surprise Mother’s Day events.
Induction for Maclin and the 2023 Class will take place Dec. 5, 2023, during the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas.
