Football Ryan Klinkner, Saint John's University Athletic Media Relations Director

Blake Elliott to be Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame Tuesday in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS - Saint John's University standout wide receiver Blake Elliott '03 will be officially inducted as a member of the 2025 National Football Foundation (NFF) College Football Hall of Fame Class during the NFF's 67th Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. 

Tuesday's Live Links to Watch
-Watch the NFF Press Conference live on ESPN+: Click here for the link to watch the press conference with the Hall of Famers beginning at 9 a.m. PT/11 a.m. CT on Tuesday. Elliott will be in the second group from 10:30-11:15 a.m. PT/12:30-1:15 p.m. CT.

-Watch the Awards Dinner live on ESPN+: Click here for the link to watch the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, which begins at 6:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday. The Hall of Fame portion of the event should start around 8:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. CT.

A 2019 inductee into the SJU J-Club's Hall of Honor, Elliott joins his head coach, SJU's legendary John Gagliardi in the College Football Hall of Fame. Gagliardi, who was inducted in 2006, is college football's all-time wins leader and the namesake of the Gagliardi Trophy, presented annually to the top player in Division III.

Elliott is the first College Football Hall of Fame inductee from the Division III level since John Carroll linebacker London Fletcher – a 16-year veteran of the NFL – earned the honor in 2019.

The Melrose, Minn. native ended his career with three NCAA playoff records, two MIAC records and 29 SJU receiving records. Elliott, who was also a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy in 2002, was invited to play in both the AFCA Aztec Bowl and Hula Bowl following the 2003 season. His NCAA all-divisions record for consecutive games played with a reception (47) was not broken until 2008.

He finished his career second all-time in all NCAA divisions in catches (327) and second in NCAA Division III in touchdown receptions (56). Elliott posted 369 receptions for 4,826 yards and 63 touchdowns in his career, as well as rushing for 744 yards and eight touchdowns on 109 carries (prior to the 2002 season, the NCAA did not recognize playoff-game stats in season or career totals). 

Elliott was just as dangerous on special teams, totaling 3,065 yards and seven touchdowns on 195 returns, kickoff and punt combined.

In addition to Elliott, the 2025 class includes Montee Ball (Wisconsin); Gregg Carr (Auburn); Greg Eslinger (Minnesota); Terry Hanratty (Notre Dame); Graham Harrell (Texas Tech); John Henderson (Tennessee); Michael Huff (Texas); Jim Kleinsasser (North Dakota); Alex Mack (California); Terrence Metcalf (Mississippi); Haloti Ngata (Oregon); Steve Slaton (West Virginia); Darrin Smith (Miami, Fla.); Michael Strahan (Texas Southern); Dennis Thurman (Southern California); Michael Vick (Virginia Tech); Ryan Yarborough (Wyoming); and coaches Larry Blakeney (Troy); Larry Korver (Northwestern, Iowa); Urban Meyer (Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, Ohio State); and Nick Saban (Toledo, Michigan State, Louisiana State, Alabama).

Of the 5.78 million individuals who have played college football since the Princeton-Rutgers game on Nov. 6, 1869, only 1,111 players have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame – that's less than two one-hundredths (.0002) of one percent of those who have played the game during the past 155 years. From the coaching ranks, 237 individuals have achieved Hall of Fame distinction.

To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a first-team All-American by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 years prior; played within the last 50 years; and cannot be currently playing professional football.