ATLANTA, Ga. – The Black College Football Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that former North Carolina Central University lineman Doug Wilkerson is among 25 finalists on the ballot for induction as part of its fifth annual enshrinement ceremony, hosted by the Atlanta Falcons on March 1, 2014.

The finalists were selected from a field of over 125 nominees by an 11-member selection committee comprised of prominent journalists, historians and football executives. The committee will meet again in the coming weeks to select the seven members (six players and one coach/contributor) to be inducted as the Class of 2014.

"On behalf of the Black College Football Hall of Fame, we would like to congratulate all of the 2014 finalists," said Roscoe Nance, Chairman of the Selection Committee. "With so many deserving nominees, narrowing the list down to 25 finalists is not an easy task for the committee."

The Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be announced on Oct. 23.

Wilkerson is NCCU's highest overall NFL draft pick, as the Fayetteville, N.C., native was selected with the 14th pick in the first round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers.

After spending his rookie season in Houston, Wilkerson was traded to the San Diego Chargers, where he started on the offensive line in 195 games during the next 14 seasons.

Wilkerson appeared in three consecutive Pro Bowls from 1981-83, and was voted to the All-NFL First Team in 1982. He was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame in 2000.

During his career at NCCU (1965, 1967-69), Wilkerson was a three-time all-conference (CIAA) honoree and received first-team all-America citations from the NAIA, the American Football Coaches Association and the Pittsburgh Courier for his play as both an offensive and defensive lineman.

The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established to honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).   Each inductee's college or university will receive a $5,000 grant to support continuing academic and athletic opportunities at their respective institutions.

To learn more, visit… www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org, www.Twitter.com/BCFHOF, www.Facebook.com/BlackCollegeFootballHallofFame

PLAYERS FINALISTS

• Emerson Boozer (RB, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1962-1965)
• Robert Brazile (LB, Jackson State University, 1971-1975)
• Roger Brown (OL, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1956-1959)
• Harold Carmichael (WR, Southern University, 1967-1970)
• Richard Dent (DE, Tennessee State University, 1979-1982)
• L.C. Greenwood (DE, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 1965-1968)
• Harold Jackson (WR, Jackson State University, 1965-1968)
• Leroy Kelly (RB, Morgan State University, 1960-1963)
• Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd (DL, Grambling State University, 1957-1960)
• Jethro Pugh (DE, Elizabeth City State University, 1961-1964)
• Donnie Shell (DB, South Carolina State University, 1970-1973)
• John Stallworth (WR, Alabama A&M University, 1970-1973)
• Michael Strahan (DE, Texas Southern University, 1989-1992)
• Ken Riley (QB, Florida A&M University, 1965-1968)
• Willie "Satellite" Totten (QB, Mississippi Valley State University, 1982-1985)
• Otis Taylor (WR, Prairie View A&M University, 1961-1964)
• Emmitt Thomas (QB/DB, Bishop College, 1962-1965)
• Everson Walls (DB, Grambling State University, 1977-1980)
• Doug Wilkerson (OL, North Carolina Central University, 1966-1969)
• Aeneas Williams (CB, Southern University, 1987-1990)

COACH & CONTRIBTUOR FINALISTS

• Marino Casem (Head Coach, Alcorn State University, 1963-1992)
• Joe Gilliam, Sr. (Tennessee State University Defensive Coordinator)
• William Joe (Head Coach, Central State University 1981-1993, Florida A&M 1994-2004)
• Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones (President, Grambling State University, 1936-1977)
• Arnett Mumford (Head Coach, Southern University, 1927-1961)

About the Black College Football Hall of Fame

Since inception (2010), 44 members have been inducted and over $172,000 in scholarships has been awarded to Historically Black Colleges & Universities. The Black College Football Hall of Fame is based in Atlanta, Georgia and was founded by Black Quarterback NFL Pioneers James "Shack" Harris and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams.