University of Houston Athletics
Wright Named to College Football Hall of Fame
3/11/2020 10:05:00 AM | Football
Becomes the fourth Cougar to earn the honor
HOUSTON – Former University of Houston wide receiver Elmo Wright is among the 17 players and two coaches selected to the 2020 induction class for the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation announced on Wednesday.
"We are extremely proud to announce the 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class," said Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Mississippi. "Each of these men has established himself among the absolute best to have ever played or coached the game, and we look forward to immortalizing their incredible accomplishments."
A consensus All-American in 1970, Wright was Houston's first NFL Draft First Round selection, selected No. 16 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1971.
Wright, who was a second-team All-American in 1969 and an honorable mention All-American in 1968, still holds two NCAA records from his 1968 season - most TD receptions of 50 yards or more in a season with eight and highest average per touchdown catch in a season with an average of 56.1 yards per score.
A high performer on and off the field, Wright earned Academic All-America honors in 1969, and in an era that Houston was one of the nation's leaders in rushing, managed to make his mark in the air. To this day, he still owns five Houston records – all-purpose career average yards per play (21.0), yards per reception in a season (27.9 in 1968), yards per reception in a career (21.9), 200-yard receiving games in a season (two each in 1968 and 1969) and 200-yard receiving games in a career (four).
In three years of competition with the Cougars, Wright recorded 153 receptions for 3,347 yards and 34 touchdowns. His 34 touchdown receptions rank second in Houston history while his 3,347 yards rank fourth. He also ranks second in UH history with 15 career 100-yard receiving games and is one of only three players in Houston history to record multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons, the only player to do it in a three-year career.
Now retired, Wright earned an MBA after his football career and worked for more than 25 years for Harris County in Houston. He has been involved with the YMCA and served as a mentor for students in the University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business. Considered by many to be the inventor of the end zone dance, Wright is a member of the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
Wright becomes the fourth Cougar to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Bill Yeoman (Coach, 2001), Andre Ware (Player, 2004) and Wilson Whitley (Player, 2007).
Including the 2020 Hall of Fame class, only 1,027 players and 221 coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.4 million who have played or coached the game during the past 150 years.
Induction for the 2020 Class will take place Dec. 8 during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown.
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"We are extremely proud to announce the 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class," said Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Mississippi. "Each of these men has established himself among the absolute best to have ever played or coached the game, and we look forward to immortalizing their incredible accomplishments."
A consensus All-American in 1970, Wright was Houston's first NFL Draft First Round selection, selected No. 16 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1971.
Wright, who was a second-team All-American in 1969 and an honorable mention All-American in 1968, still holds two NCAA records from his 1968 season - most TD receptions of 50 yards or more in a season with eight and highest average per touchdown catch in a season with an average of 56.1 yards per score.
A high performer on and off the field, Wright earned Academic All-America honors in 1969, and in an era that Houston was one of the nation's leaders in rushing, managed to make his mark in the air. To this day, he still owns five Houston records – all-purpose career average yards per play (21.0), yards per reception in a season (27.9 in 1968), yards per reception in a career (21.9), 200-yard receiving games in a season (two each in 1968 and 1969) and 200-yard receiving games in a career (four).
In three years of competition with the Cougars, Wright recorded 153 receptions for 3,347 yards and 34 touchdowns. His 34 touchdown receptions rank second in Houston history while his 3,347 yards rank fourth. He also ranks second in UH history with 15 career 100-yard receiving games and is one of only three players in Houston history to record multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons, the only player to do it in a three-year career.
Now retired, Wright earned an MBA after his football career and worked for more than 25 years for Harris County in Houston. He has been involved with the YMCA and served as a mentor for students in the University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business. Considered by many to be the inventor of the end zone dance, Wright is a member of the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
Wright becomes the fourth Cougar to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Bill Yeoman (Coach, 2001), Andre Ware (Player, 2004) and Wilson Whitley (Player, 2007).
Including the 2020 Hall of Fame class, only 1,027 players and 221 coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.4 million who have played or coached the game during the past 150 years.
Induction for the 2020 Class will take place Dec. 8 during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
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