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O.J. Simpson

Running Back

Inducted 1983

Date of Birth

7/9/1947

Birthplace

San Francisco, CA

School

University of Southern California (1967-1968)

Bio

In a football game, I just don't want to be touched. That's O.J. Simpson's explanation as to why he wore short-sleeved jerseys no matter how cold the playing weather might have been. "I can feel tacklers better that way." What he could sense or feel he could elude with blasting spurts, uncanny cuts and escaping fleetness. At San Francisco City College in 1965-66, Simpson established himself as the all-time junior college rushing leader with 2,552 yards and 54 touchdowns. At Southern California in 1967 and 1968, his 9.3-second 100-yard speed and explosive start, led USC to national championship honors in 1967, including a 14-3 victory over Indiana on New Year's Day, 1968, in the Rose Bowl. The 1967 season was also the year Simpson won 22 individual citations. He led the country in rushing with 1451 yards on 266 carries and 11 touchdowns, and also won Back of the Year honors from United Press International, as all selectors gave him unanimous first-team All-America recognition. In 1968, he carried the ball 355 times for 1709 yards and 22 touchdowns while leading USC to a 9-0-1 regular season record, equaling or bettering a long list of USC records. Again, he was named to all of the All-America first teams and was granted 21 awards, including Rose Bowl MVP, the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award.