Kleinsasser Set to Make History as a 2025 Inductee in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame

IRVING, Texas – Considered one of the leading tight ends in North Dakota’s history, Jim Kleinsasser (1995-98), was among 18 athletes chosen to be honored as part of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class. The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame disclosed this announcement during ESPN’s “College Football Live” on Wednesday afternoon. Once the 2025 Class is officially inducted this December, Kleinsasser will be only the second athlete in UND’s history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, following linebacker Jim LeClair (1970-71), who was enshrined in the 1999 College Football Hall of Fame.

Kleinsasser served as a tight end for North Dakota from 1995-98. He was named a First Team All-American by three outlets in 1998 and was also a first team selection by two organizations in 1997. Additionally, he earned honorable mention All-America accolades in 1996. Kleinsasser attained First Team All-North Central Conference recognition in 1996, 1997, and 1998 and remains the most highly drafted player from UND in NFL Draft history.

Throughout his college career, Kleinsasser collected 88 receptions for 1,309 yards, averaging 14.8 yards per catch. He concluded with 10 receiving touchdowns and rushed eight times for 91 yards and one touchdown. The Fighting Sioux posted an overall record of 32-10 during Kleinsasser’s tenure and achieved a conference record of 28-8. He aided North Dakota in reaching the NCAA Division II Playoffs in both 1995 and 1998 and was part of the 1995 North Central Conference Championship Squad. In acknowledgment of his remarkable collegiate achievements, Kleinsasser was selected to start in the 1999 Senior Bowl.

During the 1999 NFL Draft, Kleinsasser was picked 44th overall by the Minnesota Vikings. He played for the Vikings from 1999 until 2011, retiring at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Throughout his career with the Vikings, Kleinsasser was instrumental in facilitating seven of the top eight single-season rushing records in franchise history, including Adrian Peterson’s team record and then-NFL leading record of 1,760 rushing yards in 2008. Kleinsasser was also featured on USA Today’s All-Joe Team in both 2007 and 2008 and was inducted into the University of North Dakota Hall of Fame in 2012.

A total of 22 college football luminaries have been selected for the 2025 Class: 18 First Team All-America athletes and four former coaches. They were chosen from the national ballot comprising 77 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision along with 101 players and 34 coaches from the divisional categories.

“We are delighted to announce the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class,” stated Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Mississippi. “Every one of these legends ranks among the finest to have ever played or coached the game, and we eagerly anticipate adding their extraordinary accomplishments to those permanently enshrined in the Hall of Fame.”

The 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be formally inducted during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on December 9, 2025, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The inductees will also be honored at their respective universities with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, in the fall. Their accomplishments will be eternally celebrated at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Each inductee will be awarded a custom ring designed by Jostens, the official and exclusive producer of NFF rings.

“We extend our gratitude to ESPN for the chance to reveal the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class on College Football Live today,” expressed NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Today’s announcement highlights the achievements of some of college football’s legendary figures, and we are appreciative of everyone who contributed to today’s announcement.”

When the 2025 Hall of Fame Class is officially inducted in December, only 1,111 players and 237 coaches will have been honored in the College Football Hall of Fame, from nearly 5.78 million who have played or coached the game over the past 155 years. In simpler terms, fewer than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of the individuals who have participated/coached the game have received this honor.



2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS

PLAYERS

• Montee Ball, RB (2009-12) – University of Wisconsin
• Gregg Carr, LB (1981-84) – Auburn University
• Blake Elliott, WR (2000-03) – Saint John’s University (MN)
• Greg Eslinger, C (2002-05) – University of Minnesota
• Terry Hanratty, QB (1966-68) – University of Notre Dame
• Graham Harrell, QB (2005-08) – Texas Tech University
• John Henderson, DT (1999-2001) – University of Tennessee
• Michael Huff, DB (2002-05) – University of Texas
• Jim Kleinsasser, TE (1995-98) – University of North Dakota
• Alex Mack, OL (2005-08) – University of California
• Terrence Metcalf, OL (1997, 1999-2001) – University of Mississippi
• Haloti Ngata, DT (2002, 2004-05) – University of Oregon
• Steve Slaton, RB (2005-07) – West Virginia University
• Darrin Smith, LB (1989-92) – University of Miami
• Michael Strahan, DL (1989-92) – Texas Southern University
• Dennis Thurman, DB (1974-77) – University of Southern California
• Michael Vick, QB (1999-2000) – Virginia Tech
• Ryan Yarborough, WR (1990-93) – University of Wyoming

COACHES

• Larry Blakeney – 178-113-1 (61.1%): Troy University (1991-2014)
• Larry Korver – 212-77-6 (72.9%): Northwestern College [IA] (1967-94)
• Urban Meyer – 187-32-0 (85.4%): Bowling Green State University (2001-02); University of Utah (2003-04); University of Florida (2005-10); Ohio State University (2012-18)
• Nick Saban – 292-71-1 (80.4%): University of Toledo (1990); Michigan State University (1995-99); LSU (2000-04); University of Alabama (2007-23)

2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS NOTES

PLAYERS

• 4 unanimous First Team All-Americans (Eslinger, Huff, Slaton, Thurman)
• 7 consensus First Team All-Americans (Ball—2, Carr, Hanratty, Henderson—2, Metcalf, Ngata, Thurman)
• 8 multi-year First Team All-Americans (Ball, Elliott, Eslinger, Henderson, Kleinsasser,“`html
• Smith, Thurman, Yarborough)
• 8 recipients of collegiate football significant accolades (Ball—Doak Walker, Elliott—Gagliardi Trophy, Eslinger—Outland and Rimington, Harrell—Unitas, Henderson—Outland, Huff—Thorpe, Mack—Campbell, Strahan—I-AA Defensive Player of the Year and Black College Defensive Player of the Year)
• 5 participants of national title squads (Elliott, Hanratty, Huff, Smith—2, Thurman)
• 7 league players of the year (Ball, Elliott—2, Henderson, Ngata, Smith, Strahan—2, Vick)
• 11 contributors to conference championship rosters (Ball—3, Carr, Elliott—3, Harrell, Huff, Kleinsasser, Mack, Slaton—2, Smith—2, Thurman—2, Vick)
• 8 individuals who currently maintain school benchmarks (Ball, Elliott, Harrell, Huff, Slaton, Strahan, Vick, Yarborough)
• 9 competed under College Football Hall of Fame mentors (Carr—Pat Dye, Elliott—John Gagliardi, Hanratty—Ara Parseghian, Henderson—Phillip Fulmer, Huff—Mack Brown, Ngata—Mike Bellotti, Smith—Dennis Erickson, Thurman—John McKay and John Robinson, Vick—Frank Beamer)
• 5 NFF National Scholar-Athletes (Carr, Eslinger, Harrell, Mack, Smith), including 1 recipient of the Campbell Trophy (Mack)
• 6 first-round NFL draft selections (Ball, Henderson, Huff, Mack, Ngata, Vick), including 1 first-overall pick (Vick)
• 11 offensive contributors (Ball, Elliott, Eslinger, Hanratty, Harrell, Kleinsasser, Mack, Metcalf, Slaton, Vick, Yarborough)
• 7 defensive contributors (Carr, Henderson, Huff, Ngata, Smith, Strahan, Thurman)
• 6 decades represented: 1960s—Hanratty; 1970s—Thurman; 1980s—Carr; 1990s—Kleinsasser, Smith, Strahan, Vick, Yarborough; 2000s—Elliott, Eslinger, Harrell, Henderson, Huff, Mack, Metcalf, Ngata, Slaton; 2010s—Ball
• 2 institutions with their initial Hall of Fame player (Saint John’s [MN]—Elliott, Texas Southern—Strahan)

COACHING STAFF

• 12 national titles (Korver—2, Meyer—3 [Florida-2, Ohio State-1], Saban—7 [Alabama-6, LSU-1])
• 28 league championship victories (Blakeney—8, Korver—1, Meyer—7, Saban—12)
• 2 coaches possessing the highest wins in school annals (Blakeney—Troy, Korver—Northwestern College [IA])
• 63 bowl/postseason showings (Blakeney—5 bowls and 7 playoff showings, Korver—11 playoff showings, Meyer—15 bowls, Saban—25 bowls)
• 156 First Team All-Americans trained (Blakeney—14, Korver—32, Meyer—44, Saban—66)
• 12 conference coach of the year acknowledgments (Blakeney—4, Meyer—3, Saban—5)
• 2 institutions with their inaugural Hall of Fame coach or player inductee (Northwestern College [IA]—Korver, Troy—Blakeney)

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Established in 1947 with early guidance from General Douglas MacArthur, iconic Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik, and legendary journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a charitable educational body that administers initiatives aimed at harnessing the influence of amateur football to foster scholarship, citizenship, and athletic prowess among youth. With 120 chapters across 47 states, NFF initiatives encompass criteria, selection, and induction of members into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame; the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta; Future For Football; I Played; the William V. Campbell Trophy®; the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments; and the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation & the Hatchell Cup presented by “The Original” Bob’s Steak & Chop House; along with a range of programs and efforts to honor historic figures and motivate future leaders. NFF corporate partners comprise Bruin Capital, Catapult, Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Hampshire Companies, CAA Executive Search, Jostens, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, and the Sports Business Journal. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and discover more at footballfoundation.org.