Former Raider Jim Ballard Named to College Football Hall of Fame

Quarterback Jim Ballard led the Raiders to their first National Championship in 1993.

Former Purple Raider quarterback Jim Ballard has been named to the 2008 College Football Divisional Hall of Fame, according to the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF).

The 2008 class will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during the Enshrinement Festival, July 18-19, in South Bend, IN.

Ballard (1991-93), a two-time First-Team All-America pick in 1992 and ’93, broke 17 Division III records and threw for 8,270 yards and 93 touchdowns. The two-time recipient of the Mike Gregory Award, which is given to the Ohio Athletic Conference’s top offensive back, he was a two-time All-Conference selection and suffered only one OAC loss during his prolific career. Ballard won the first Gagliardi Trophy and first Melberger Award recognizing the Division III Player of the Year.

The Ohio native played in the NFL, Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League during his 10-year professional career and led the Scottish Claymores to an NFL Europe World Bowl title in 1996.

Inducted into the Scottish Claymores Hall of Fame in 2001, Ballard currently serves as the commissioner of the Continental Indoor Football League in North Canton, Ohio.