South Carolina Football Hall of Fame Inducts 2025 Class

Former Clemson and USC stars among the five enshrined in this year's ceremony

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:48am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in shades of orange, garnet, and grey, conceptually representing the diverse talents and backgrounds of the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame's 2025 inductees.The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame's 2025 induction class represents the state's rich gridiron legacy, with standouts from Clemson, USC, and beyond.Clemson Today

The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2025 on Thursday night in Greenville, honoring five standout players from the state's college and professional football history, including former Clemson wide receiver Jerry Butler, one-time USC quarterback Todd Ellis, and several other notable names from the region.

Why it matters

The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame is the state's highest honor for football excellence, recognizing the top players, coaches, and contributors who have made significant impacts on the sport at both the collegiate and professional levels. This year's class highlights the rich football tradition in South Carolina and celebrates the legacies of some of the state's all-time greats.

The details

The 2025 inductees include former Clemson wide receiver Jerry Butler, known for making 'The Catch' in the 1977 Clemson-South Carolina game, as well as one-time USC quarterback Todd Ellis, who threw for nearly 10,000 yards during his four-year career with the Gamecocks in the late 1980s. They were joined by former NFL wide receiver A.J. Green from Summerville, longtime Cowboys linebacker Dexter Coakley from Charleston, and Union native Bob Jeter, who played for the Green Bay Packers. Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown was awarded the Blanchard-Rogers Trophy as the state's top college player, while Emily Beamer, wife of USC head coach Shane Beamer, received a humanitarian award.

  • The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was inducted on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • Jerry Butler made his famous 'The Catch' play in the 1977 Clemson-South Carolina game.

The players

Jerry Butler

Former Clemson wide receiver known for making 'The Catch' in the 1977 Clemson-South Carolina game, and later played in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills.

Todd Ellis

One-time USC quarterback who threw for nearly 10,000 yards during his four-year career with the Gamecocks in the late 1980s.

A.J. Green

Former NFL wide receiver from Summerville, South Carolina who played collegiately at Georgia.

Dexter Coakley

Linebacker from Charleston, South Carolina who played for nearly a decade with the Dallas Cowboys after starring at Appalachian State.

Bob Jeter

Union, South Carolina native who played for the Green Bay Packers in the NFL.

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The takeaway

This year's South Carolina Football Hall of Fame class highlights the rich football tradition in the state, celebrating the legacies of some of the all-time greats from Clemson, USC, and other programs who went on to star in the NFL. The induction ceremony serves as a testament to the passion and dedication of the state's football community.