There’s no question Herschel Walker was a great star in college.
He won a Heisman Trophy and a national title with the Georgia Bulldogs, where he amassed 5,259 rushing yards and set 41 school records in three seasons.
He left Athens early and spurned the NFL to become one of the biggest stars in the USFL in 1983. As a member of Donald Trump's New Jersey Generals team, Walker recorded 7,115 all-purpose yards (5,562 rushing) and 61 touchdowns in three seasons.
In 1985, he led the Generals with 2,411 yards in an 18-game season.
Walker joined the NFL at the age of 24. He spent 12 years in the league, the majority with the Dallas Cowboys.
He put up 8,225 rushing yards and 61 touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl twice (1987, ’88) and made All-Pro in three years.
Walker led the league in all-purpose yards twice (1987 and ’90) as a member of the Cowboys and Vikings, respectively. His career 18,168 all-purpose yards in the NFL currently rank him 11th all time in the league. (Of the 10 players ahead of him on the list, seven are in the Hall of Fame.)
Looking at his combined USFL and NFL numbers:
• Walker’s combined 13,787 rushing yards would rank fifth among all rushers.
• Walker’s 45 combined touchdowns would tie him with Marcus Allen for sixth all-time.
• Walker’s 25,283 combined all-purpose yards would be greater than Jerry Rice’s career record total (23,546) by nearly 2,000 yards.
Walker was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
Walker last played in the NFL in 1997 -- after a second stint with the Cowboys. He is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He first became eligible for nomination in 2002. He is once again on the ballot for the 2018 Class.
Three USFL players -- Jim Kelly, Reggie White and Steve Young -- are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He became an MMA fighter in his 50s and holds a 2-0 record by knockout.
Judging by his numbers, should Walker be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
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