IRVING, Texas (June 20, 2018) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame unveiled the names on the 2019 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame where MVSU's Parnell Dickinson was among those listed.
 
The ballot featured 76 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and 100 players and 32 coaches from the divisional ranks.
 
Dickinson attended Mississippi Valley State University from 1972 to 1976 where he enjoyed four amazing years and was coached by David "Redskin" Weathersby. As starting quarterback, he was nicknamed "Paydirt" for his uncanny ability to score touchdowns as a passer, runner, and receiver. He led the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in total offense and was selected as a first team National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-Americans in 1973. In 1975, he became a three-time Consensus Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) All-American and a consensus All-American in both the NAIA and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Other accolades include being selected by both the Pittsburg Courier and the National Black Sports Foundation as the consensus Black College National Player of the Year. Dickinson finished his illustrious college career as both the Mississippi College Football and SWAC all-time leader in offense after surpassing Ole' Miss Archie Manning (7,442 yards). In 1976, the school retired his jersey, number 18, and in 1991, Dickinson was inducted into the Mississippi Valley State University Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

After graduating from Mississippi Valley State University in 1976, Dickinson was drafted as the first African-American quarterback by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dickinson's football career was cut short by a knee injury in 1978.

Other notable finalists from the divisional ranks include longtime NFL linebacker London Fletcher (John Carroll-Ohio) and former Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair (Alcorn State).
 
To view the entire 2019 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot, please Click Here.
 
The ballot was sent to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Courts, which will deliberate and select the class.
 
The announcement of the 2019 Class will be made Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. The city is serving as the host for the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship, which will be played later that day at Levi's Stadium.
 
On Dec. 10, 2019, the honorees will officially be inducted during the 62^nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown.