LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Danny Woodhead officially became the first Chadron State player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame with his inclusion in the 2024 class at the National Football Foundation (NFF) Awards Dinner on December 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Woodhead, a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner with the Eagles in 2006 and 2007, was part of a group of 19 former college football players and three coaches to join the Hall of Fame ranks. 

"I don't see it as myself going in the Hall," Woodhead said. "I feel like there's 100 other dudes coming in with me. My lineman, my receivers, the defense that got us the ball back. None of the 8,000 yards is possible without good teammates and good coaches around you. I'm blessed to represent Chadron." 

The North Platte, Nebraska native ended his career as college football's all-time leading rusher across all divisions and to this day holds the career rushing record for Division II. In four years in a Chadron State College uniform, Woodhead racked up 7,962 career rushing yards and 9,480 all-purpose yards while adding 109 career touchdowns, including a streak of 38 straight games scoring a TD.

"I always wanted to be as good as I could be," Woodhead said. "I had a lot of confidence in my abilities, but it was never about thinking 'this week, I hope I get five touchdowns.' I never thought that way. I wanted to be the best player I could be to help the team succeed."  

Chadron State went 35-11 during Woodhead's career as an Eagle, a tally that included back-to-back RMAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. 

"I wanted to win a national championship," Woodhead said. "That didn't end up happening, but we still had two of the best teams in Chadron State history." 

Woodhead is in plenty of exclusive company with his induction. According to the College Football Hall of Fame, less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of the individuals who have played or coached college football have earned Hall of Fame induction.

A former National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete during his playing career, Woodhead is now one of only 44 NFF Scholar-Athlete recipients to go on to be inducted into the NFF Hall of Fame. Woodhead credited his parents for establishing his academic and overall work ethic. 

"My dad was a teacher, and I was homeschooled kindergarten through eighth grade, so my mom was a teacher, too," Woodhead said. "They obviously instilled in me that getting good grades and doing the right thing was important."

While Woodhead's induction Tuesday focused solely on his collegiate achievements, he went on to have a successful 10-year career in the NFL, proving the ability of Division II players to compete at the next level. 

"I would recommend the Division II experience all day," Woodhead said.

Woodhead played with the Jets, Patriots, Chargers and Ravens, accumulating 2,238 NFL rushing yards and 2,698 NFL receiving yards, including a touchdown reception from Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.

Previously, Woodhead was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Chadron State College Hall of Fame in 2023.