ATLANTA, GA--Former All-American defensive back Donnie Shell was one of seven inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame Saturday (Feb.28) during the BCF Hall of Fame and Sheridan Broadcasting Network College Football Awards Ceremony in Atlanta, GA.

Shell is the fourth Bulldog to be inducted in the Black College Football Hall of Fame. He earned All-MEAC and All-America honors during his Bulldog career (1970-73) and went on to an outstanding NFL career as a safety with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 2015 Class also includes DT Roger Brown (Maryland Eastern Shore), DE Richard Dent (Tennessee State), DE L.C. Greenwood (Arkansas Pine Bluff), DT Ernie Ladd (Grambling State), DB Ken Riley (Florida A&M) and Coach W.C. Gorden (Jackson State).

Meanwhile, current SC State All-America junior defensive lineman Javon Hargrave was honored by Sheridan Broadcasting Network for being named the SBN Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year.

In addition to being named to the Sheridan Broadcasting Network All-American team and Defensive Player of the Year, Hargrave was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and was named to several All-America teams, including The Sports Network, Walter Camp, BoxtoRow Heritage Radio Sports Network, and was honored by College Football Performance Awards with its National Defensive Tackle of the Year Award.

SBN also recognized the Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year (QB Johns Gibbs Jr., Alcorn State), the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (Broderick Fobbs, Grambling) and the Jake Gaither National Championship Team (Alcorn State) during tonight's event.

For more information on South Carolina State University athletics, please call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060, or visit the official Bulldogs website at www.scsuathletics.com.