Walter Payton, legendary Jackson State running back, selected for NFHS Hall of Fame

Khari Thompson
Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Walter Payton, the legendary Jackson State running back who made nine Pro Bowls with the Chicago Bears, will be inducted to the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame as a member of it's 2022 class, the organization announced Tuesday. 

Longtime Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas will also be inducted. Both he and Payton are already members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony for the 2022 NFHS class will take place July 1 in San Antonio. 

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Payton was a multi-sport star during his high school career at Jefferson and Columbia. He didn't play football until his junior year. but was considered one of the state's best running backs by his senior year. He also averaged 18 points per game in basketball and won the state long jump in track and field. 

Payton decided to stay in-state and play college football at Jackson State, where he rushed for a program-record 3,563 yards and was selected No. 4 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1975 NFL Draft. 

The youngest player to ever win NFL MVP, Payton rewrote the NFL record books. Today, 35 years after his retirement, Payton is still top five in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and rushing attempts. The NFL's Man of the Year award is named after him.