Canton Welcomes 2025 National High School Football Hall of Fame Inductees
Canton, OH – On Wednesday, the National High School Football Hall of Fame unveiled its 2025 class, featuring a stellar lineup that includes legends such as Leroy Kelly, Warren Moon, Ray Lewis, Mike Vrabel, Jim Thorpe, and Michael Vick. This year’s group comprises a total of 33 athletes and coaches who made significant contributions to the game.
“High school football brings communities together on Friday nights to celebrate a local challenge and share traditions,” explained David Brown, the assistant director of the Hall of Fame. “This hall of fame strives to spotlight the untold stories of remarkable individuals who have shaped the game we all love.”
One notable inductee is Percy Snow, a former standout linebacker for Canton McKinley. Born in 1967, he earned first-team All-Ohio honors in 1985 before moving on to a successful college career at Michigan State, where he became a two-time first-team All-American.
Antonio Hall, former head football coach at Canton McKinley, emphasized the hall’s role in inspiring young athletes. “Let this hall of fame serve as an inspiration to the next generation,” he said. “Let it remind young athletes that no matter where they start, their dreams are valid, and their hard work will pay off.”
This year’s inductees include many from Ohio, with nine out of the 33 members graduating from high schools in the state. Notably, numerous honorees hail from Northeast Ohio, including cities like Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Cuyahoga Falls, and Lakewood. Many of these athletes went on to have fruitful professional football careers, notably Vick and Thorpe.
Former halfback Sebo from Salem High, who graduated in 1954, expressed his excitement about the honor. “Football has been my way of life. I never did get to figure out how good I was due to some injuries, but those injuries drove me to be a football nut,” he remarked. “I’m just absolutely humbled to be part of this.”
Jonathan Dixon, who played for the Cleveland Browns, also shared his thoughts on the induction. “I’ve talked to my buddy Frank Minnifield, and we just wanted to say how honored we are to be going into this 2025 class,” he said.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for June 14, with a new 20,000-square-foot facility for the hall of fame set to open next year. Lamont Robinson, the founder and CEO of the foundation, praised Canton’s rich football history and acknowledged it as an ideal location for the new facility.
“The National High School Football Hall of Fame isn’t just a building in Canton,” Hall stated. “It’s a tribute to the values we hold dear and the celebration of the journey that begins under those Friday night lights.”
