FLORENCE – Former Jacksonville State and NFL All-Pro Eric Davis will be part of the tenth class of inductees into the Division II Football Hall of Fame in Florence, Ala., during the 2008 National Championship Weekend in December.

Davis, a native of Anniston, and Rod Smith of Missouri Southern State University comprise the 2008 class of inductees and will bring the total number of inductees to 25.

The duo were chosen by a 20-member  selection committee and the selection was  announced Thursday by Division II Football Hall of Fame Chairman Jeff Hodges.

Davis and Smith will be inducted on December 12  as part of a combined Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame Banquet at 6:30 p.m. at the Florence Conference Center.

The initial class of inductees in 1999 included running back Johnny Bailey of Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), quarterback Jeff Bentrim of North Dakota State and  the late Walter Payton of Jackson State University.

In 2000,  defensive lineman Harry Carson  of South Carolina State University, defensive lineman Pierce Holt of Angelo State University, and wide receiver John Stallworth of Alabama A&M were inducted.

In 2001 the  third class was comprised of tight end Brent Jones of Santa Clara University, linebacker Greg Lloyd of Fort Valley State University and quarterback Ken O'Brien of the University of California-Davis.

Quarterback Scott Brunner of Delaware, receiver Andre Reed of Kutztown and linebacker Jessie Tuggle of Valdosta State comprised the 2002 class.

Former Texas A&M-Kingsville and Washington Redskins standout Darrell Green was inducted in 2003, and former North Dakota State and Buffalo Bills standout Phil Hansen was inducted in 2004.

The 2005 class included Chris Hatcher of Valdosta State, Ronald Moore of Pittsburg State and Donnie Shell of South Carolina State.

Cody Gross of North Alabama,  John Randle of Texas A&M-Kingsville and Sean Landeta of Towson State were inducted in 2006.
 
Last season's inductees included Earl Dotson of Texas A&M-Kingsville, Ronald McKinnon of North Alabama and Mike Turk of Troy State.

The Division II Football Hall of Fame is housed at  Braly Municipal Stadium, which has hosted the Division II Football Championship Game since 1986.

The 36th annual Division II Football Championship Game will be played at Braly Stadium at  11 a.m. on December 13, 2008, and the Harlon Hill Trophy presentation to the Division II Player of the Year, and the Hall of Fame inductions are part of the Shoals area's championship week activities.

The Division II Football Hall of Fame is  sponsored by The City of Florence, Herff Jones, OptiNet and the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa.

Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and are available by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce (256) 764-4661 or the UNA Sports Information Office at (256) 765-4595.

Eric Davis  
A native of Anniston, Alabama, Davis played collegiately at Jacksonville State University from 1986-1989.  He is a member of both the Gulf South Conference Team of the Quarter Century and the Division II Football Team to the Quarter Century.

In 1989, he led the Gamecocks to a Gulf South Conference championship and an appearance in the Division II National Championship game.  He finished his senior season with 51 total tackles, eight pass break-ups, and six interceptions.  He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 53rd pick in the second round of the 1990 NFL draft and helped them win Super Bowl XXIX. 

He played 13 years professionally with the 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and the Detroit Lions.  He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1995 and 1996 and was also named All-Pro in 1995, 1996, and 1997. 

He is one of just two players in NFL history to have five or more interceptions in five consecutive seasons.  He is also the the NFL leader in consecutive playoffs games with at least one interception with five straight. 

He recorded 657 career tackles,38 career interceptions for 442 yards, and recovered 12 fumbles.  He returned four interceptions for touchdowns and two fumbles for touchdowns. 

He began his NFL career in 1990 by recording 21 tackles to go along with one interception and one fumble recovery while playing in all 16 regular season games.  He played in only two games in 1991 but still recorded 10 tackles.  In 1992, Davis made 61 stops and intercepted 3 passes for 52 yards while helping the 49ers win a divisional title.  Davis scored his first career defensive touchdowns in 1993 after returning both an interception and fumble for touchdowns.  He finished the year with 69 tackles and 4 interceptions. 

Davis helped the 49ers win a Super Bowl title in 1994.  In the 1994 NFC championship game against the Dallas Cowboys, Davis came up big with a 44 yard interception return for a touchdown and also forced a Michael Irvin fumble that led to a score for the 49ners.  He was named to his first Pro-Bowl game in 1995 after leading the 49ers to their fourth straight NFC West Division Championship.  He recorded his first career sack and finished the year with 51 tackles, 3 interceptions, and two forced fumbles. 

In 1996, Davis signed with the Carolina Panthers and followed up with another Pro Bowl season after leading the Panthers to the NFC championship game.  He intercepted 5 passes for 57 yards to go along with 60 tackles.  He only played in 14 games in 1997 but still recorded 5 interceptions.  In 1998, Davis recorded his second career sack.  He also returned a career high two interceptions for touchdowns to go along with 71 tackles. 

He made a career high 76 tackles in 1999 and finished with five interceptions.  He finished with 70 or more tackles for the third consecutive season in 2000 after making 61 one solo stops and 12 assists.  He also
intercepted five passes to become the second player in NFL history to record five interceptions in five straight seasons. 

Davis signed with the Denver Broncos in 2001 and played in all 16 games, recording 13 tackles.  Davis finished up his NFL career with the Detroit Lions in 2002 and recorded 37 tackles and one interception.  He finished his career as the Panthers career leader in interceptions with 15. 

He is currently the spokesman for "Stand Proud", which is a program that encourages fathers to be good parents in North and South Carolina.