Conlan, former KC Chief Thomas, inducted into College Hall of Fame
December 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson
NEW YORK (AP) — Shane Conlan and Derrick Thomas, two of the most dominant college linebackers of the 1980s, are part of a class of 14 former players and two coaches being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in New York. Thomas had 27 sacks and won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker in 1988 before going on to a successful NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was paralyzed in an automobile wreck in 2000 and died from complications about a month later. He was 33.
Conlan was a two-time All-American. He had two interceptions in his final college game as Penn State upset Miami 14-10 in the Fiesta Bowl to win the national title. The rest of the class is highlighted by TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson, South Carolina receiver Sterling Sharpe and Southern California tackle Tony Boselli.