Maurice Jones-Drew leads 2017 UCLA Hall of Fame Class

Posted on by

Maurice Jones-Drew (pictured in 2005) will be inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame this year. (Photo by Stephen Dunn /Getty Images)

Three-time NFL Pro-Bowler Maurice Jones-Drew leads UCLA’s nine-member 2017 Hall of Fame Class, which was announced on Wednesday.

The group, which includes three Olympians and a combined 17 national championships, will be inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame on Oct. 20 and honored during halftime of UCLA’s game against Oregon at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 21.

Jones-Drew left UCLA in 2005 with school records in career and single-season all-purpose yards, touchdowns in a game, single-game rushing yards and single-season punt returns for touchdowns. His punt return average of 28.5 yards in 2005 is still the NCAA record. During his NFL career, he rushed for 1,000-yards three times, including a league-leading 1,606 in 2011.

Other Hall of Fame inductees:

  • Toby Bailey (men’s basketball, 1995-98)
    • 1995 NCAA champion, scoring 26 points with nine rebounds in title game
    • Finished career as UCLA’s No. 5 all-time scorer
  • Robin Beauregard (women’s water polo, 1998-03)
    • Three-time NCAA champion (1998, 2001, 2003)
    • Olympic silver (2000) and bronze (2004) medalist for Team USA
  • Monique Henderson (women’s track and field, 2002-05)
    • Three-time NCAA champion (2004 outdoor team, 400-meter, 2002 indoor distance medley relay)
    • Two-time Olympic gold medalist in 4X400-meter relay (2004 and 2008)
    • Still holds the UCLA record in 400-meter outdoor, 4X400-meter relay indoor and outdoor, 200-meter indoor and distance medley relay
  • Bob Larsen (men’s track and field coach, 1985-99/ women’s cross country coach 1980-99)
    • Two NCAA championships with men’s track and field (1987, 1998)
    • Four-time NCAA Coach of the Year
  • Kristen Maloney (gymnastics, 2001-05)
    • 2000 Olympic bronze medalist
    • Helped UCLA to team NCAA championships in 2001 and 2004
  • Brandon Taliaferro (men’s volleyball, 1997-2000)
    • Two-time NCAA champion (1998, 2000)
    • Finished career as UCLA’s all-time leader in assists, single-season and single-match assists.
  • Gina Vecchione (softball, 1980-82)
    • Part of UCLA’s first NCAA softball championship team as a player (1982) then was on coaching staff for three more NCAA titles (2003, 2004, 2010)
    • First UCLA player to be inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame
  • Bobby Field (extraordinary service to UCLA athletics)
    • Football coach 1978-79, 1981-2000; administrator 2001-13
    • Helped coach UCLA football to seven conference championships and five Rose Bowl appearances