Butler’s Rudi Johnson, Troy Morrell named to NJCAA Football Hall of Fame

Butler Community College alumni Rudi Johnson and Troy Morrell make up half of the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame inductees for 2016.

Johnson was the star running back for Butler’s 1998 and 1999 national championship teams. He rushed for 1,697 yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman and was MVP of the Real Dairy Bowl victory that gave the Grizzlies the 1998 title. As a sophomore, he rushed for 2,310 yards and 31 touchdowns with a 370-yard game against top-ranked Dixie in the 1999 national championship game.

Johnson went to earn SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors at Auburn in 2000, then spent eight years in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions.

Morrell, a former Butler offensive lineman, coached the Grizzlies from 2000-14 and compiled the highest winning percentage (.875) in NJCAA football. His teams won three NJCAA championships, appeared in three more championship games, and he was NJCAA Coach of the Year twice.

In all, 68 Grizzlies under Morrell were named to NJCAA All-American teams.

This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 10:41 AM with the headline "Butler’s Rudi Johnson, Troy Morrell named to NJCAA Football Hall of Fame."