HUNTINGTON -- Byron Leftwich, Randy Moss, Chad Pennington and John Wade are returning to Marshall University for an April 23 combined Big Green Scholarship Foundation banquet and Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

All four players were previously voted into the Hall of Fame, but inductions were delayed because of their NFL commitments.

The Big Green banquet is at 7 p.m., Friday, April 23, in the Marshall University Student Recreation Center.

"We are ecstatic that these four are going into the Hall of Fame together," Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick said in a news release. "What they achieved at Marshall and even now in the National Football League, underlines the outstanding football program the university has provided its fans and alumni.

"This special evening is the best way we can show them how grateful we are."

Banquet tickets are $2,000 for a corporate sponsor table of eight and $80 for singles. Paid reservations can be made at the Big Green office in Cam Henderson Center, or by telephone at 304-696-4661 or toll-free at 866-443-7310.

The regular annual Hall of Fame inductions will be held in the fall.

Leftwich was with the Thundering Herd from 1998 to 2002, leading the team to Mid-American Conference Championships in 2000 and 2002. He set MAC records in total offense with 12,084 yards, completing 939 passes for 11,903 yards and 89 touchdowns. He was the MVP of three bowl game victories.

He has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Buccaneers in a 10-year pro career.

Moss was a first team consensus All-American at Marshall in 1996 (NCAA Division I-AA) and 1997 (Division I-A). In 1997 he won the Biletnikoff award, symbolic of the nation's best college wide receiver and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. During his two Marshall seasons Moss caught 168 passes for 3,356 yards and 53 touchdowns, setting a national record with 28 touchdowns in 1996 and a Division I record 25 touchdowns in 1997.

His 12 pro seasons include stops with the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots. He is second on the NFL all-time list with 148 touchdown receptions.

Pennington, as a four-year starter for Marshall in 1995 and 1997-99, quarterbacked the team to 45 victories, including a 25-1 mark in his final two years. He tops the Herd career marks in total offense (13,048 yards), passes attempted (1,619), net yards (13,143) and touchdown passes (115). He led Marshall to three consecutive MAC championships and three Motor City Bowl games.

In 1999 the Herd had a 13-0 record and a season-ending No. 10 national ranking.

He was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1999 and the winner of the Vincent DePaul Draddy Trophy which is presented annually by the National Football Foundation to the top student-athlete in college.

Pennington has played for the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. His career pass completion percentage record of 66.1 is the highest in NFL history.

Wade, an offensive lineman both at Marshall and in the NFL, was an All-Southern Conference first team center in 1996 when Marshall won the NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship and in 1997 he was a first-team All-MAC selection that helped the Herd to the Mid-American Conference Championship and a bowl berth in the first Motor City Bowl.

He was a 10-season NFL starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders.

AP Video

The Herald-Dispatch

Big names are coming for the Big Green banquet on April 23. From left are Byron Leftwich, Randy Moss, Chad Pennington and John Wade.

Purchase this photo