GRAND FORKS – Former UND tight end Jim Kleinsasser is back on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
For the second consecutive year, the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame announced that Kleinsasser is one of 101 players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
“It is a tremendous honor to be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering that more than 5.7 million people have played college football and only 1,093 players have been inducted,” said NFF President and CEO, Steve Hatchell. “The Hall’s requirement to be a first-team All-American creates a much smaller pool of around 1,500 individuals who are even eligible. Being in today’s elite group means that an individual is truly among the best to ever play the game.” the game, and we look forward to announcing the College Football Hall of Fame class of 2025 early next year.”
Kleinsasser played tight end at UND from 1995 to 1998. He was a three-time First Team All-American in 1998 and was a two-time First Team member in 1997. He also received honorable mention All-America status in 1996.
Kleinsasser earned First Team All-North Central Conference honors in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and remains the highest-drafted UND player in the NFL Draft.
For his career, Kleinsasser caught 88 passes for 1,309 yards and averaged 14.8 yards per reception. He finished with 10 receiving touchdowns and also rushed eight times for 91 yards and a score. The Fighting Sioux had an overall record of 32-10 in Kleinsasser’s playing days and an NCC record of 28-8. He helped UND reach the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1995 and 1998 and was a member of UND’s 1995 North Central Conference championship team.
In the 1999 NFL Draft, Kleinsasser was selected 44th overall by the Minnesota Vikings. He played for the Vikings from 1999 to 2011, before retiring at the end of the 2011 season.
During his time as a Viking, Kleinsasser paved the way for seven of the eight best single-season rushing marks in Vikings history, including Adrian Peterson’s team record and then-NFL-leading record of 1,760 rushing yards in 2008. Kleinsasser also appeared on the USA Today show. All-Joe Team in 2007 and 2008 and was inducted into the University of North Dakota Hall of Fame in 2012.
The College Football Hall of Fame ballot was emailed Monday to more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and presented to the NFF Honors Court, which will deliberate and will select the class.
Kleinsasser was also on the 2024 ballot and appeared as a member of the Senior Bowl 75th Anniversary team ballot last September.
The College Football Hall of Fame class of 2025 announcement will be made in early 2025.
The College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be officially inducted during the 67th Annual NFF Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on December 9, 2025 at the Bellagio Hotel & Resort, and will also be honored in their respective schools with an NFF. Salute to the Hall of Fame on campus during the 2025 season.
Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 and 2022.
His primary activity is UND football, but he also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preparations.
He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.
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