Rutgers Athletics on Monday announced the members of its 2024 Hall of Fame class, including the McCourty twins who starred on some of the school’s best football teams.
The class included:
- John “Pomp” Chandler (lightweight football)
- Hallie Cohen (softball)
- Maria Grant (women’s lacrosse)
- Devon McCourty (football)
- Jason McCourty (football)
- Ralph Tedeschi (men’s fencing)
“This class celebrates the rich history of athletic success at Rutgers,” Athletic Director Pat Hobbs said. “This illustrious group features a decorated lightweight football letter winner, a fencing national champion, a pair of outstanding multisport athletes and two football stars who were part of Rutgers’ first bowl championship. We look forward to them taking their rightful places as the newest inductees of the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame.”
The 2024 Rutgers Hall of Fame induction will take place Sept. 26 at the East Brunswick Hilton, with the inductees recognized Sept. 27 when Rutgers football hosts Washington at SHI Stadium.
Nominations are now open for the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025. All Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame nominations will now be submitted electronically here.
About the members of the 2024 Hall of Fame class:
- John “Pomp” Chandler led the Rutgers lightweight team to three undefeated seasons from 1933-1935. With Chandler in the lineup, RU posted a record of 15-0-1 across three seasons under Hall of Fame head coach Harry J. Rockafeller, with the team recognized as the mythical national champions in two of those campaigns.
- Hallie Cohen was a three-sport athlete competing for Rutgers in field hockey, softball and women’s basketball. She was the first recipient of a field hockey scholarship, led softball to the AIAW World Series and was a walk-on to the women’s basketball team.
- Maria Grant was a four-year varsity letter winner for both field hockey (1981-84) and women’s lacrosse (1982-86) and was the first women’s lacrosse player at Rutgers to be named to an All-American squad.
- Devin McCourty shined in the Scarlet Knights’ secondary from 2006-09. The New York native was part of five Rutgers bowl teams overall, with four bowl championships on the field. McCourty capped his collegiate career by being named honorable mention All-America by Pro Football Weekly and First Team All-Big East as a captain in 2009. He became the first Scarlet Knight in history to earn the Homer Hazel Award (Team MVP) in addition to being named the team’s MVP on two units (defense and special teams) in the same season, adding the Scholar-Athlete Award and earning the status as a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman.” McCourty was chosen in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft and played 13 seasons in the league, including winning three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
- Jason McCourty saw action in four bowl games and claimed three bowl championships during his collegiate career. A team captain as a senior, he helped defeat North Carolina State in the PapaJohns.com Bowl. McCourty was taken in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans and would play in 173 pro games over 13 seasons, winning Super Bowl LIII with the Patriots.
- Ralph Tedeschi was part of a three-man team that helped Rutgers men’s fencing to the 1949 co-national championship title by winning the NCAA title in foil. Tedeschi was joined by Rutgers Athletics Hall of Famer and NCAA saber champion Al Treves and Jay Funston, who placed 11th in epee, at the 1949 NCAA championships.
