Heckman, Brooks, Murtagh join Hall of Fame

Dusty Heckman

Wide receiver Dusty Heckman, the league's all-time leader in receiving yardage and touchdowns, joins running back Jason Brooks and offensive lineman Earl Murtagh as new members of the USFL/WFL Hall of Fame.

The three additions bring to eight the total number of players enshrined.

Heckman played eight seasons for the Oklahoma Outlaws, one each with the San Jose SaberCats and Portland Storm. He ranks first in receiving yardage (13,471), first in TDs (97) and sixth in catches (742). He averaged 18.2 yards per reception and was named All-Pro twice.

Jason Brooks

Brooks spent eight of his nine seasons with the Oakland Invaders, retiring as the No. 2 rusher in USFL/WFL history (9.116 yards). He accumulated nearly 13,000 total yards and 62 TDs, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Murtagh was one of the league's most durable and effective linemen for 10 seasons with Birmingham (5), NY Stars (3), and Shreveport (2). He allowed two sacks or fewer in seven of his 10 seasons and was named All-Pro three times.

Earl Murtagh

Middle linebacker Travis Curcio gained 74 percent of the votes cast, one percent shy of the 75 percent needed for automatic induction. He is among 16 players who will reappear on the 1985 ballot. Seventeen nominees got less than 25 percent of the votes and will be dropped from the ballot.

Those returning include Curcio, San Antonio WR Marshall Gibson, Arizona DB Albert Welsh, Southern California MLB James Kelley, Los Angeles QB Gene Nowlin, Boston OL Charles Bukowski, Honolulu DB Joseph Daughtry, New Jersey DB Kerry Justin, Chicago QB Daniel McKee, Arizona RB/WR Curtis Scott, Honolulu DB Robert Gutierrez, Memphis WR Gerard Hall, Orlando WR Robert Zapata, Georgia DB Richard Glasgow, Portland P Sam Savage, and Shreveport MLB John Cintron.
Vote total above 25 percent (click to enlarge):