By Darin Homer “Pop” Hazel conquers the gridiron by mastering two completely different positions to rewrite college football history. As the ultimate weapon for the Rutgers Scarlet, Hazel defied time and financial hardships to deliver back-to-back brilliant seasons in the 1920s. From his devastating blocking and catching as an elite end to his bruising power as a championship-caliber fullback, he became a trailblazer of early American football. Discover the incredible journey of a relentless competitor who earned his place among the immortal legends in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Football Bio
June 2, 1895 – Piffard, New York – Homer “Pop” Hazel, an end and fullback out of Rutgers University in 1916 and in 1923 and 1924, was born.
The FootballFoundation.org website explains that Hazel won his first letter in football at Rutgers in 1916. He left school because of financial constraints; therefore, he worked various jobs, saved for his future, and then, at age 28, returned to play football at Rutgers. It was worth the wait for gridiron fans at Rutgers as he was, without doubt, the most versatile player the Scarlet ever produced.
Homer led Rutgers to identical 7-1-1 records in his final two seasons, earning All-America selections in each. He played end in 1923, when the only Scarlet loss was from West Virginia by the tune of 27-7. Pop had Rutgers on the way to an unbeaten finish in 1924 – this time as a hard-hitting fullback – when this time Bucknell untracked The Scarlet in the final game of the season, 12-7.
Hazel was also well known for his excellent passing, punting, and kicking skills on the gridiron. In 1923, he was a Walter Camp handpicked All-American at end, and the following year he received the same honor as a fullback, becoming the first player to hold that distinction at two different positions.
Homer secured a place in the College Football Hall of Fame when he was inducted into the gridiron museum in 1951. Homer later served as Athletic Director as well as the football and basketball coach at the University of Mississippi for five years. Then he was a golf pro for four years.
Conclusion
Homer “Pop” Hazel establishes a standard of versatility that modern football players rarely match. By conquering the challenges of an extended hiatus to dominate as both a pass-catcher and a runner, he proved that true gridiron instinct knows no positional boundaries. His unique achievement as a dual-position All-American cements his status as a foundational pillar of Rutgers athletic history. Today, his legacy inspires fans across the country, showing that passion and perseverance can turn any comeback into a Hall of Fame reality.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1951.
- Historic Milestone: The first player in college football history to be named a First-Team All-American at two different positions.
- Walter Camp All-American (End): 1923.
- First-Team All-American (Fullback): 1924.
- Rutgers Football Letterman: Won his first letter in 1916 and later lettered in 1923 and 1924.
- Team Leadership: Guided Rutgers to identical 7-1-1 records during the 1923 and 1924 seasons.
- Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni: Inducted posthumously for his athletic and coaching contributions.
- Multi-Sport Coach: Served five years as the head football coach and head basketball coach for the Ole Miss Rebels (1925–1929).
- Athletic Administrator: Served as the Athletic Director at the University of Mississippi during his coaching tenure.