GREENSBORO, N.C. -- North Carolina A&T inducted nine former athletes into the sports hall of fame.

The 2018 class is headlined by a former Carolina Panther who didn't have a scholarship offer out of high school. Curtis Deloatch played for the Aggies from 1999-2003. The Murfreesboro native walked onto the campus of North Carolina A&T two days before classes started in 1999 without any classes or even being registered. He was accepted that day and his grandfather drove to the bank and got the money for his grandson to attend college.

Soon after Deloatch joined the football team as a walk-on,  the rest was history. The defensive back earned a scholarship after his freshman season. Deloatch became an All-American and his 26.5 yards per punt return still stands as a single season NCAA FCS record. He went on to play five years in the NFL. Deloatch lined up for four teams including the Carolina Panthers in 2007.

Also headlining the hall of fame class was Maurice Smith. The running back played for the Aggies from 1996-1999. He was an essential part in the Aggies historic 1999 season. Rushing for more than 1,000 yards, Smith helped the Aggies win a first round Division I-AA playoff game. The upset of the number one team in the nation Tennesse State is the first and only playoff win in school history.

Smith went on to play three years in the NFL, leading the Atlanta Falcons in rushing yards in 2001 with 760 yards from scrimmage. Smith also had 19 catches for 230 receiving yards.

The rest of the class includes James Baten (baseball 1958-1962), Joseph Hill (baseball 1990-1993), Derrick Homesley (men's track and field), Akinyele Igunmuyiwa (football, wrestling 1983-1986), Malveata Johnson (women's basketball 1997-2001), Montonrafel Key Sr. (football, men's basketball, men's track and field 1993-1997) and Benjamin Little Jr. (football 1997-2000). 

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