Illinois Wesleyan's Chris Bisaillon, one of the greatest wide receivers in NCAA Division III history, has been selected to the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame 2012 Divisional Class, announced on Tuesday (May 22).

The Divisional College Football Hall of Fame considers players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), Divisions II, III, and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) for induction.

Bisaillon, who played for the Titans from 1989 to 1992, becomes only the second IWU player to be named to the College Football Hall of Fame, joining lineman Tony Blazine, who played at IWU from 1931-34 and was inducted posthumously in 2002.

This year's class will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during the Enshrinement Festival, July 20-21, in South Bend, Ind.

"I am flabbergasted, humbled and flattered," said Bisaillon, a 1993 IWU graduate who was an All-American on the field and in the classroom. "Illinois Wesleyan football gave me the ability to maximize both individual and team ability. It can't be overstated how important it was to have a great team around me, from the offensive side, the defensive side and the coaching staff. We all made each other better."

"It is a great honor for Chris as an athlete and great recognition for Illinois Wesleyan," said Norm Eash, who recruited Bisaillon out of Herscher (Ill.) High School and was his college coach. "He was a very dominant Division III player in his career and was instrumental in propelling IWU football into national prominance. In addition he was the ultimate student-athlete as he was a real scholar and team leader."

The two-time All-America honoree left the school as the most accomplished wide receiver in Division III history as he set the all-time NCAA record with 55 touchdown catches, and tied the Division III record by recording 36 consecutive games with a reception. Bisaillon's 55 scoring grabs topped the record set by Jerry Rice of Mississippi Valley State. The Division III and collegiate record has since been set at 75 career receiving TDs by Scott Pingel of Westminster (Mo.) from 1996 to 1999.

"There is no way a wide receiver gets open to make catches without having a great running back, quarterback, tight end, and offensive line, in addition to a great defense that can get the ball for the offense," said Bisaillon. "I have so many great memories of playing at Wesleyan."

Bisaillon set 11 school records and three conference records while earning College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin “Offensive Player of the Year” honors in 1991. Bisaillon's best game came against Carroll (Wis.) in 1989 in which he set school records with 15 catches for 287 yards and five touchdowns.

For his career, the two-time first team all-CCIW honoree posted 230 grabs, 3,125 receiving yards, 324 points scored, 1,067 kick return yards and 981 punt return yards. He helped the Titans to a 29-8-1 overall record while on the roster, including a 10-1 campaign in 1992 in which Bisaillon helped the Titans achieve the first playoff win in school history.

A GTE First Team Academic All-America in 1991 and a GTE Second Team Academic All-America a year later, Bisaillon was named the Champion USA Division III Football Senior Student-Athlete of the Year in 1992.

A Hinsdale, Ill., resident, Bisaillon is currently managing partner for Bottleneck Management, a restaurant management company.

In addition to Bisaillon, the 2012 class includes running back Jim Holder of Oklahoma Panhandle State (1961-63), tight end Richard McGeorge of Elon (1966-69) and lineman Rex Mirich of Northern Arizona (1960-63).

Three coaches were also elected into the Hall – Gene Carpenter (Adams State [Colo.] (1968), Millersville [Pa.] (1970-2000); 220-96-6); William “Lone Star” Dietz (Washington State (1915-17), Purdue (1921), Louisiana Tech (1922-23), Wyoming (1924-26), Haskell Indian Institute [Kan.] (1929-32), Albright [Pa.] (1937-42); 96-62-7); and Ron Harms (Concordia [Neb.] (1962-69), Adams State [Colo.] (1970-73), Texas A&M – Kingsville (1979-99); 218-117-4).

The NFF launched its Divisional Hall of Fame program in 1996. A total of 137 players and coaches, counting this year's class, have been inducted from the divisional ranks, including Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech), Walter Payton (Jackson State), Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), and coach Eddie Robinson (Grambling State). Of the 4.79 million who have played college football since 1869, the newest class of inductees joins only 914 players and 197 coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame.