WVU Football to Honor Steve Slaton, 2005 Sugar Bowl Champions

On the day the present day Mountaineers welcome Deion Sanders and Colorado to Morgantown, the WVU football program will honor a big part of its past.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, West Virginia will honor both the 2005 Sugar Bowl champions and Steve Slaton as he prepares for his December induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Back in 2005, current head coach Rich Rodriguez was in his fifth season of his first tenure. WVU finished the season 11-1 and won the Big East Conference title. It was during that season that Pat White eventually took over the starting quarterback, emerging on the scene during a fourth quarter comeback of then N0. 19 Louisville.

West Virginia would beat Georgia 38-35 in the Sugar Bowl and ended finished ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press’ poll and No. 6 in the Coaches Poll.

As for Slaton, the WVU legend will finally take his place among college football royalty. The National Football Foundation officially announced that Slaton is part of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class back in January.

Slaton, widely regarded as the greatest running back in WVU history, totaled 3,923 rushing yards, averaged 5.9 yards per carry and scored 50 touchdowns on the ground during his three years in Morgantown. He also made 65 receptions for 805 yards. Slaton earned consensus All-American status in 2006 and was a key part of some of the most successful teams in program history.

“Show up for ya boy,” said Slaton as his response to the WVU Varsity Club promoting the day of celebration.

Show up for ya boy! https://t.co/AZKJ28oNDC

— Steve Slaton (@Steve23Slaton) August 6, 2025

More about Slaton’s college career can be found below: 

A unanimous First Team All-American in 2006, Slaton finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and as a finalist for the Doak Walker Award that year, setting the WVU single-season rushing record with 1,744 yards while accumulating 2,104 all-purpose yards.

Making an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2005, Slaton set a then-Big East record with 1,128 rushing yards, including a memorable six-touchdown performance in a triple-overtime victory against Louisville. His MVP performance in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia included a bowl-record 204 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He was named Big East Rookie of the Year while being named a First Team Freshman All-American. He rushed for 1,051 yards in 2007, adding a third consecutive season of more than 1,000 yards.

During his three seasons in Morgantown, WVU went 33-5, winning three consecutive bowls (2006 Sugar, 2007 Gator and the 2008 Fiesta upset of Oklahoma) and boasting final national rankings of No. 5 in 2005, No. 10 in 2006 and No. 6 in 2007. The run included two Big East titles (2005, 2007), the winningest three-year period in WVU history and the second-best record in the nation over the three years.

A three-time All-Big East performer (First Team in 2006, Second Team in 2005, 2007), Slaton finished his college career as WVU’s all-time leader in total touchdowns (55), rushing touchdowns (50), and points scored by a non-kicker (330). He and quarterback Pat White formed one of the most prolific rushing duos in NCAA history, each surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons as just the third pair to ever do so. He rushed for 3,923 yards during his career, adding another 805 receiving and totaling 4,775 all-purpose yards. He finished his career as the NCAA active leader in points per game (9.4) with multiple spots in the conference and school records books.

Selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by Houston, Slaton played four years with the Texans before concluding his career with the Dolphins in 2011. He played with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL for one season before retiring from football and pursuing a career in the culinary arts as a personal chef and kitchen consultant in Houston. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Find more coverage of Steve Slaton at WV Sports Now.

For related content, Mike Asti conducted the first interview with Slaton immediately following the College Football Hall of Fame announcement.