SPRINGFIELD -- Former Missouri State football great Jason Whittle, a native of Camdenton, Mo., was inducted Wednesday (Oct. 17) into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame here.

Whittle was part of a four-man indicution class that was enshrined at the hall's annual football luncheon presented by the Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in downtown Springfield.

Whittle was an all-state defensive lineman in 1991 and 1992 at Camdenton High before joining the Bears. At Missouri State, he was a four-year letterman and was voted the Arthur Briggs Award as the club's top scholar athlete in 1995, playing two seasons for Coach Jesse Branch and two for Coach Del Miller.

He went on to carve out an 11-season NFL career (1998-2008) as a guard and center. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1998 but made a huge impact. He helped the Giants win two NFC East titles (2000, 2005) and the NFC Championship in 2000, becoming the first Missouri State player to reach the Super Bowl.

Whittle, who played his final three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings & Buffalo Bills, now lives in Osage Beach, Mo.