Rex Kern is the only player from Ohio State being enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame tonight in South Bend, Ind.

But if the former quarterback had his way, the stage in South Bend, Ind., would be filled with fellow Buckeyes and a few additional friends from his high school and Pee-Wee football days.

"This is a great feeling because this is something to share with all my teammates," said Kern, a Camarillo resident. "If it weren't for those guys, I wouldn't be here. We were all successful together and they kind of elevated me."

Kern joins 19 other members of the 2008 Hall of Fame Class, including Penn State head coach Joe Paterno and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie.

In three seasons as Ohio State's starter, Kern led the Buckeyes to a 27-2 record and a national title in 1968.

The Lancaster, Ohio, native was named the Most Valuable Player of the Rose Bowl after Ohio State beat USC 27-16 to cap its national title season.

Although Kern finished his career playing for legendary coach Woody Hayes with modest numbers — 2,444 yards passing, 19 touchdowns and 24 interceptions — his leadership was hailed and his record spoke for itself.

The yardage total even drew a chuckle from the 59-year-old Kern when compared with fellow enshrinee Flutie, who passed for 10,579 yards while at Boston College.

Part of the fun for Kern has been learning more about his Hall of Fame classmates during the festivities leading up to the enshrinement.

From their black-tie inauguration to their bowl game appearance, they have been rehashing old stories and learning new ones.

"It has been a delightful year," Kern said. "Meeting the players and coaches who are going into together has been great. It creates a similar football camaraderie with the enshrinees that you have with your teams."

Kern said his Hall of Fame selection took him completely by surprise.

As he was walking out the door of his Camarillo home on his way to a meeting, he received a "special delivery" in the mail.

It was a football with a congratulatory message written on it and a letter included in the box.

Kern read the first paragraph and began calling his family and close friends to spread the good news.

But once he arrived at his meeting early and read the rest of the letter, he quickly hit re-dial.

"The back page had a section that said, While we share in this excitement, please keep this confidential until 10 days later," Kern said. "I called everybody back and had to tell them not to share this news."

After his playing career, Kern returned to Ohio State to obtain his master's and doctorate degrees. In 2001, he established the Anne and Woody Hayes Endowment for the prevention of child abuse at Columbus Children's Hospital.

He remains a proud alumni, and was prepared for the stroll down memory lane this week.

"The question that always comes up is What was it like playing for Woody Hayes and what was Woody really like?' " Kern said. "That is always the one they ask, and it would take a long, long time to answer that question."

Although it won't rival the crowds he played before at the Horseshoe, Kern will have a big rooting section at tonight's ceremony.

His guest list entails his wife, Nancy, his two sons, his parents, his brother, his nephews, a daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law, a niece and his high school coach Earl Jone.

"It's almost a mini-reunion," Kern said. "But that is part of what makes it so special. Sharing it with everyone."