Candidates for the Hall of the Very, Very Good
2021 Hall of Fame Ballot Rankings
Hall of Maybe | Probably Should Be In
No-Doubters (Top 15) | Coaches
These players were fantastic talents for their respective schools, and some might consider them legends, but it’s pushing it to put them in the Hall of Fame category.
All player bullet points taken from the National Football Foundation at footballfoundation.org.
78. Barry Smith, Florida State, Wide Receiver
– 1972 First Team All-American who led the nation in touchdown receptions (13) and receiving yards (1,243) his final season
– Owns school records for career average per reception (20.1) and most 100-yard games receiving in a season (9)
– 1972 First Team All-South Independent selection.
77. Al Harris, Arizona State, Defensive End
– Named unanimous First Team All-American and Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy finalist in 1978
– Three-time All-Conference selection, helping the Sun Devils to two league titles
– 1978 Team MVP who set the ASU career record in tackles for a loss (57).
76. Brad Culpepper, Florida, Defensive Tackle
– 1991 consensus First Team All-American and recipient of the NFF Campbell Trophy® as the nation’s top scholar-athlete
– Two-time All-SEC selection who led Gators to first-ever SEC title in 1991
– Ranks sixth all-time at Florida with 47.5 career TFL, a school record among defensive lineman.
75. Harris Barton, North Carolina, Offensive Tackle
-1986 First Team All-American and NFF National Scholar-Athlete
– 1986 First Team All-ACC selection who was named the league’s most outstanding offensive lineman the same season
– Helped Heels rank first in the ACC and sixth nationally in total offense (436.0 ypg) during senior campaign.
74. Jason Elam, Hawaii, Placekicker
– 1992 First Team All-American who finished his NCAA career ranked second all-time in field goals (79) and scoring (395)
– 1992 WAC Special Teams Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-WAC selection
– Hawaii’s all-time leader in field goals (79) and career field goal percentage (79.0%).
73. Jeff Bregel, USC, Offensive Guard
-Two-time consensus First Team All-American and a 1986 NFF National Scholar-Athlete
– Two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection, leading USC to the 1984 conference title and a Rose Bowl victory
– Earned the 1985 Morris Trophy as the league’s most outstanding offensive lineman.
72. Brandon Burlsworth, Arkansas, Offensive Guard
– 1998 First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC selection
– Helped Arkansas to two postseason berths and to SEC Western Division titles in 1995 and ’98
– Former walk-on who later started 34 consecutive games.
71. Marvin Harrison, Syracuse, Kick Returner/Wide Receiver
– 1995 First Team All-American as a kick returner and 1995 Big East Special Teams Player of the Year
– Three-time All-Big East selection who set a conference record with a 94-yard punt return for a TD in 1995
– Left Syracuse as the school’s all-time receiving leader (2,718 yards).
70. Ed McCaffrey, Stanford, Wide Receiver
-1990 First Team All-American and two-time Stanford MVP
-1990 First Team All-Pac-10 receiver who led the Cardinal in receiving yards three-of-four years
-Ranks in the top 10 all-time at Stanford with 146 career receptions and 2,333 career receiving yards.
69. Mike Hass, Oregon State, Wide Receiver
– 2005 First Team All-American and recipient of the 2005 Biletnikoff Award
– Two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection and first receiver in league history with three 1,000-yard receiving seasons
– Led the nation with 139.9 receiving ypg (2005) and holds virtually every Oregon State receiving record.
68. Luis Zendejas, Arizona State, Placekicker
– 1983 consensus First Team All-American who finished his career as the NCAA’s all-time leader in scoring (380)
– Four-time All-Pac-10 selection, leading the league in scoring in 1983
– Boasts the highest PAT percentage (99.3%) in ASU annals and led the team in scoring his first three seasons.
67. Gregg Carr, Auburn, Linebacker
– 1984 consensus First Team All-American and NFF National Scholar-Athlete
– Three-time First Team All-SEC selection and 1984 SEC Lineman of the Year
– Twice led Auburn in tackles, helping the Tigers to the 1983 SEC title and three consecutive bowl wins.
66. Bobby Engram, Wide Receiver, Penn State
– 1994 First Team All-American and recipient of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver
– Three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection who led Lions to the 1994 conference title and four bowl wins
– First-ever PSU player to record a 1,000-yard receiving season and left PSU with 12 school records.
65. Ron Rivera, California, Linebacker
– 1983 consensus First Team All-American
– Lombardi Award finalist in 1983 and named East-West Shrine Game Most Valuable Player
– Selected as Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1983
– Led team in tackles from 1981-83.
64. Chris Ward, Ohio State, Offensive Tackle
– Two-time First Team All-American (consensus-’76, unanimous-’77)
– Three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection who helped Buckeyes to at least a share of four conference titles
– Blocked for Archie Griffin during second Heisman Trophy-winning campaign.
63. Flozell Adams, Michigan State, Offensive Tackle
-1997 First Team All-American and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year
– Three-time All-Big Ten performer who helped Spartans to three consecutive bowl appearances
– Helped running backs rush for more than 100 yards in 21 games throughout career and allowed only two QB sacks in 1997 season.
62. Tony Gonzalez, California, Tight End
– 1996 consensus First Team All-American and First Team All-Pac-10 selection
– Holds Cal record for receptions in a bowl game (9 in 1996 Aloha Bowl)
– Posted 89 receptions for 1,302 yards and eight touchdowns during career.
61. Morten Andersen, Michigan State, Placekicker
– 1981 First Team All-American who left MSU as the Big Ten’s all-time leader in field goals (45)
– Set still-standing conference record with 63-yard field goal in 1981 and was a three-time All-Big Ten performer
– Led the Spartans in scoring for three seasons.
60. Lucius Sanford, Georgia Tech, Linebacker
– Named a First Team All-American in 1977
– A three-time First Team All-Conference selection, he led Georgia Tech in tackles in 1975 (121) and 1976 (117)
– Named to the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame and the school’s All-Time Team in 1991.
59. Aaron Beasley, West Virginia, Defensive Back
– 1995 consensus First Team All-American led the nation in INTs (10) in 1994
– Two-time First Team All-Big East selection who led WVU to an undefeated regular season and a 1993 Big East title
– 19 career INTs and holds two of the top five single-season PBU performances in Mountaineer history.
58. Ken Norton Jr., UCLA, Linebacker
– 1987 First Team All-American, leading Bruins to four consecutive bowl wins
– Member of the 1985 conference championship team
– Led team in tackles in 1986 (106) and in 1987 (125) and ranks sixth in school history with 339 career tackles.
57. D.J. Dozier, Penn State, Running Back
– Named 1986 consensus First Team All-American and led PSU to perfect 12-0 season and national championship (1986)
– Finished eighth in 1986 Heisman voting
– First PSU back to lead the team in rushing for four consecutive seasons.
56. Dan Hampton, Arkansas, Defensive Tackle
– 1978 First Team All-American and two-time All-SWC selection
– Named 1978 Houston Post Outstanding Player of the Year in the SWC, recording 18 TFL during his senior campaign
– Helped Hogs beat No. 19 Georgia in 1976 Cotton Bowl and No. 2 Oklahoma in 1978 Orange Bowl.
55. Larry Burton, Purdue, Split End
– First Team All-American and Outstanding College Athlete of America in 1974 and a First Team All-Big Ten selection
– Led the team in receiving in both 1973 and 1974
– Named team captain and team MVP in 1974.
54. Willie Gault, Tennessee, Wide Receiver
– 1982 First Team All-American…Led Vols to three bowl berths
– Set six conference and 12 school punt / kickoff return records
– Tied NCAA record for most touchdowns by kick return in a single season (3) in 1980.
53. Ken Simonton, Oregon State, Running Back
– 2000 First Team All-American who finished ninth in Heisman balloting
– Two-time All-Pac-10 selection, leading the Beavers to a co-share of 2000 Pac-10 title
– Two-time team captain who held 11 school records by career’s end, including career rushing yards (5,044) and rushing TDs (59).
52. Matt Cavanaugh, Pittsburgh, Quarterback
– 1977 First Team All-American who led the Panthers to a 1976 national title
– Led Pitt to three consecutive bowl wins, earning MVP honors in the 1977 Sugar and 1977 Gator bowls
– Finished Pitt career ranked second all-time (behind only Tony Dorsett) with 3,916 career yards of total offense.
51. Robert Gallery, Iowa, Offensive Tackle
– 2003 consensus First Team All-American and recipient of the 2003 Outland Trophy
– Two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior
– Led Hawkeyes to a Big Ten title, Orange Bowl appearance and a No. 8 final ranking in 2002.
2021 Hall of Fame Ballot Rankings
Hall of Maybe | Probably Should Be In
No-Doubters (Top 15) | Coaches