Candidates for the Hall of Maybe
2021 Hall of Fame Ballot Rankings
Hall of the Very Good | Probably Should Be In
No-Doubters (Top 15) | Coaches
A strong case could be made that any of these players belong in the Hall of Fame discussion.
All player bullet points taken from the National Football Foundation footballfoundation.org.
50. Ray Lewis, Miami, Linebacker
– 1995 First Team All-American and Butkus Award runner-up
– Led Canes to Fiesta and Orange Bowl appearances and ranks sixth all-time at Miami with 388 career tackles
– Two-time First Team All-Big East performer who twice led the league in tackles.
49. Eric Bieniemy, Colorado, Running Back
– 1990 unanimous First Team All-American and finished third in 1990 Heisman voting
– Played in two national championships, leading Buffs to 1990 national title
– Two-time All-Big Eight pick, still holding eight CU records.
48. Dan Neil, Texas, Offensive Lineman
– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors as a senior
– Helped Horns offense rank 11th nationally in total offense (451.8 ypg) and 12th in scoring offense (34.4 ppg) in 1996
– Two-time All-Conference selection who set the UT record for consecutive starts.
47. Al Wilson, Tennessee, Linebacker
-1998 consensus First Team All-American who led the Vols to the inaugural BCS national title in 1998
– Helped Tennessee to four postseason berths and four AP top 10 finishes
– Two-time All-SEC performer led Vols to consecutive SEC titles (1997, 1998) and only lost three conference games in career.
46. Steve Wisniewski, Penn State, Offensive Guard
– 1988 First Team All-American
– Member of 1986 12-0 national championship team
– Helped Blair Thomas rush for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1987 and D.J. Dozier attain First Team All-America honors in 1986.
45. Troy Vincent, Wisconsin, Defensive Back
– 1991 First Team All-American and runner-up for the 1991 Thorpe Award
– Two-time All-Big Ten selection and 1991 Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year
– Finished career as Wisconsin’s leader in punt return yards (773) and passes defended (31).
44. Craig Heyward, Pittsburgh, Running Back
– 1987 consensus First Team All-American who led the nation in rushing his final season and finished fifth in Heisman voting
– Left Pitt as the second-leading rusher in school history (behind only Tony Dorsett) with 3,086 career rushing yards
– Rushed for at least 100 yards in every game of 1987 season.
43. Kevin Faulk, LSU, Running Back
-1996 First Team All-American who finished career ranked fourth in NCAA history in all-purpose yards (6,833)
-Three-time First Team All-SEC selection and 1995 SEC Freshman of the Year
– Set 11 school records during career and became first LSU back to average 100 yards per game during entire career.
42. Pete Mitchell, Boston College, Tight End
– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1994
– Two-time First Team All-Big East performer, leading the conference in catches his last two seasons
– Ranks second all-time at BC in career receptions (190) and third all-time in career receiving yards (2,388).
41. Mark Messner, Michigan, Defensive Tackle
– 1988 unanimous First Team All-American who was a Lombardi Award finalist
– 1988 Big Ten Player of the Year and four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection
– Led Wolverines to four bowl berths and named MVP of 1985 Fiesta Bowl.
40. Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech, Running Back
– 1996 unanimous First Team All-American and recipient of the Doak Walker Award
– Tech’s all-time leader in rushing (4,219) who tied NCAA record by reaching 1,000, yard mark by fifth game of 1996 season
– Three-time All-Big 12 selection, helping Red Raiders to first Cotton Bowl since 1938.
39. Bob Golic, Notre Dame, Linebacker
– Named unanimous First Team All-America and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award in 1978
– Co-holder of UND’s single-game record for tackles with 26 vs. Michigan in 1978
– Ranks second in school history with 479 career tackles.
2021 Hall of Fame Ballot Rankings
Hall of the Very Good | Probably Should Be In
No-Doubters (Top 15) | Coaches