Candidates for the Hall of Yeah, They Should Probably Be In
2021 Hall of Fame Ballot Rankings
Hall of the Very Good | Hall of Maybe
No-Doubters (Top 15) | Coaches
Yeah, fine … they should be in when all is said and done.
All player bullet points taken from the National Football Foundation footballfoundation.org.
38. Jack Del Rio, USC, Linebacker
-1984 consensus First Team All-American who earned Co-MVP honors in the Trojans 1985 Rose Bowl win
– Two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection, leading USC to the 1984 Pac-10 title
– Led the Trojans in tackles for loss his first three seasons.
37. Bobby Majors, Tennessee, Defensive Back
– 1971 unanimous First Team All-American who led Vols to wins in 1971 Sugar Bowl and 1972 Liberty Bowl
– Two-time First Team All-SEC selection still holds conference and school record with 10 INTs in 1971
– Set Tennessee records for career punt returns (117) and career punt return yardage (1,163).
36. John Lee, UCLA, Placekicker
– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1985
– Boasted the NCAA’s highest career field goal percentage among players with at least 55 attempts (.859)
– Two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection who helped UCLA to three league titles and finished his career as the Bruins’ all-time scoring leader (390).
35. Zach Wiegert, Nebraska, Offensive Tackle
– 1994 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Outland Trophy
– Led Huskers to 1994 National Championship and 1993 National Championship game appearance
– Three-time All-Big Eight selection who led Nebraska to league titles every year of career.
34. Chris Samuels, Alabama, Offensive Tackle
– 1999 unanimous First Team All-American and Outland Trophy recipient
– Two-time First Team All-SEC selection who led the Tide to a 1999 conference title
– SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner who did not allow a sack the entire 1999 season and blocked for 1,000-yard rusher Shawn Alexander.
33. Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State, Placekicker
– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1998 and unanimous accolades in 1999
– Only two-time recipient of the Lou Groza Award (1998, 1999)
– Helped FSU to consecutive BCS Championship appearances, winning the national title at the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
32. Tony Franklin, Texas A&M, Placekicker
– Two-time First Team All-America (1976-consensus, ’78)
– Led A&M to four bowl appearances
– Set seven NCAA records, including most 50 yards-plus field goals made (15) and most points scored by a kicker in a career (291).
31. Darren Sproles, Kansas State, Running Back/Kick Returner
– 2003 First Team All-American who finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting the same year
– Left K-State with 28 school records, including career rushing (4,979) and all-purpose yards (6,812)
– Three-time All-Big 12 performer who holds the league record in career 100-yards games (24).
30. Larry Jacobson, Nebraska, Defensive Tackle
– 1971 consensus First Team All-American and Outland Trophy recipient
– Led Huskers to back-to-back national titles and three-consecutive conference championships
– 1971 All-Big Eight performer who led Nebraska to a 33-2-1 record during career.
29. David Fulcher, Arizona State, Defensive Back
– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in both 1984 and 1985
– Three-time All-Pac-10 selection who led ASU to 1985 Holiday Bowl berth
– Recorded 14 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and 286 tackles in career.
28. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, Running Back/Kick Returner
– 2009 unanimous First Team All-America kick returner, also earning Second Team All-America honors as a running back the same year
– 2009 ACC Player of the Year who set 31 Clemson records by career’s end
– Career all-purpose yards (7,588) ranks first all-time in ACC annals and fourth all-time in NCAA history.
27. Moe Gardner, Illinois, Defensive Tackle
– Two-time First Team All-American (unanimous, ‘89, consensus, ’90)
– 1990 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and 1989 Big Ten Lineman of the Year
– Three-time First Team All-Conference pick and set school record for career TFL (57).
26. Dwight Freeney, Syracuse, Defensive End
– 2001 unanimous First Team All-American who holds the NCAA record for career sacks per game (1.61)
– 2001 Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, finishing career as the conference’s all-time leader in single-season sacks (17.5 in 2001)
– Holds the Syracuse record for career TFL (50.5).
25. Simeon Rice, Illinois, Linebacker
– Two-time First Team All-American and three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection
– Holds conference and school record for career sacks (44.5) and Illini record for career tackles for loss (69)
– Set school record for single, season sacks (16).
24. Jared DeVries, Iowa, Defensive Lineman
– 1998 consensus First Team All-American and 1997 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year
– Three-time First Team All-Big Ten performer who ranks first all-time in league history with 78 career TFL
– Four-year starter who led the Hawkeyes in sacks and TFL every year of career.
23. Chris Hudson, Colorado, Defensive Back
– 1994 consensus First Team All-American and Thorpe Award recipient
– Three-time First Team All-Big Eight selection who helped the Buffs to the 1991 conference title
– Finished career with 141 tackles, 15 INTs (including two returned for a TD) and 20 PBUs.
22. Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue, Wide Receiver
– 2004 consensus First Team All-American who set the NCAA record for career receptions (316)
– Two-time All-Big Ten selection who led conference in receptions for three consecutive seasons from 2002-04
– 2004 Biletnikoff finalist who set Sun Bowl record with 196 receiving yards in 2001.
21. Champ Bailey, Georgia, Defensive Back
– 1998 consensus First Team All-American and recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Award
– Two-time First Team All-SEC selection who earned Defensive MVP honors in UGA’s win at the 1998 Peach Bowl
– Recorded more than 1,000 plays during the 1998 season, playing DB, WR and KR for the Bulldogs.
20. Josh Heupel, Oklahoma, Quarterback
– 2000 consensus First Team All-American and Walter Camp Player of the Year
– 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up who led the Sooners to a national title at the 2001 Orange Bowl
– 2000 Big 12 Player of the Year who left OU with virtually every school passing record despite only playing two seasons.
19. Antonio Langham, Alabama, Defensive Back
– 1993 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Jim Thorpe Award
– Led Bama to four postseason berths, highlighted by the 1992 National Championship
– Three-time All-SEC selection and the Tide’s all-time leader in career INTs (19).
18. Aaron Taylor, Notre Dame, Offensive Tackle
– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in ’92 and unanimous in ’93
– 1993 Lombardi Award winner and named College Interior Lineman of the Year by Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio)
– Led Irish to four bowl games.
17. Tim Couch, Kentucky, Quarterback
– 1998 consensus First Team All-American who finished fourth in Heisman voting in 1998 and ninth in 1997
– 1998 SEC Player of the Year who led Cats to first win over Alabama in 75 years
– Set seven NCAA, 14 SEC and 26 school records.
16. Corey Moore, Virginia Tech, Defensive Lineman
– Two-time First Team All-American (1999-unanimous) and winner of the 1999 Lombardi and Nagurski awards
– Two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year led Hokies to 2000 National Championship Game
– Leader of Hokies famed “Lunch Pail Defense” that led the nation in rushing defense (85.0 ypg).
2021 Hall of Fame Ballot Rankings
Hall of the Very Good | Hall of Maybe
No-Doubters (Top 15) | Coaches