Hall of Famers. No Debate.
2021 Hall of Fame Ballot Rankings
Hall of the Very Good | Hall of Maybe
Probably Should Be In | Coaches
Among the greatest players in college football history, or at the very least are special enough to be in the Hall of Fame without question. Only ten get to go on the ballot, but all these players have to be in.
And before you get grouchy at this in any way, remember, this isn’t about who the most talented players were as much as it is about the most accomplished ones. You get bumped up if you win a Heisman and score extra points for taking a team to a national title.
All player bullet points taken from the National Football Foundation footballfoundation.org.
15. Michael Bishop, Kansas State, Quarterback
– 1998 consensus First Team All-American and winner of the Davey O’Brien Award
– 1998 Heisman Trophy runner-up who led the Cats to 1998 Big 12 North title and berth in conference championship
– Two-time all-Big 12 selection, setting 14 conference and 34 school records by career’s end.
14. Steve Hutchinson, Michigan, Offensive Lineman
– 2000 unanimous First Team All-American who led the Wolverines to four bowl wins, including the 1997 National Championship at the Rose Bowl
– One of only seven players in conference history to be named a four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection
– Three-time Big Ten champion.
13. Marvin Jones, Florida State, Linebacker
– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1991 and unanimous honors in 1992
– Winner of the 1992 Butkus and Lombardi awards
– Helped Seminoles to three consecutive bowl wins and top five final rankings.
12. Dan Morgan, Miami, Linebacker
– 2000 unanimous First Team All-American and first player to sweep the Butkus, Bednarik and Nagurski awards in one season
– 2000 Big East Defensive Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-Big East selection
– Canes all-time leader in tackles (532) who started a school-record 45 games.
11. Antwaan Randle El, Indiana, Quarterback
– 2001 First Team consensus All-American
– First player in FBS history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in career
– Rushed for more yards than any QB in FBS history upon conclusion of career.
10. Donnell Woolford, Clemson, Defensive Back
– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors as a senior in 1988
– Two-time – First Team All-ACC selection who led the Tigers to three league titles
– Holds Clemson records for career PBU (44) and punt returns for a TD in a career (2).
9. Kenneth Sims, Texas, Defensive Tackle
– Two-time First Team All-American (1980-consensus, 1981-unanimous) and recipient of the 1981 Lombardi Award
– Finished eighth in 1981 Heisman Trophy voting and led Longhorns to four bowl berths
– Two-time First Team All-SWC performer who ranks fourth in school history with 29 career sacks.
8. Mike Doss, Ohio State, Defensive Back
– Three-time First Team All-American, earning unanimous honors as a senior
– 2002 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection
– Led Buckeyes to the 2003 BCS National Championship, earning Defensive MVP honors.
7. Julius Peppers, North Carolina, Defensive End
– 2001 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the 2001 Bednarik and Lombardi awards
– Two-time First Team All-ACC selection, leading the conference in TFL (24) and sacks (15) in 2000
– 2001 Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year who finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting
6. Andre Tippett, Iowa, Defensive End
– 1981 consensus First Team All-American who led Hawkeyes to 1982 Rose Bowl berth
– Two-time First Team All-Big Ten performer, leading Iowa to 1981 Big Ten championship
– Holds Iowa record for tackle for loss yardage (153 yards/20 TFL).
5. Ken Dorsey, Miami, Quarterback
– 2002 First Team All-American who led the Canes to back-to-back BCS Championship games, winning the national title his junior season
– Two-time Big East Co-Offensive Player of the Year and 2001 Maxwell Player of the Year
– Left Miami as the school record holder in career total offense and passing yards
4. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, Linebacker
– Three-time First Team All-American (consensus-2006, 2008; unanimous-2007)
– Two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year who led the Buckeyes to two national championship games and four consecutive conference titles
– 2007 Butkus and 2006 Nagurski recipient, leading OSU in tackles three-straight seasons.
3. Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, Running Back
– 1994 unanimous First Team All-American and Heisman Trophy winner
– 1994 Walter Camp Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award recipient
– 1994 Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year who led nation in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards.
2. Roy Williams, Oklahoma, Defensive Back
– 2001 unanimous First Team All-American. Nagurski and Thorpe winner
– 2001 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
– Led Sooners to the first 13-win season in program history and a national championship (2000)
1. Carson Palmer, USC, Quarterback
– 2002 consensus First Team All-American and Heisman Trophy recipient
– 2002 Pac-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year who set conference/school career records for total offense (11,621 yds) and passing yards (11,818)
– Led USC to a share of the 2002 Pac-10 title and first 11-win season since 1979.
2021 Hall of Fame Ballot Rankings
Hall of the Very Good | Hall of Maybe
Probably Should Be In | Coaches