Over a week ago, Texas Longhorns’ legendary quarterback Vince Young was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. A deserving candidate given what he was able to accomplish on the football field. His final drive against the USC Trojans to win the National Championship is still talked about more than 13 years later and that game discussed as one of the best ever.
With another Longhorn in the hall, the question arises about which deserving player who wore burnt orange on Saturdays should be next? How about the quarterback who replaced Young in Colt McCoy. The story of McCoy started in the 2006 season, following a redshirt season the year prior. He would beat out Jevan Snead to even get the opportunity and never looked back.
According to the College Football Hall of Fame website, there are a few requirements to be selected that we will break down here.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, A PLAYER MUST HAVE RECEIVED FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA RECOGNITION BY A SELECTOR RECOGNIZED BY THE NCAA AND UTILIZED TO COMPRISE THEIR CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS.
First point of the criteria is a check for McCoy. During his time at Texas, Colt McCoy was named a two-time All-American in 2008 and 2009. In those two seasons McCoy added Heisman runner up and finalist to his resume which is quite impressive.
A player becomes eligible for consideration by the NFF’s Honors Court 10 full seasons after his last year of intercollegiate football played.
His final season came in 2009, so following this year Colt McCoy becomes eligible to be enshired.
While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and fellow man. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
Ask anyone around the program during Colt’s career and you won’t find anyone who doesn’t speak highly of him. Spending spring breaks to travel to Peru for mission work. On top of that he was a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and visiting schools and hospitals to speak with children. He is the perfect role model and worthy of this criteria as well.
Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years*. For example, to be eligible for the 2020 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1970 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
Given that his last game played happened in 2009, this is another check on the list. However, McCoy will have to wait until after he retires from his NFL career to get the call.
There were so many great memories of Colt McCoy playing in Austin and a big reason why his number 12 is retired. He finished his collegiate career with the most wins by a college quarterback that was surpassed by Kellen Moore not even two seasons after leaving for the NFL.
It is only a matter of time before Colt McCoy becomes the 24th member of the Texas Longhorns to be inducted.