Latest news with #CollegeFootballHallofFame
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Josh Heupel, two former Vols on 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Josh Heupel, two former Vols on 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel and two former Vols are on the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. Heupel, Larry Seivers and Deon Grant are on the ballot, which was released Monday. Heupel is appearing on the ballot for a sixth consecutive year. As a quarterback at Oklahoma, he was a first-team consensus All-American and won the 2000 BCS national championship. Seivers was a two-time first-team consensus All-American from 1975-76. In 1975, he became the first Tennessee wide receiver to eclipse 800 receiving yards in one season. Seivers was a two-time All-SEC standout for the Vols. Grant, a safety, played for the Vols from 1997-99 under head coach Phillip Fulmer. He was a member of Tennessee's 1998 BCS national championship team. Grant was a 1999 consensus First Team All-American and Jim Thorpe Award finalist. He helped the Vols win two SEC championships, and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 1999. Grant was a first-team all-conference performer as a junior after leading the SEC with nine interceptions. Following his career with the Vols, Grant was selected in the second round of the 2000 NFL draft (No. 57 overall) by Carolina. He played for the Panthers (2000-03), Jacksonville (2004-06), Seattle (2007-09) and the Giants (2010-11). Grant was a Super Bowl champion with New York. He recorded 776 career tackles, 6.5 sacks, 30 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
USC's Mark Carrier returns to College Football Hall of Fame ballot
USC's Mark Carrier returns to College Football Hall of Fame ballot USC football fans know that the Trojan version of Mark Carrier is separate from the other Mark Carrier. USC's Mark Carrier played in the secondary for the Trojans. The other Mark Carrier became an NFL receiver, coming out of Nicholls State. USC's version of Mark Carrier is once again on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot. We wrote this about the historically important Trojan: "Carrier owns an important place in USC football history. He helped coach Larry Smith make three straight Rose Bowls, returning the Trojans to an expected standard after the mediocrity of the Ted Tollner years and a general dry spell for much of the 1980s. "USC made the Rose Bowl only once in a seven-year span from 1980 through 1986. Carrier lifted the Trojans back to the Granddaddy on a regular basis, which is the kind of transformation the program seeks today under Lincoln Riley, having made the Rose Bowl only once since the 2008 season (2016 under Sam Darnold)." USC had a powerhouse defense in the late 1980s, with the 1988 team being one of the very best in college football. Mark Carrier was an important part of that team, making him one of the greatest Trojans ever. Maybe this will be the time when Carrier gets carried over the finish line and into the College Football Hall of Fame.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Nebraska legend Ndamukong Suh named a 'no-brainer' for the College Football Hall of Fame
Nebraska legend Ndamukong Suh named a 'no-brainer' for the College Football Hall of Fame A former Nebraska defensive lineman has been called a lock for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2026 class. On3's Andy Staples named Ndamukong Suh one of his seven 'no-brainers' for the Hall of Fame. Suh was joined on Staples 'lock list' by Auburn's Cam Newton, Pitt's Aaron Donald, Florida's Percy Harvin, LSU's Alan Faneca, former TCU head coach Gary Patterson, and former Boise State and Washington head coach Chris Petersen. Suh had a legendary career for the Huskers, with his 2009 season regarded as one of the greatest individual defensive seasons in college football history. During that year, Suh played in 14 games and recorded 85 tackles, 20.5 for loss, and 12.0 sacks. He was a finalist for the 2009 Heisman trophy and was the first defensive player named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. Staples described just how dominant Suh was that year. "Former Alabama tailback Mark Ingram also is a nominee this year, and I suspect he and Suh will both make the class. But with all due respect to Ingram, who was incredible in 2009, Suh was the best player in college football that season. Suh was the No. 1 vote on my first ballot as a Heisman Trophy voter because he simply wrecked every offense he played." Now, he is getting an opportunity to be immortalized among the college football greats. One has to think that he will be in elite company sooner rather than later. The 2026 Hall of Fame ballot includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks. The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026. The induction will take place on December 8, 2026. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
3 Raiders legends among nominees for College Football Hall of Fame class of 2026
3 Raiders legends among nominees for College Football Hall of Fame class of 2026 The National Football Foundation has announced this year's nominees for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame. Among them are several players who suited up for the Raiders. Among the notable former Raiders on the ballot include former first round pick Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland native Marshawn Lynch, and Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour. Sebastian Janikowski, K, Florida State 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. Was selected by the Raiders with the 17th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. His selection at 17 overall was the fourth highest ever for a kicker and the highest drafted player of the past 45 years. Marshawn Lynch, RB, California 2006 First Team All-American who led Cal to a share of the 2006 Pac-10 title…2006 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year led the league in rushing (1,356), all-purpose yards (1,785) and TDs (15) that season…Two-time bowl game MVP (2005 Las Vegas, 2006 Holiday) and Cal's all-time leader in 100-yard rushing games (17). Marshawn came out of retirement in 2017 in order to play the final two seasons for his hometown Oakland Raiders. Richard Seymour, DT, Georgia 2000 First Team All-American, helping the Bulldogs to four-straight bowl wins and top 20 final national rankings…Two-year team captain and two-time First Team All-SEC selection…1999 UGA Defensive MVP and one of only two DLs in school history to lead the team in single-season tackles (74 in 1999). In 2009, the Raiders sent a first round pick to New England to acquire the five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All Pro, and three-time Super Bowl champion. He would head to two more Pro Bowls in his four seasons in Oakland and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
USA Today
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Former Longhorns DT Casey Hampton on ballot for 2026 College Football Hall of Fame
Former Longhorns DT Casey Hampton on ballot for 2026 College Football Hall of Fame The National Football Foundation has announced the list of players nominated for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame. This list includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision. One former Texas Longhorn that made the cut is former defensive tackle Casey Hampton. Hampton starred on defense for Texas from 1996-2000. One of his teammates from that era was Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams. Halfway through Hampton's career on the 40 Acres, Texas hired Mack Brown as head coach. "Casey Hampton was a great player, a pleasure to coach and an even better person. He was a guy that always set the pace and brought his best, whether it was in offseason workouts, practice or games. He was just a relentless competitor who was unbelievably productive and led some of the best defenses in Texas history. Casey was so strong and physical and really unblockable. He drew double and even triple teams every snap, yet still led our team in tackles from an interior line position and anchored our defense for four seasons. What he did in the NFL, playing 12 seasons as a key cog on great Steelers defenses is truly incredible, as well. He is an all-time great as a college and pro player and so deserving of consideration for the College Football Hall of Fame." - Former Texas Longhorns coach Mack Brown The Galveston Ball product was the anchor of the 1999 defense that ranked sixth in the nation and seventh in 2000. Hampton was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and was named All-Big 12 three times. He finished second all-time (now fifth) in tackles for loss. He became the first defensive lineman to lead Texas in tackles two consecutive seasons (1999–2000), and recorded 329 tackles (177 solos) to rank 11th on the school's all-time list. Hampton registered 56 quarterback pressures and caused nine fumbles in his college career. He earned consensus first-team All-American in 2000. Hampton was drafted 19th in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he thrived for 12 years, winning two Super Bowls. With the Steelers, Hampton was named to the Pro Bowl five times, is on the Steelers All-Time Team, the the Pittsburgh Hall of Honor and Hall of Fame. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
