College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Nominees Announced
The list of names on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 has been released by the National Football Foundation in conjunction with the hall, including 78 players and nine former coaches at the FBS level, in addition to 101 players and 32 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Included among the players on this year's ballot are several first-timers who are household names, including former quarterback Michael Vick, wide receivers Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald, running back Marshawn Lynch, and defender Terrell Suggs.
"It's an enormous honor to just be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering more than 5.62 million people have played college football and only 1,074 players have been inducted," NFF president and chief executive Steve Hatchell said in a statement. "Being in today's elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to have ever played the game."
Vick is credited with helping revolutionize the quarterback position for the 21st century. A dynamic, dual threat who defined the game as it changed into a more wide-open spread scheme that has dominated the sport in recent years, Vick passed for 3,299 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for another 1,299 yards and 17 scores at Virginia Tech, leading the team to a BCS national title appearance.
Moss caught 28 touchdown passes while surpassing 1,700 yards at Marshall in the 1996 campaign before a breakout 1997 season, when the Thundering Herd made its debut in the FBS ranks, catching 97 passes for 1,820 yards and 26 touchdowns, finishing as the Biletnikoff Award winner as the best wide receiver in the nation.
Below is a partial list of the players up for the honor.
College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Nominees Announced
Quarterbacks: Matt Cavanaugh (Pitt), Tim Couch (Kentucky), Ken Dorsey (Miami), Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), Josh Heupel (Oklahoma), Ryan Leaf (Washington State), Kellen Moore (Boise State), Antwaan Randle El (Indiana), Alex Smith (Utah) and Michael Vick (Virginia Tech).
Running backs: Eric Bieniemy (Colorado), Ki-Jana Carter (Penn State), Kenneth Davis (TCU), D.J. Dozier (Penn State), Warrick Dunn (Florida State), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Montee Ball (Wisconsin), Garrison Hearst (Georgia), Craig Heyward (Pitt) and Marshawn Lynch (Cal).
Wide receivers: Randy Moss (Marshall), Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt), Willie Gault (Tennessee), Marvin Harrison (Syracuse), Herman Moore (Virginia), Taylor Stubblefield (Purdue) and Peter Warrick (Florida State).
Offensive linemen: Flozell Adams (Michigan State), Greg Eslinger (Minnesota), Steve Hutchinson (Michigan), Michael Oher (Ole Miss) and Chris Ward (Ohio State).
Defensive linemen: Jerome Brown (Miami), Brad Culpepper (Florida), Dan Hampton (Arkansas), Julius Peppers (North Carolina), Dewey Selmon (Oklahoma), Richard Seymour (Georgia) and Terrell Suggs (Arizona State).
Linebackers: James Laurinaitis (Ohio State), Ken Norton Jr. (UCLA), Paul Posluszny (Penn State), Simeon Rice (Illinois) and Ron Rivera (Cal).
Defensive backs: Mark Carrier (USC), Michael Huff (Texas), Antonio Langham (Alabama), Todd Lyght (Notre Dame), Terence Newman (Kansas State), Kevin Smith (Texas A&M) and Dennis Thurman (USC).
Among the coaches on the ballot include: Larry Blakeney (Troy); Jim Carlen (West Virginia, Texas Tech and South Carolina); Pete Cawthon Sr. (Austin College and Texas Tech); Larry Coker (Miami and UTSA); Mark Dantonio (Cincinnati and Michigan State); Ralph Friedgen (Maryland); Darryl Rogers (Cal State East Bay, Fresno State, San Jose State, Michigan State, Arizona State); Frank Solich (Nebraska, Ohio); and Tommy Tuberville (Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati).
You can see the entire list of nominees to the College Football Hall of Fame here.
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