Robert Gallery, Derrick Johnson to Join College Football HOF
Two former Raiders were among the 18 players and four coaches named to the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2023, announced by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, will include tackle Robert Gallery and linebacker Derrick Johnson.
Gallery played offensive tackle for the Silver and Black from 2004 to 2010, while Johnson played one season (2018-19) at outside linebacker for the franchise.
Gallery was selected second overall by the Raiders in the 2004 NFL Draft after spending five seasons (one red-shirt year) at the University of Iowa.
While he started out at tight end, Gallery moved to tackle for the Hawkeyes and helped lead them back-to-back Big Ten titles.
Gallery was a starting tight end before he moved to the tackle position to finish out his freshman season.
Two years later, Gallery was named first-team All-Big 10 as a junior after starting every game at left tackle.
In his final year with the program, he was again selected as a first-team All-Big 10 honoree, won the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year Award, was named a first-team All-American, and was the winner of the 2003 Outland Trophy.
Gallery made 103 starts in 104 games played in his eight seasons as a Raider.
Johnson was selected with the 15th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs after serving as a three-year starter for the University of Texas at Austin.
There, the linebacker earned first-team All-Big 12 honors for three consecutive seasons.
In his senior season, Johnson helped lead Texas to a national title with a victory over the University of Michigan in the 2005 Rose Bowl.
Johnson made only one start in six games he played for the Raiders in 2018, his final NFL season.
The College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony will occur on Dec. 5, 2023.
The entire Class of 2023 can be viewed HERE.
The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. On March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. During the time starting at 12 p.m. EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EST on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EST on March 15.
The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EST on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free agent market this season.
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