Pitt wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick and Ole Miss offensive lineman Michael Oher headline the nominees for the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, announced by the National Football Foundation on Monday.
Fitzgerald, Oher and Vick were among seven candidates nominated in their first year of eligibility. The others were Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, Minnesota center Greg Eslinger, Texas defensive back Michael Huff and Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs.
In all, 78 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 101 players and 32 coaches from the divisional ranks were on the ballot.
“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 & CEO Steve Hatchell said. “Being in today’s elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to have ever played the game.”
Among the biggest FBS names on the ballot include:
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: 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).
The biggest names among the non-FBS division nominees include Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, Towson punter Sean Landeta and Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss.
There were nine FBS coaches nominated: 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).
To be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame, players must have been named a first-team All-American, and at least 10 seasons must have passed since his college career ended. Coaches must have been a head coach for at least 10 years, coached at least 100 games and have a .600 winning percentage.
Also, individuals playing or coaching at the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
The College Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 will be announced in January. The Class of 2024 will be officially inducted Dec. 10, 2024, at the 66th National Football Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas.
Here are the 78 FBS players on the Class of 2024 ballot:
| Name | Name |
|---|---|
| OT Flozell Adams, Michigan State | OL Steve Hutchinson, Michigan |
| RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin | LB Bradie James, LSU |
| DB Aaron Beasley, West Virginia | OG Ed King, Auburn |
| RB Eric Bieniemy, Colorado | LB Levon Kirkland, Clemson |
| WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State | C Olin Kreutz, Washington |
| DT Jerome Brown, Miami | DB Antonio Langham, Alabama |
| SE Larry Burton, Purdue | LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State |
| LB Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma | QB Ryan Leaf, Washington State |
| LB Gregg Carr, Auburn | K John Lee, UCLA |
| DB Mark Carrier, USC | OL Andy Levitre, Oregon State |
| RB Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State | DB Todd Lyght, Notre Dame |
| DB Russell Carter, SMU | RB Marshawn Lynch, Cal |
| QB Matt Cavanaugh, Pitt | WR Herman Moore, Virginia |
| TE Dallas Clark, Iowa | QB Kellen Moore, Boise State |
| LB Marco Coleman, Georgia Tech | DB Terence Newman, Kansas State |
| QB Tim Couch, Kentucky | DT Haloti Ngata, Oregon |
| DT Brad Culpepper, Florida | LB Ken Norton Jr., UCLA |
| RB Kenneth Davis, TCU | OL Michael Oher, Ole Miss |
| WR Jarett Dillard, Rice | DE Julius Peppers, North Carolina |
| QB Ken Dorsey, Miami | LB Paul Posluszny, Penn State |
| RB D.J. Dozier, Penn State | QB Antwaan Randle El, Indiana |
| RB Vaughn Dunbar, Indiana | LB Simeon Rice, Illinois |
| RB Warrick Dunn, Florida State | LB Ron Rivera, Cal |
| C Greg Eslinger, Minnesota | LB Matt Russell, Colorado |
| CB Deon Figures, Colorado | WR Larry Seivers, Tennessee |
| WR Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt | DL Dewey Selmon, Oklahoma |
| WR Willie Gault, Tennessee | DT Richard Seymour, Georgia |
| RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford | QB Alex Smith, Utah |
| DT Dan Hampton, Arkansas | LB Darrin Smith, Miami |
| LB Kevin Hardy, Illinois | CB Kevin Smith, Texas A&M |
| QB Graham Harrell, Texas Tech | LB Takeo Spikes, Auburn |
| OG Leotis Harris, Arkansas | WR Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue |
| KR/WR Marvin Harrison, Syracuse | DE Terrell Suggs, Arizona State |
| RB Garrison Hearst, Georgia | DB Dennis Thurman, USC |
| QB Josh Heupel, Oklahoma | QB Michael Vick, Virginia Tech |
| RB Craig Heyward, Pitt | OT Chris Ward, Ohio State |
| OG Ken Huff, North Carolina | WR Peter Warrick, Florida State |
| DB Michael Huff, Texas | DB Eric Weddle, Utah |
| CB Daymeion Hughes, Cal | K Luis Zendejas, Arizona State |
