2015 College Football Hall of Fame ballot includes 13 former SEC players
Published:
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame released the names of the 2015 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday morning. It includes 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 87 players and 25 coaches from the divisional ranks.
In a departure from previous years, the announcement of the 2015 class will be made Jan. 9 at the site of the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game that will be played three days later.
However, the induction ceremony will not change and again be at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria in December.
Some of the notable names on this year’s ballot include Miami’s Warren Saap and Ray Lewis, Oklahoma’s Brian Bosworth, Nebraska’s Trev Alberts, Ohio State’s Keith Byars, Notre Dame’s Raghib Ismail, Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El, Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam and Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.
Among those from the Southeastern Conference schools (bios from the NFF):
Brandon Burlsworth, Arkansas-Offensive Guard-1998 First Team All-America and First Team All-SEC selection…Helped Arkansas to two postseason berths and to SEC Western Division titles in 1995 and ’98…Former walk-on who later started 34 consecutive games.
Wes Chandler, Florida-Split End-1977 First Team All American, finishing 10th in Heisman Trophy balloting…Two-time First Team All-SEC performer…1977 team captain who led Gators in receiving three consecutive seasons.
Tim Couch, Kentucky-Quarterback-1998 consensus First Team All-American who finished fourth in Heisman voting in 1998 and ninth in 1997…1998 SEC Player of the Year who led Cats to first win over Alabama in 75 years…Set seven NCAA, 14 SEC, and 26 school records.
Paul Crane, Alabama-Center/Linebacker-Two-way starter at center/linebacker, earning consensus First Team All-America honors…Member of back-to-back national championship teams…1965 SEC Lineman of the Year, helping ‘Bama to consecutive SEC championships.
Tony Franklin, Texas A&M-Plackekicker-Two-time First Team All-America (1976-consensus, ’78)…Led A&M to four bowl appearances…Set seven NCAA records, including most 50 yards-plus field goals made (15) and most points scored by a kicker in a career (291).
Willie Gault, Tennessee-Wide Receiver-1982 First Team All-American…Led Vols to three bowl berths…Set six conference and 12 school punt / kickoff return records…Tied NCAA record for most touchdowns by kick return in a single season (3) in 1980.
Jacob Green, Texas A&M-Defensive Lineman-1979 First Team All-American and two-time All-SWC selection…Set A&M records for career sacks (37) and single-season sacks (20 in 1979)…Led Aggies to berths in the 1977 Bluebonnet and 1978 Hall of Fame bowls.
Bobby Humphrey, Alabama-Running Back-Named First Team All-American in 1987…Led Tide to victories in Aloha Bowl and two Sun Bowls…Named UPI Offensive Player of the Year in 1987…Ended career with 4,958 all-purpose yards and 40 TDs.
Buddy McClinton, Auburn-Defensive Back-Three-time All-American who earned consensus First Team honors in 1969… Auburn’s all-time leader in interceptions (18) and holds record for interceptions in a season (9 in 1969)… Set SEC career interception record (18).
Larry Seivers, Tennessee-Wide Receiver-Two-time consensus First Team All-American in 1975 and 1976…Two-time First Team All-SEC selection…Currently ranks sixth in Tennessee history in career reception yardage (1,924) and seventh in career receptions (117).
Art Still, Kentucky-Defensive End-1977 unanimous First Team All-American… Two-time First Team All-SEC performer who led Cats to 1976 SEC Championship…1977 SEC Defensive Player of the Year who set school record for 22 TFL in 1977 (still standing).
Jackie Walker, Tennessee-Linebacker-1970 and ’71 First Team All-American…Set NCAA record for career interceptions returned for TD by a linebacker (5)… Two-time First Team All-SEC selection who helped Vols to 1969 SEC Championship.
Scott Woerner, Georgia-Defensive Back-Named First Team All-America, All-Conference and team Most Valuable Back in 1980…Twice named Georgia’s Outstanding Special Teams Player of the Year (1977, 1980)…Led team to the 1980 National Championship.
COACHES
Jim Carlen-West Virginia (1966-69), Texas Tech (1970-74), South Carolina (1975-1981)-Led teams to eight bowl games and 13 winning seasons in 16 years as head coach…1973 National Coach of the Year…Three-time Southwest Conference Coach of the Year… Coached Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers at South Carolina.
Danny Ford-Clemson (1978-1989), Arkansas (1993-97)-Led Tigers to perfect 12-0 season and national title in 1981…Won five ACC championships and twice named conference coach of the year…Boasts four of the top five winningest seasons in school history and set Clemson record with 41 consecutive weeks in AP Top 20…Led Arkansas to first SEC West title in 1995.
Billy Jack Murphy-Memphis (1958-71)-All-time winningest coach in Memphis history…Had 11 winning seasons and retired as the 15th winningest coach in the nation…Member of the Memphis Hall of Fame and Mississippi State Hall of Fame.
To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a First-Team All-American by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 years prior; played within the last 50 years and cannot be currently playing professional football.
Coaches must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach; won at least 60 percent of their games; and be retired from coaching for at least three years. If a coach is retired and over the age of 70, there is no waiting period. If he is over the age of 75, he is eligible as an active coach. In both cases, the candidate’s post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
