Damn, we love this time of year!

A month ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 167 Preliminary Modern candidates for the Class of 2025. This year, a special committee was tasked with reducing this group to 50, and next month, they will be reduced to 25 Semi-Finalists.

*Means they were a Finalist last year

**Means they are eligible for the first time.

Let’s examine this group by position.

Quarterbacks (2):

**Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair:  HOU 1995-97, TEN 1997-2005 & BAL 2006-07.  In 1999, Steve McNair quarterbacked the Tennessee Titans to their first Super Bowl appearance, and in 2003, he was the AP MVP.  A three-time Pro Bowler, McNair threw for 31,204 Yards and 174 Touchdowns and rushed for 3,590 Yards and 37 TDs.  Ranked #125 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The eight Quarterbacks eliminated were:

Marc Bulger: STL 2002-09. 

Randall Cunningham:  PHI 1985-95, MIN 1997-99, DAL 2000 & BAL 2001.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jake Delhomme:  NOR 1999-2002, CAR 2003-09, CLE 2010 & HOU 2011. 

Doug Flutie: CHI 1986, NWE 1987-89 & 2005, BUF 1998-2000 & SDG 2001-04. 

Rich Gannon:  MIN 1987-92, WAS  1993, KAN 1995-98 & OAK 1999-2002.  Ranked #290 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Garcia:  SFO 1999-2003, CLE 2004, DET 2005, PHI 2006 & TAM 2007-08.  

Donovan McNabb:  PHI 1999-2001, WAS 2002 & MIN 2003.  Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Romo:  DAL 2004-16.  Ranked #326 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairmans Quarterback Notes:

Yep, we all knew Eli would be here, and his two Super Bowl rings clash with his .500 record, and we bluntly ask: was there ever a time when it could honestly be said that Manning was the best three any time at his position?  Shouldn’t that matter?  It feels like Eli is on a collision course for a Finalist spot (and maybe even an immediate induction), which feels wrong. 

The QB omission that worries me here is the influential Randall Cunningham, a multi-time Bert Bell Award winner whose time on the modern ballot is wasting away. An honorable mention here goes to Donovan McNabb, who, regardless of the venue or conversation, is criminally disrespected.

Running Backs (6):

Shaun Alexander:  SEA 2000-08 & WAS 2008.  Alexander went to three straight Pro Bowls (2003-05), and in the last one, he won the Rushing Title (1,880) and was named the consensus MVP.  Alexander twice led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and retired with 10,973 Yards From Scrimmage and 112 Touchdowns.  Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Tiki Barber:  NYG 1997-06.  Barber played the entirety of his career with the Giants, where he went to the Pro Bowl in his final three seasons.  He led the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage twice, and in the second of those years (2005), he was a First Team All-Pro and fourth in AP MVP voting.  Barber rushed for 10,449 Yards and had 5,183 Receiving Yards with 67 TDs from Scrimmage.  Ranked #153 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie George:  HOU 1996, TEN 1997-2003 & DAL 2004.  George went to four straight Pro Bowls (1997-2000) and was a First Team All-Pro in 2000.  He would rush for 10,441 Yards and had 12,688 Yards from Scrimmage with 78 TDs.  Ranked #174 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Marshawn Lynch:  BUF 2007-10, SEA 2011-15 & 2019 & OAK 2018.  Lynch propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl and was a two-time leader in Rushing Touchdowns.  “Beast Mode” went to five Pro Bowls, earned a First Team All-Pro, and had 12,627 Yards from Scrimmage with 94 TDs.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Watters was a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers and would go to the Pro Bowl in his first five years in the NFL.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 1996 and would have 14,891 in total.  Ranked #47 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 25 Running Backs eliminated were:

Terry Allen:  MIN 1991-92 & 94, WAS 1995-98, NWE 1999, NOR 2000 & BAL 2001. 

Jamal Anderson:  ATL 1994-01.

Larry Centers FB:  PHO 1990-93, ARI 1994-98, WAS 1999-2000, BUF 2001-02, & NWE 2003.  

Jamaal Charles:  KAN 2008-16, DEN 2017 & JAX 2018. 

Stephen Davis:  WAS 1996-06, CAR 2003-05 & STL 2006. 

Corey Dillon:  CIN 1997-2003 & NWE 2004-06.  Ranked #240 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Warrick Dunn:   Ranked #301 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charlie Garner:  PHI 1994-98, SFO 1999-2000, OAK 2001-03 & TAM 2004. 

Priest Holmes:  BAL 1997-2000 & KAN 2001-05 & 07.  Ranked #131 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steven Jackson:  STL, 2004-12, ATL 2013-14, NWE 2015.  Ranked #196 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Johnson:  TEN 2008-13, NYJ 2014 & ARI 2015-17.  

Thomas Jones:  ARI 2000-03, TAM 2003, CHI 2004-06, NYJ 2007-09 & KAN 2010-11. 

John Kuhn (FB):  PIT 2006, GNB 2007-15, NOR 2017. 

Vonta Leach (FB): GNB 2004-06, 2004-13, HOU 2006-2010 & BAL 2011-13. 

Dorsey Levens:  GNB 1994-2001, PHI 2002 & 2003 & NYG 2004. 

Jamal Lewis:   Ranked #238 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eric Metcalf (Also WR/PR/KR):  CLE 1989-94, ATL 1995-96, SDG 1997, ARI 1998, CAR 1999, WAS 2001 & GNB 2002.  

Glyn Milburn (Also WR & KR):  DEN 1993-95, DET 1996-97, CHI 1998-2001 & SDG 2001. 

Lorenzo Neal (FB):  NOR 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TAM 1998, TEN 1999-2000, CIN 2001-02, SDG 2003-07 & BAL 08.  

Clinton Portis: DEN 2002-03 & WAS 2004-10.  

Tony Richardson (FB):  KAN 1995-2005, MIN 2006-07, NYJ 2008-10. 

Robert Smith: MIN 1993-2000.

Darren Sproles:  SDG 2005-10, NOR 2011-13 & PHO 2014-19. 

Chris Warren:  SEA 1990-97, DAL 1998-2000, PHI 2000. 

Ricky Williams: NOR 1999-2001, MIA 2002, 2005 & 2007-10, BAL 2011. 

The Chairman’s Running Back Notes:

I love seeing Alexander here, but here is a question: Am I the only one who had Taylor sixth in this group? Taylor is like Eli, as I openly ask when he was seriously considered among the top three RBs in football.  Does first ballot Back Marshawn leapfrog him?

Wide Receivers (21): (Down From 23 Last Year)

Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.  A three-time Pro Bowl Selection and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Boldin had seven 1,000 Yard Receiving seasons, tallying 13,779 in total with 82 Touchdowns.  He is also a past winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year (2015) and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Smith:  DAL 1992, JAX 1995-2005.  Smith was chosen for five consecutive Pro Bowls (1997-01), and in 1999, he led the NFL in Receptions (116).  He would retire with 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and was a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #24 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A multi-time Semi-Finalist, he has four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04), 85 Touchdowns, and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 15 Wide Receivers eliminated are:

Donald Driver:  GNB 1999-12.  

Antonio Freeman:  GNB 1995-2001 & 2003 & PHI 2002.  

Irving Fryar: NWE 1984-92, MIA 1993-95, PHI 1996-97 & WAS 1999-2000.   Ranked #143 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Horn: KAN 1996-99, NOR 2000-06 & ATL 2007.  

Chad Johnson:  CIN 2001-10, & NWE 2011.  Ranked #145 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Brandon Marshall:  DEN 2006-09, MIA 2010-11, CHI 2012-14, NYJ 2015-16, NYG 2017 & SEA 2018.  Ranked #172 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Derrick Mason:  TEN 1997-2004, BAL 2005-10, NYJ 2011 & HOU 2011.  Ranked #231 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Herman Moore:  DET 1991-2001 & NYG 2002.  Ranked #333 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Muhsin Muhammad:  CAR 1996-2004 & 2008-09 & CHI 2005-07.  

Jordy Nelson:  GNB: 2008-18. 

Andre Rison:  IND 1989, ATL 1990-94, CLE 1995, JAX 1996, GNB 1996, KAN 1997-99 & OAK 2000.  Ranked #202 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith:  DEN 1995-2006.  Ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wes Welker:  SDG 2004, MIA 2004-06, NWE 2007-12, DEN 2013-14 & STL 2015.  Ranked #170 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Roddy White:  ATL 2005-15. 

The Chairman’s Wide Receiver Notes:

I have no issues with the six who advanced, and the only mild disappointment is Fryar’s omission, as his time is running out.

Tight Ends (6): (Up 3 from Last Year)

Ben Coates:  NWE 1991-99 & BAL 2000.  Coates was a Pro Bowler for five straight years from 1994 to 1998 and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  He would accumulate 5,555 Yards with 50 Touchdowns.  Ranked #106 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Antonio Gates:  SDG 2003-16 & LAC 2017-18.  Gates went to the Pro Bowl every year from 2004 to 2011 and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  A Finalist last year, he had 116 Touchdowns and 11,841 Yards.  It was a mild surprise that he was not inducted in the previous year.  Ranked #1 on Norinhalloffame.com.

The four Tight Ends eliminated were:

Vernon Davis: SFO 2006-15, DEN 2015 & WAS 2016-19. 

Jeremy Shockey:  NYG 2002-07, NOR 2009-10 & CAR 2011. 

Delanie Walker: SFO 2006-12 & TEN 2013-19.  

Wesley Walls:  1989-03, SFO, NOR, CAR, GNB.   Ranked #322 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Tight End notes:

None.  These two belong, and Gates will enter this year.  Bank on it.

Offensive Lineman (12):

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous two years.  Ranked #115 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95 ARI 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TAM 2002.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96), and in his last season in the NFL, he would win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Ranked #152 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ruben Brown (G):  BUF 1995-2003 & CHI 2004-07.  Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection who started his 181 Games.  Ranked #119 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Olin Kreutz (C):  CHI 1998-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kreutz went to six straight Pro Bowls (2001-06) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #109 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Logan Mankins (G):  NWE 2005-13 & TAM.2014-15   A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started all of his 161 Games at. Left Guard.  Ranked #78 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Saturday (C):  IND 1999-2011 & GNB 2012.  Jeff Saturday won a Super Bowl with the Colts and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Joe Staley (T):  SFO 2007-19   Staley started all 181 Games as a Left Tackle with San Francisco, where he went to the Pro Bowls.    Ranked #111 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, with two earning First Team All-Pro nods.  He was also named the Sporting News and the UPI Rookie of the Year.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Erik Williams (T):  DAL 1991-2000 & BAL 2001.  Williams won three Super Bowls with Dallas and went to four Pro Bowls.  He was also twice named a First Team All-Pro.

Steve Wisniewski (G):  EAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  A previous Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 14 Offensive Linemen eliminated were:

Bruce Armstrong (T/G):  1987-00, NWE.  Ranked #209 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Birk (C):  MIN 1998-2007 & BAL 2009-12.  Ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Travis Frederick (C): DAL 2012-17 & 2019. 

Jordan Gross (T):  CAR 2003-13  

Ryan Kalil (C):  CAR 2007-18 & NYJ 2019. 

Lincoln Kennedy (T-G):  ATL 1993-95 & OAK 1096-2003. 

T.J. Lang (G):  GNB 2009-16 & DET 2017-18. 

Nick Mangold (C):  NYJ 2008-16.  Ranked #92 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Nalen (C): DEN 1994-07.  Ranked #132 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Schlereth (G/C):  WAS 1989-94 & DEN 1995-2000.  

Josh Sitton (G): GNB 2008-15, CHI 2016-17 & MIA 2018. 

Chris Snee (G):  NYG 2004-13.  

Dave Szott (G):  KAN 2990-3000, WAS 2001 & NYJ 2002-03. 

Brian Waters (G):  KAN 2000-10, NWE 2011 & DAL 2013.  Ranked #193 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Offensive Line Notes:

It is nice to see the Browns here (Lomas and Ruben) and Webb and Wisniewski, who have limited time left and need to become a Finalist soon.  As for the Centers, while I have no issues with Kreutz and Saturday, Nalen and Mangold feel like better choices. 

Defensive Linemen: (8)

John Abraham (DE, also LB):  NYJ 2000-05, ATL 2006-12 & ARI 2013-14.  Recording 133.5 Sacks and 148 Tackles for Loss, Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #62 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Jared Allen (DE):  KAN 2004-07, MIN 2008-13, CHI 2014-15, CAR 2015.  Allen twice led the NFL in Sacks (2007 & 2011) and would have 136.0 in total.  Allen also was the 2011 runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, though he did win the Sporting News DPOY.  In his first four years of eligibility, Allen was a Finalist, a five-time Pro Bowler, and a First Team All-Pro in four of those years.  Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Robert Mathis (DE):  IND 2003-16.  Mathis won a Super Bowl with the Colts, thrice led the NFL in Forced Fumbles, and is the all-time leader in that category with 54.  He had 123 career Sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2013 with 19, and also earning his only First-Team All-Pro with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Mathis went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Haloti Ngata (DT):  BAL 2006-14, DET 2015-17 &, PHI 2018.  Ngata won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, where he went to five straight Pro Bowls (2009-13) and earned two First Team All-Pro Selections.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Simeon Rice (DE):  ARI 1996-2000, TAM 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.  Rice won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He would have 122.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #135 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Neil Smith (DE):  KAN 1988-96, DEN 1997-99 & SDG 2000.  Smith would go to six Pro Bowls and was also a First Team All-Pro in 1993 when he was the league leader in Sacks (15).  He would also win two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and had 104.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #32 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  A prior semi-finalist, Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while individually earning five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #140 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 9 eliminated Defensive Lineman were:

La’Roi Glover (DT/NT):  OAK 1996, NOR 1997-2001, DAL 2002-05 & STL 2006-08.   Ranked #212 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Casey Hampton (DT/NT):  PIT 2001-12.   Ranked #314 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chester McGlockton (DT):  RAI 1992-94, OAK 1995-97, KAN 1998-2000, DEN 2001-02 & NYJ 2003. 

Clyde Simmons: (DE/DT):  PHI 1986-92, ARI 1994-93, JAX 1996-97, CIN 1998 & CHI 1999-2000.   Ranked #330 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Thomas (DT/NT):  MIN 1987-94, DET 1995-96 & NWE 1997-2000.  Ranked #266 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Justin Tuck (DE):  NYG 2005-13 & OAK 2014-15.  

Ted Washington (NT/DT):  SFO 1991-93, BUF 1995-2000, CHI 2001-02, NWE 2003, OAK 2004-05 & CLE. 2006-07.  Ranked #246 in Notinhalloffame.com.

Jamal Williams (DT/NT):  SDG 1998-2009 & DEN 2010. 

Pat Williams (DT):  BUF 1997-2004 & MIN 2005-10. 

The Chairman’s Defensive Lineman Notes:

Two names:  They got it right with Neil Smith and Kevin Williams, two Linemen who should have been Finalists years ago, both of whom have never been Semi-Finalists.  Hopefully, they both advance.

Linebackers: (5) (Down from 25 last year)

Cornelius Bennett:  1987-00, BUF, ATL, IND.  Bennett would go to five Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 1988.  The two-time UPI Defensive Player of the Year helped Buffalo win four AFC Championships, and he had 71.5 Sacks and 1,190 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*London Fletcher:  STL 1998-2001, BUF 2002-06 & WAS 2007-13.  A previous Semi-Finalist. Fletcher would win a Super Bowl early in his career with the Rams, and later on in his career, he would make the Pro Bowl four years in a row (2009-12) as a Redskin. He accumulated 2,039 Combined Tackles over his career, 23 Interceptions, and 39 Sacks.  Ranked #55 on Notinhalloffame.com.

James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and had a five-year streak of Pro Bowls from 2007 to 2011.  The two-time First Team All-Pro won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Award and is a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly is a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a huge part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and as a veteran, he retired, winning a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 15 Linebackers eliminated were:

Jessie Armstead:  NYG 1992-2001 & WAS 2002-03.  Ranked #263 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brendon Ayanbadejo:  MIA 2003-04, CHI 2005-07 &, BAL 2008-12. 

NaVorro Bowman:  SFO 2010-17 & OAK 2017.   Ranked #262 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lance Briggs:  CHI 2003-14.   Ranked #123 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Keith Brooking:  ATL 1998-2012, DAL 2009-11 &, DEN.  Ranked #285 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tedy Bruschi:  NWE 1996-2008.  

Donnie Edwards:  KAN 1996-2001 & 2007-08 & SDG 2002-06. 

James Farrior:  NYJ 1997-2001 & PIT 2002-11.  Ranked #271 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Willie McGinest (Also DE):  NWE 1994-2005 & CLE 2006-08.  

Ken Norton Jr.:  DAL 1988-93 & SFO 1994-2000.  

Julian Peterson:  SFO 2000-05, SEA 2006-08 & DET 2009-10.  Ranked #313 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Romanowski: SFO 1988-93, PHI 1994-95, DEN 1996-2001 & OAK 2002-03. 

Takeo Spikes:  CIN 1998-2003, BUF 2002-06, PHI 2007, SFO 2008-10 & SDG 2011-12.  

Jessie Tuggle:  ATL 1987-2000.  Ranked #126 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Vrabel:  PIT 1997-2000, NWE 2001-08 & KAN 2009-10. 

Lee Woodall:  SFO 1994-99, CAR 2000 & DEN 2001. 

The Chairman’s Linebackers Notes:

I am thrilled that Bennett is here, as he is also among my most wanted defensive players to at least get into the Finalist room to have a deep discussion.  Kuechly is no surprise, and I expect him to enter immediately.   If there were any other former players, I would have liked to see advance would be Jessie Tuggle and Lance Briggs.

Defensive Backs: (6)

*Eric Allen (CB):  1988-01, PHI, NOR, OAK.  Allen secured 54 Interceptions and 787 Tackles and would have six Pro Bowl Seasons, with one earning a First Team All-Pro Selection and a UPI Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #46 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kam Chancellor (S):  SEA 2010-17.  Chancellor won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks while going to do four Pro Bowls over his career.  He compiled 12 Interceptions with 607 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions, 30.5 Sacks, and 1,206 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #150 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Thomas was selected for three straight First Team All-Pros (2012-14) and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  The Safety had 30 Interceptions and 713 Tackles.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Troy Vincent (CB):  MIA 1992-95, PHI 1996-2003, BUF 2004-05 & WAS 2006.   Vincent’s five Pro Bowls would all come consecutively (1999-2003) when he was with the Eagles. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and had 47 Interceptions and 893 Combined Tackles.  In 2002 he also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early 90s, a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #70 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 12 Defensive Backs eliminated were:

Eric Berry (DB): KAN 2010-18.   Ranked #162 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Antoine Bethea (S): IND 2006-13, SFO 2013-16 & ARI 2017-19. 

Dre Bly (DB):  STL 1999-2002, DET 2003-06, DEN 2007-08 & SFO 2009. 

Nick Collins (S):  GNB 2005-11.  

Antonio Cromartie (CB):  2006-16, SDG, NYJ, ARI, IND.  

DeAngelo Hall (CB):  ATL 2004-07, OAK 2008 & WAS 2008-17

Eugene Robinson (DB):  Ranked #241 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Samari Rolle (CB):  TEN 1998-2004 & BAL 2005-08. 

Allen Rossum (CB):  PHI 1998-99, GNB 2000-01, ATL 2002-06, PIT 2007, SFO 2008-09 & DAL 2009.  

Bob Sanders (S):  IND 2004-10 & SDG 2011.  

Aqib Talib (CB): TB 2008-12, NEW 2012-13, DEN 2014-17 & LAR 2018-19.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Tillman (CB):  CHI 2004-14 & CAR 2015.   Ranked #220 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Defensive Backs Notes:

I was surprised to see Chancellor here, as I would have Eric Berry or Charles Tillman in this spot.  Thomas has had his past issues, and despite being (in my opinion) the best DB on the list, they could hold him back in favor of Allen.

Special Teams: (3)

Gary Anderson PK:  PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-06, SFO 1997, MIN 1998-2002 & TEN 2003-04.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls and was the all-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made at the time of his retirement.  A member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Anderson is currently third all-time in Points (2,434).  Ranked #206 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Mitchell (Also RB): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02, NYG 2003.  Mitchell was a one-time Pro Bowl recipient and a four-time leader in All-Purpose Yards. He totaled 23,330 in APY and is second all-time in that statistic.  He also won a Super Bowl with Washington.  Ranked #151 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Adam Vinatieri PK: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #93 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 18 Special Teams players eliminated were:

David Akers PK:  WAS 1998, PHI 1999-2010, SFO 2011-12 & DET 2013.  Ranked #280 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darren Bennett P:  SDG 1995-2003 & MIN 2004-05. 

Jason Elam PK:  DEN 1993-2007 & ATL 2008-09.  

Jeff Feagles P:  NWE 1988-89, PHI 1989-93, ARI 1994-97, SEA 1998-2002 & NYG 2004-09.  

Jason Hanson PK:  DET 1992-12.

Sean Landeta P:  NYG 1985-93, RAM 1993-94, STL 1995-9 & 2003-046, TAM 1997, GNB 1998 & PHI 2000-01 & 05.  

Shane Lechler P:   Ranked #110 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Kasay PK:  SEA, 1991-94, CAR 1995-2010 & NOR 2011.  

Pat McAfee P:  IND 2009-16.  

Josh Cribbs PR/KRWR:  CLE 2005-12, NYJ 2013 & IND 2014.  

Brian Moorman P: BUF 2001-13 & DAL 2012. 

Matt Stover PK:  CLE 1991-95, BAL 1996-2008 & IND 2009. 

Matt Turk P:  WAS 1995-99, MIA 2000-01 & 2003-03, NYJ 2002, STL 2006, HOU 2007-11, JAX 2011.  

Mike Vanderjadt PK:  IND 1998-2005 & DAL 2006. 

The Chairman’s Special Teams Notes:

Only one thing:  Will Vinatieri make it in year one? 

This group will be pared down to 25 in November and reduced to 15 in January.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of former players who made it to this stage.

The College Football Hall of Fame announced the monstrous list of nominees for the Class of 2025.

They will be announced early next year.

The nominees are:

FBS Players:

Flozell Adams, Michigan State, Offensive Tackle, 1994-97.  Adams was outstanding with the Spartans, where he was a three-time All-Big Ten Selection.  In 1997, he allowed only two Sacks and was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Erick Anderson, Michigan, Linebacker, 1988-91.  Anderson was twice named to the First Team All-Big 10, and in 1991, he won the Butkus Award and Jack Lambert Trophy.  He is the only player in Wolverine history to lead the school in tackles four years in a row.

Montee Ball, Wisconsin, Running Back, 2009-12.  A two-time All-American, Ball won the Jim Brown Award twice and was named the Big Ten MVP and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2011.  He rushed for 5,140 Yards and 77 Touchdowns for the Badgers.  Ball is the only player to rush for over 100 yards in three straight Rose Bowls.

Kenjon Barner, Oregon State, Running Back, 2009-12.  Barner was a First Team All-PAC 12 Selection and Finalist for the Doak Walker Award in 2012.  He helped the Ducks make the 2011 BCS Championship and rushed for 3,623 Yards and 41 TDs.

Aaron Beasley, West Virginia, Defensive Back, 1992-95.  Beasley was named to two First Team All-Big East teams and led the nation in Interceptions (10) in 1994.

Bernard Berrian, Fresno State, Kick Returner & Wide Receiver 1998-2001.  Named to three All-WAC First Team teams, Berrian once led the nation in All-Purpose Yards (2,776) and is the all-time school leader in that category (5,828).

Jeff Bregel, USC, Offensive Guard, 1983-86.  A two-time All-American, Bregel was also a 1986 National Scholar-Athlete.  Bregel won the 1985 Morris Trophy and a Rose Bowl.

Alex Brown, Florida, Defensive Lineman, 1998-2001.  Brown was a two-time All-American and three-time All-SEC Selection.  He holds the school record for Sacks (33) all-time and in a single season (13).  In 2001, he won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma, Linebacker, 1998-2001.  Calmus was a two-time All-American, who was also a two-time First Team All-Big 12 Selection.  Named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 200, he also won the Butkus Award and Jack Lambert Trophy the following season.  Calmus also helped the Sooners win the Orange Bowl in 2000, which gave Oklahoma the National Championship.

George Carr, Auburn, Linebacker, 1981-84. Carr was a three-time All-SEC player, a 1984 Scholar-Athlete, and helped the Tigers win three straight Bowl Games.

Mark Carrier, USC, Defensive Back, 1986-89.  A two-time All-American, Carrier won the 1989 Jim Thorpe Award and was a two-time All-Pac 10 Selection.

Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State, Running Back, 1992-94.  A unanimous All-American in 1994, Carter was the Rose Bowl MVP and Heisman runner-up.  Carter rushed for 2,829 Yards and 34 TDs and was also twice named to the All-Big 10.

Russell Carter, SMU, Defensive Back, 1980-83.  Carter was a three-time All-SWC Selection, led the Mustangs to two league titles and was the SWC Defensive Player of the Year in 1983.  His 18 Interceptions remain a school record.

Matt Cavanaugh, Pittsburgh, Quarterback, 1974-77.  Cavanaugh led the Panthers to a National Championship in 1976 and was the MVP in the 1977 Sugar Bowl and 1977 Gator Bowl.  He had 3,916 Yards of total offence in his college career.

Dallas Clark, Iowa, Tight End, 1999-2002.  Clark was voted as a unanimous All-American in 2002, where he also won the John Mackey Award.

Brad Culpepper, Florida, Defensive Tackle, 1988-91.  A First Team All-SEC Selection in 1991, Culpepper also won the Draddy Trophy as the nation’s top scholar-athlete. 

George Cumby, Oklahoma, Defensive Back, 1976-79.  Cumby was twice an All-American, with the second unanimous.  He was a two-time Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead the Sooners to four league titles.

Kenneth Davis, TCU, Running Back, 1982-85.  Finishing fifth in Heisman voting in 1985, Davis was a unanimous All-American that year.  He was also named the SWC Offensive Player of the Year.

Jarrett Dilliard, Rice, Wide Receiver, 2006-09.  Dilliard holds the NCAA record for Touchdown Receptions (60) and the Conference USA record for Receiving Yards (4,138).  He is also a three-time C-USA Selection.

Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh, Defensive Tackle, 2010-13.  Donald was a unanimous All-American in 2013 where he won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and captured the Bronko Nagurski Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy and Bill Willis Trophy.  He is Pittsburgh’s all-time leader in Tackles for Loss (66).

Ken Dorsey, Miami (FL), Quarterback, 1999-2002.  Dorsey took the Hurricanes to a National Championship in 2001.  He also won the Maxwell Award that year and was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year twice.

D.J. Dozier, Penn State, Running Back, 1983-86,  Dozier led the Nittany Lions to a National Championship and undefeated season in 1986, where he had the winning touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl.  He was also eighth in Heisman voting that year.

Vaughn Dunbar, Running Back, Indiana, 1990-91. Dunbar was a unanimous All-American in 1991 and placed sixth in Heisman voting.

Greg Eslinger, Minnesota, Center, 2002-05.  Eslinger was a three-time All-Big Ten player, the 2005 Big Ten Lineman of the Year, and the Outland Trophy, Rimington Trophy and Jim Parker Trophy recipient.

Alan Faneca, LSU, Offensive Guard, 1994-97.  An eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Faneca helped the Tigers win three bowl games while also being a two-time All-SEC player.  Faneca won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 1997.

Levar Fisher, North Carolina State, Linebacker, 1999-2002.  Fisher was a two-time All-ACC Selection and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2000.  He also led the ACC in Tackles in 2000 (163) and is the all-time leader in Tackles for the Wolfpack (492).

Willie Gault, Tennessee, Returner & Wide Receiver, 1980-83.  Gault was one of the greatest returners in Volunteer history and was an All-SEC Selection.

Gaston Green, UCLA, Running Back, 1984-87.  Green was twice named to the All-Pac 10 team and was eighth in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1987.  He rushed for 3,731 Yards for the Bruins.

Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech, Running Back, 1993-96.  Named a Unanimous All-American in 1996, Hanspard won the Doak Walker Award the same year.  He was also a First Team SWC Selection in 1995, and First Team All-Big 12 nod the following year.  He is the all-time Red Raiders leader in rushing yards with 4,219.

Kevin Hardy, Illinois, Linebacker, 1996-99.  Hardy was twice named to the First Team All-Big Ten squad and won the Dick Butkus Award in 1995.  He had 18 Sacks for the Illini.

Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, Quarterback 2005-08.  Harrell was fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2008, where he was also a National Scholar-Athlete.  He also won the Sammy Baugh Trophy in 2007 and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2008.

Marvin Harrison, Syracuse, Kick Returner & Wide Receiver, 2002-05.  Harrison compiled 2,718 Yards and 20 Touchdowns and was a three-time All-Big East Selection.

Garrison Hearst, Georgia, Running Back, 1990-92.  Hearst was a Unanimous First Team All-American in 1992 where the Running Back was third in Heisman voting, winning the Doak Walker Award and the SEC Player of the Year.  He also won the SEC Offensive Freshman of the Year, the 1993 Citrus Bowl MVP and rushed for 3,232 Yards with 33 TDs.

John Henderson, Tennessee, Defensive Tackle, 1998-2001.  Henderson helped the Vols win the BCS Championship as a freshman and the two-time All-American was unanimous in 2001.  A two-time All-SEC Selection, Henderson won the Outland Trophy in 2000.

Josh Heupel, Oklahoma, Quarterback, 1997-2000.  Heupel quarterbacked the Sooners to a BCS National Championship in 2000, winning the Walter Camp Award, Archie Griffin Award and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Award.

Craig Heyward, Pittsburgh, Running Back, 1984-87.  “Ironhead” was fifth in the Heisman voting in 1987.

Chris Hudson, Colorado, Defensive Back, 1991-94.  Hudson won the 1994 Jim Thorpe Award and was a three-time All-Big Eight Selection.  He had 141 Tackles and 15 Interceptions for the Buffaloes.

Michael Huff, Texas, Defensive Back, 2001-05.  Huff was a unanimous All-American in 2005 when he helped the Longhorns win the BCS National Championship.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Big 12 player and 2005 Jim Thorpe recipient.

Mark Ingram, Alabama, Running Back, 2008-10.  Ingram made history in 2009 as the first-ever Crimson Tide player to win the Heisman.  That year, he was also a Unanimous All-America, a First Team All-SEC Selection, and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.  Ingram also led Alabama to a BCS National Championship.

DeSean Jackson, California, Return Specialist & Wide Receiver, 2005-07.  Jackson was an All-Pac 10 Selection as a Returner and Wide Receiver.  He won the 2006 Randy Moss Award as the top returner in the nation.

Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State, Place Kicker, 1997-99.  Janikowski was a two-time All-American, with his second one in 1999, where he was unanimous.  The two-time All-ACC and two-time Lou Groza winner helped the Seminoles win the 1999 BCS Championship.

Ed King, Auburn, Offensive Guard, 1987-90.  King was a two-time All-American and was unanimous in 1990.  He helped the Tigers win two conference titles and was a two-time SEC Selection.

Olin Kreutz, Washington, Center, 1995-97.  Kreutz was twice named a First Team All-Pac 10 Selection and was the 1997 Morris Trophy winner.

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, Linebacker, 2005-08.  A three-time All-American, Laurinaitis was a unanimous selection in 2007.  Laurinaitis was a three-time All-Big Ten Selection, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the 2006 Bronko Nagurski and 2007 Butkus awards, and a two-time Jack Lambert Trophy winner.

Ryan Leaf, Washington State, Quarterback, 1994-97.  In 1997, Leaf took the Cougars to their first league title and was a First Team All-Pac 10, the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and the Sammy Baugh Trophy.

John Lee, UCLA, Place Kicker, 1982-85.  Lee was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Pac 10 Selection.

Todd Lyght, Notre Dame, Defensive Back, 1987-90.  A 1988 National Championship Team member, Lyght was a two-time All-American with Unanimous honors in 1989.  He had 11 career Interceptions.

Marshawn Lynch, California, Running Back 2004-06.  Lynch helped the Golden Bears win a league title in 2006 and was that year’s PAC-10 Offensive Player of the Year off a 15 TD/1,785 APY campaign.  He was also a two-time bowl game MVP.

Alex Mack, California, Offensive Lineman, 2006-09.  Mack was a three-time All-Pac 10 Selection, a two-time Morris Trophy recipient and won the Draddy Trophy in 2008.

Wayne Martin, Arkansas, Defensive Tackle, 1985-88.  Martin helped the Razorbacks reach four bowl games and three top-20 final national rankings.  He also was a First Team All-SWC Selection and had 25.5 Sacks.

Terence Metcalf, Mississippi, Offensive Lineman, 1998-2001.  A two-time All-SEC Selection, Metcalf’s O-Line allowed the fewest sacks in his last two seasons with the Rebels.

Herman Moore, Virginia, Wide Receiver, 1988-90.  Moore was sixth in Heisman voting in 1990 and holds the average Yards per Reception record with 22.0.  The former First Team All-ACC WR is still the Cavaliers’ all-time record in Receiving Yards (2,504) and Touchdowns (27).

Kellen Moore, Boise State, Quarterback, 2008-11.  A three-time all-conference Quarterback (two WAC & one MWC), Moore was also a three-time league Offensive Player of the Year.  He set an NCAA record with four 3,000 passing seasons and is the Broncos’ all-time leading passer (14,667).

Dan Neil, Texas, Offensive Lineman, 1993-96.  Neil set the all-time Longhorn record for consecutive starts and was a two-time All-Big 12 Selection.

Terence Newman, Kansas State, Defensive Back, 1998-2002. Newman was a Unanimous All-American and a First-Team All-Big 12 player, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and the Jim Thorpe Award winner. 

Haloti Ngata, Oregon, Defensive Tackle, 2002-05.  In 2005, Ngata became Oregon’s first Consensus All-American since 1962.  A two-time All-Pac 10 Selection, Ngata was the 2005 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophies, but did win the Morris Trophy.

Ken Norton Jr., UCLA, Linebacker, 1984-87.  Norton was part of four UCLA bowl wins and would have 339 Tackles for UCLA.

Michael Oher, Mississippi, Offensive Lineman, 2005-08.  Oher was a Unanimous All-American in 2008 and was twice an All-SEC Selection.  He won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the conference’s best blocker in 2008.

Jim Pyne, Virginia Tech, Center, 1990-93.  Pyne was voted Unanimous All-American in 1993, making him the first-ever Hokie to gain this accolade.  The two-time All-Big East Selection was also a Lombardi and Outland Trophy finalist.

Antwaan Randle El, Indiana, Quarterback, 1997-2001.  Randle El made history as the first player in the FBS to pass for 6,000 Yards and rush for 3,000.

Simeon Rice, Illinois, Linebacker, 1992-95.  Rice was a two-time All-American and a two-time Big Yen Selection.  He still holds the Illini record for Sacks (44.5) and Tackles for Loss (69).  Rice also has the single-season school record for Sacks with 16.

Chris Samuels, Alabama, Offensive Tackle, 1996-99.  A Unanimous All-American in 1999, Samuels won the Outland Trophy in a year he did not allow a Sack.  Samuels also won the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy and was a two-time All-SEC Selection.

Larry Seivers, Tennessee, Wide Receiver, 1973-76.  Seivers was a two-time All-American and had 1,924 Receiving Yards.

Richard Seymour, Georgia, Defensive Tackle, 1997-2000. Seymour was twice named All-SEC and anchored the Bulldogs to four bowl wins and four top-20 finishes.

Steve Slaton, West Virginia, Running Back, 2005-07.  Slaton is the all-time Mountaineers rushing TDs (50) and was a Unanimous All-American in 2006.  He was fourth in Heisman voting and was a three-time Big East Selection that year.

Darrin Smith, Miami, Linebacker, 1989-92.  Smith was a two-time All-American and was named a 1992 Scholar-Athlete.  In 1991, he was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Justin Smith, Missouri, Defensive Lineman, 1998-2000.  Smith was a two-time Big 12 Selection and former Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.  He had 22.5 Sacks for the Tigers.

Takeo Spikes, Auburn, Linebacker, 1994-97.  Spikes was twice an All-SEC Selection and was the 1998 Peach Bowl MVP.  He had 331 Tackles for Auburn.

Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue, Wide Receiver, 2001-04.  Stubblefield compiled 3,629 Yards and 21 TDs for the Boilermakers and was also a two-time All-Big 10 Selection.  He also twice led his conference in Receptions.

Sean Taylor, Miami, Defensive Back, 2001-03.  Taylor helped the Hurricanes win the BCS Championship in 2001, and in 2003, he won the Jack Tatum Award, the Big Beast Defensive Player of the Year and was a Unanimous All-American.

Manti Te’o, Notre Dame, Linebacker, 2009-12.  Te’o’s senior year saw him sweep the Walter Camp, Chuck Bednarik, Dick Butkus, Lombardi and Nagurski Awards en route to a Unanimous All-American nod.  He was a Heisman runner-up, leading the Fighting Irish to their first National Championship appearance in 34 years.

Dennis Thurman, USC, Defensive Back, 1974-77.  A two-time All-American and two-time All-Pacific 8 Selection, Thurman took the Trojans to four bowl wins, including a National Championship with their 1974 Rose Bowl title.  He had 13 Interceptions for USC.

Michael Vick, Virginia Tech, Quarterback, 1999-2000.  Vick was twice named an All-Big East player, and in his debut year, he quarterbacked the Hokies to their first-ever Championship Game in 1999.  He was third in Heisman voting in 1999 and sixth in 2000.

Peter Warrick, Florida State, Wide Receiver, 1996-99.  Warrick was a two-time All-American, with the second one (1999) being unanimous.  He led his team to a National Championship, winning the Sugar Bowl MVP.  He finished his career with 3,517 Receiving Yards and 32 Touchdowns and was also twice an All-ACC Selection.

Eric Weddle, Utah, Defensive Back, 2003-06.  In 2005 & 2006, Weddle was an All-Mountain West Selection and was the conference Defensive Player of the Year concurrently.  He had 18 Interceptions for the Utes and helped them win the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.

Ryan Yarborough, Wyoming, Wide Receiver, 1990-93.  Yarborough was a two-time All-American and All-WAC Selection who at one time held the record for games with a Touchdown Reception (27).  He had 42 overall with 4,357 Yards.

Luis Zendejas, Arizona State, Place Kicker, 1981-84.  A First Team All-Pac 10 Player once, Zendejas left college as the all-time leader in scoring (380).

FBS Coaches:

Larry Blakeney, Troy, 1991-2014 179-113-1, 2-3 in Bowls.  Blakeney holds the current record for all-time wins in the Sun Belt and took Troy to eight Conference Titles.  He has two bowl wins and is a four-time conference Coach of the Year.

Jim Carlen, West Virginia, 1966-69, Texas Tech 1970-74, South Carolina 1975-81 107-69-6, 2-5-1 in Bowls.  Carlen had 13 winning seasons and eight bowl-game appearances, winning two.  He was named the SWC Coach of the Year twice.

Pete Cawthon Sr.  Austin College 1923-27, Texas Tech 1930-40, 98-50-10, 0-2 in Bowls.  Cawthon brought the Red Raiders to their first Cotton Bowl in 1938 after a perfect (10-0) regular season and won four Border Conference Titles.

Larry Coker, Miami 2001-06, Texas-San Antonio 2011-15, 86-47, 4-2 in Bowls.  Coker brought the Hurricanes to two straight BCS Championships, winning the first at the 2002 Rose Bowl.  He won three Big East Titles, the 2002 Paul “Bear” Bryant Award and two Big East Coach of the Year Awards.

Ralph Friedgen, Maryland, 2001-10, 75-50, 5-2 in Bowls.  Friedgen won nine Coach of the Year Awards in 2001 and was named ACC Coach of the Year twice.  He took the Terps to seven bowls, winning five.

Urban Meyer, Bowling Green 2001-02, Utah 2003-04, Florida 2005-10, Ohio State 2012-18, 187-32, 12-3 in Bowls.  With a spectacular winning percentage of 85.4, Meyer led the Florida Gators to two BCS Championships and the Ohio State Buckeyes to a National Championship.  Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News also named him the Coach of the Decade.  He holds wins in the Fiesta, Cotton, Orange, Sugar and Rose Bowls.

Darryl Rogers, Cal State East Bay 1965, Fresno State 1966-72, San Jose State 1973-75, Michigan State 1976-79, Arizona State 1980-84, 129-84-7, 1-2 in Bowls.  Rogers was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1977, bringing San Jose State to their first national ranking.

Nick Saban, Toledo 1990, Michigan State 1995-99, LSU 2000-04, Alabama 2007-23, 292-71-1, 19-12 in Bowls.  Saban has a staggering seven National Championships (one with LSU and six with Alabama) and also boasts 11 SEC Titles.  He also won two Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, two Walter Camp Awards, and five SEC Coach of the Year Awards, and he is in conversation as the NCAA Goat.

Tommy Tuberville, Mississippi 1995-97, Auburn 1999-2008, Texas Tech 2010-12, Cincinnati 2013-16, 159-99, 7-6 in Bowls.  Tuberville won two SEC Coach of the Year, one Paul “Bear” Bryant Award, AP Coach of the Year and Walter Camp Coach of the Year Awards and took the Tigers to an undefeated season and Sugar Bowl win in 2004.

Divisional Players:

Vincent Allen, Indiana State, Halfback, 1973-76.  Allen rushed for at least 1,000 Yards for four years and compiled 4,335 Yards and 33 Touchdowns for the Sycamores.

Ashley Ambrose, Mississippi Valley State, Defensive Back, 1988-91.  Ambrose was the 1991 SWAC Defensive Back and Return Specialist of the Year.

Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona, Running Back, 1995-96. Amerson won the Walter Payton Award as Division I-AA’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.  He compiled 3,196 Rushing Yards.

Rick Bealer, Lycoming (PA), Defensive Back, 1987-90.  Bealer had 31 Interceptions, which is second all-time in Division III.  He is also a four-time All-Middle Atlantic Conference Selection.

Rennie Benn, Lehigh, Wide Receiver, 1982-85.  Benn scored 44 Receiving Touchdowns, behind only Jerry Rice in Division II.

Bill Borchert, Mount Union (OH), Quarterback, 1994-97.  Borchert was a two-time All-American and took Mount Union to two National Titles.  He threw for 14,482 Yards.

John Bothe, Augusta (IL), Center, 1985-88.  A three-time All-Conference Selection, Bothe was a Finalist for the 1988 Division III Player of the Year.

Carl Boyd, Northern Iowa, Running Back, 1984-87.  Boyd won the 1987 Conference Player of the Year and had over 4,000 Yards from Scrimmage.

Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Fullback, 2004-07.  Breitenstein is a two-time All-American, two-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-SoCon Selection.  He is Wofford’s all-time leading rusher with 5,730 Yards.

Vincent Brown, Mississippi Valley State, Linebacker, 1984-87.  Brown set the NCAA All-Division record for Tackles (570) and was a two-time All-SWAC Selection.

Joe Campbell, Middle Tennessee State, Running Back, 1988-91.  Campbell was chosen to three All-Conference and was the 1990 OVC Player of the Year.

William Campbell, Western Colorado, Defensive Back, 1976-79.  He was a two-time All-American.

Vin Carioscia, Franklin & Marshall, Offensive Tackle, 1979-82.  Carioscia was a two-time All-American and two-time All-ECAC Selection.

Peter Catan, Eastern Illinois, Defensive End, 1977-80.  A member of the 1978 Division II Championship Team, Catan holds the school record for Sacks in a game (7).

Steve Cockerham, Akron, Linebacker, 1974-77.  Cockerham led the Zips to the 1976 Division II Championship Game and was twice a First Team All-American.  He had 715 Tackles.

Bruce Collie, Texas-Arlington, Offensive Tackle, 1981-84.  Collie was a three-time All-SLC Selection.

Tom Collins, Indianapolis, Defensive Back, 1982-85.  Collins holds the all-time college record for Interceptions with 37.

Ray Condren, Gettysburg, Running Back, 1981-84.  Condren was a two-time All-American, two-time All-Conference player and the ECAC Division III Player of the Year.

Case deBruijn, Idaho State, Punter, 1978-81.  deBrujun twice led the NCAA in Punting and was second twice.

Parnell Dickinson, Mississippi Valley State, Quarterback, 1982-75.  Dickinson was a four-time SWAC Selection and was the SWAC Player of the Year in 1975. 

William Dillon, Virginia Union, Free Safety, 1979-82.  Dillon was a three-time All-America Selection and former Black College Player of the Year.  He is also a two-time SWAC Player of the Year.

John Dorsey, Connecticut, Linebacker, 1980-83.  Dorsey was a two-time Yankee Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Chuck Downey, Stony Brook, Safety & Returner, 1984-87.  The first Division III player to return for 1,000 Yards in Kicks and Punts, he also had 13 Interceptions.

Matt Dunigan, Louisiana Tech, Qua Quarterback, 1979-82. Dunigan won the 1982 Southland Conference Player of the Year award and ledschool to a conference title that year.

Tom Ehrhardt, Rhode Island, Quarterback, 1982-85.  Erhardt was the 1985 Yankee Conference Player of the Year and the nation’s passing leader.

Keith Elias, Princeton, Running Back, 1990-93.  A two-time All-American, Elias was the I993 Ivy League Player of the Year and is still the school’s all-time leader in Rushing Yards (4,208) and Rushing Touchdowns (49).

Curtis Eller, Villanova, Linebacker, 1989-92.  Eller was twice named an All-American, a three-time All-Conference Selection, and was twice the Yankee Defensive Player of the Year.

Blake Elliott, Saint John’s (MN), Wide Receiver, 2000-03.  Elliot was a two-time All-American and two-time MIAC Player of the Year and set a record with 47 consecutive games with a reception.

Richard Erenberg, Colgate, Running Back, 1980-83.  Erenberg won the ECAC Player of the Year in 1983 and is the all-time leading rusher in school history.

Jahri Evana, Bloomsburg (PA), Offensive Lineman, 2002-05.  Evans was a two-time Division II Player of the Year Finalist and three-time All-PSAC East Selection.

John Fitzgerald, Central Oklahoma, Offensive Guard, 1995-98.  Fitzgerald is the only three-time All-American in school history.

Timothy Flanders, Sam Houston State, Running Back, 2010-13.  A two-time Southland Player of the Year, Flanders is the only rusher to league his conference in yards four years in a row,

Bernard Ford, Central Florida, Wide Receiver, 1984-87.  Ford was a Harlon Hill Finalist in 1987.

Duane Fritz, Chadron State (NE), Punter, 1972-75.  Fritz led the NAIA II in Punting in 1975.

Rick Fry, Occidental (CA), End, 1974-77.  Fry was twice named an All-American and All-Conference Selection.

Chris George, Glenville State (WV), Wide Receiver, 1991-94.  George was a two-time All-American and four-time WVIAC Selection.  He played a large part of Glenville’s run to two National Playoffs.

Don Greco, Western Illinois, Offensive Guard, 1977-80.  A two-time All-Conference Selection, Greco was named the Conference Lineman of the Year in 1980.

Reggie Greene, Siena, Running Back, 1994-97.  Greene left college as the all-time I-AA leader in rushing (5,415) and had three consecutive rushing titles.  He is also a three-time MAAC Player of the Year and Siena’s all-time leader in Rushing Yards, Touchdowns and All-Purpose Yards.

Don Griffin, Middle Tennessee State, Safety, 1982-85.  Griffin was.a three-time Conference First Team Selection, had 13 Interceptions, and won the Ohio Valley Defensive Player of the Year in 1995.

Carl Hairston, Maryland Eastern Shore, Defensive End, 1972-75.  Hairston was named to three All-MEAC teams.

Ron Hausauer, Jamestown (ND), Offensive Guard, 1978-81.  A two-time All-American, Hausauer is also a two-time All-Conference Selection.

Pat Hauser, Cal State Northridge, Offensive Tackle, 1980-93.  Like Hausauer, Hauser in a two-time All-American and two-time All-Conference Selection.

Bobby Hedrick, Elon, Running Back, 1977-80.  Hedrick is second all-time in the NCAA in Rushing Yards (5,604)

Chris Hegg, Truman State (MO), Quarterback, 1982-85.  Hegg was a two-time Conference MVP and in 1985 was the Division II Player of the Year,

Billy Hess, West Chester (PA), Wide Receiver, 1985-88.  A four-time ALL-PSAC Selection, Hess was the 1988 PSAC East Player of the Year as well as a Harlon Hill Finalist.

Lynn Hieber, Indiana (PA), Quarterback, 1972-75,  Hieber was a two-time First Team NAIA All-American and in 1975 he was the ECAC Division II Player of the Year,

Rene Ingoglia, Massachusetts, Running Back, 1992-95.  Ingoglia as UMass’s all-time leader (4,624) and Touchdowns (54).

Fred Jackson, Coe, Running Back & Kick Returner, 1999-2002.  A three-time All-IIAC Selection, Coe rushed for 4,054 Yards and his school to an IIAC title in 2002. 

Louis Jackson, Cal Poly, Running Back, 1977-80.  Jackson rushed for 3,444 Yards was a two-time American and won a Division II National Championship in 1980.

John Jurkovic, Eastern Illinois, Defensive End, 1986-89.  Jurkovic was a two-time All-American, recorded 27 Sacks, and was twice named the Gateway Defensive Player of the Year.

Ed Kelley, Hampden-Sydney (VA), Defensive End, 1972-75.  Twice an All-American, Kelley was also a three-time All-Conference Selection.

Jim Kleinsasser, North Dakota, Tight End, 1995-98.  Kleinsasser helped North Dakota win the 1995 NCC Title, and would later be a two-time All-American and three-time All-Conference Selection.

Garry Kuhlman, Delaware, Offensive Tackle, 1978-81.  Kuhlman was part of the best offense in Division 1-AA in 1979, and he would be named an All-American and All-ECAC player twice afterward.

Sean Landeta, Towson, Punter, 1979-82.  A three-time All-ECAC Selection, Landeta led all of Division II in Yards per Punt in 1982.

Jeff Loots, Southwest Minnesota State, Quarterback, 1989-92,  Loots set multiple passing records and was a the 1992 Northern Sun Player of the Year,-

Al Lucas, Troy, Defensive Lineman, 1996-99.  Twice an All-American, he was the 1999 Buck Buchanan Award winner as the top defensive player.  He was also twice an All-Southland Selection who twice took the Trojans to two conference titles.

Claude Mathis, Texas State, Running Back, 1994-97.  Mathis was twice chosen for All-Southland Conference nod and is Texas State’s all-time leading rusher (4,691).  He also holds the Southland Conference record for All-Purpose Years (7,423).

Vince Mazza, Ashland (OH), Punter, 1983-86.  Mazza was a four-time First Team All-Heartland Selection.

Steve McAdoo, Middle Tennessee State, Offensive Lineman, 1989-92.  McAdoo was a three-time All-Conference player.

Gary McCauley, Clarion (PA), Tight End, 1978-81.  Twice named to the All-America Team, McCauley brought two conference titles.  He is still Clarion’s all-time leader in Receiving Yards (1,736).

Fran McDermott, St. Mary’s (CA), Defensive Back, 1977-80.  McDermott was a two-time All-America Selection holds the school record for Interceptions (21) and Interceptions in a Season (8).

Bill McGovern, Holy Cross, Defensive Back, 1981-84.  McGovern set the Division I-AA Interception record with 24.  He is also a two-time ECAC Selection.

Tony Miles, Northwest Missouri State, Wide Receiver, 1997-2000.  Miles anchored the Bearcats to back-to-back Division II National Championships and four MAIA Championships.  He set a school record for Receiving Yards (3,890) and Receiving Touchdowns (37).

Carl Morris, Harvard, Wide Receiver, 1999-2002.  Morris holds the Ivy League record in Receptions (45), Touchdown Receptions (28) and is third in Receiving Yards (3.508).

Kenneth Murawski, Cargenie Mellon (PA), Linebacker, 1978-81.  A former defensive captain, Murawski had nine Interceptions and 243 Tackles.

Patrick Murray, Fordham, Place Kicker & Punter, 2009-12.  Murray won the 2012 CFPA Place Kicker of the Year and 2011 Punter of the Year.

Timmy Newsome, Winston-Salem State, Running Back, 1975-78.  Newsome was a three-time All-CIAA Selection, ad two-time conference leader in Rushing Yards.  He propelled the Rams to two straight undefeated seasons and CIAA Titles.

Ed O’Brien, Central Florida, Place Kicker, 1984-87.  O’Brien hold the UCF record for Field Goals (50).

Randy Page, Central Oklahoman, Quarterback, 1979-82.  Page took UCO to a 1982 National Championship.

Chris Parker, Marshall, Running Back, 1992-95.  The Running Back helped the Herd win a National Championship in 1992 and rushed for 5,924 Yards and 68 Touchdowns.

Alonzo Patterson, Wagner, Running Back, 1979-82.  Patterson was a three-time ECAC Player of the Year.

Ted Petersen, Eastern Illinois, Center, 1973-76.  Petersen was a former team captain.

Martin Peterson, Pennsylvania, Offensive Tackle, 1983-86.  A former First Team All-ECAC Selection, Peterson helped his team win three Conference Titles.

Charlie Pierce, Central Florida, Punter & Place Kicker, 1992-95.  Pierce holds the school record for Punts (173), Punt Yardage (7,111) and Points (297).

Dave Pomante, Whitworth (WA), Defensive Lineman, 1978-81.  A two-time All-District Selection, Pomante had 20 Sacks in his best season and 35 overall.

Tyrone Poole, Fort Valley State (GA), Defensive Back, 1991-94.  Poole was a two-time All-SIAC Selection, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and was part of two Conference Titles.  He had 17 Interceptions over his career.

Franklyn Quitah, Bloomsburg (PA), Running Back, 2010-13.  Quitah won the 2013 Harlon Hill Award and is second all-time in Division II history with 7,523 Rushing Yards.  He is also a former PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year.

Gerry Quinlivan, Buffalo, Linebacker, 1981-84.  Quinlivan was named a National Scholar-Athlete in 1984, and was twice an All-Conference Selection.

Michael Renna, Delaware, Defensive End, 1987-90.  The Defensive was a two-time All-American, All-Conference and All-ECAC Selection.

David Rhodes, Central Florida, Wide Receiver, 1990-93.  Rhodes holds the UCF record for Receptions (213), Receiving Yards (3,618) and Receiving Touchdowns (29).

Neil Ringers, Ohio Wesleyan, Defensive End, 1987-90.  Ringers holds the school record for Sacks (54) and Tackles for Loss (92), and is also a two-time NCAC Defensive Player of the Year.  He also was the first player in conference history to be named all-league in four seasons.

Kirk Roach, Western Carolina, Place Kicker, 1983-86.  Roach was a three-time All-American and four-time All-Conference Selection.

Bobby Saiz, Adams State (CO), Quarterback, 1986-89.  Saiz threw for 10,169 Yards and 87 TDs,

Jeff Schebler, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Place Kicker 2006-09.  Schleber was named an All-American twice, and won two National Championships.  He is also a four-time All-WIAC Selection and won the 2009 Fred Mitchell Award as the top kicker in a non-FBS school.

Joe Skladany, Lafayette, Linebacker, 1978-81.  Skladany has the school record for tackles (532).

Ed Smith, Bethel (KS), Wide Receiver.  Smith was chosen for three straight First Team All-Conference berths and had 47 Touchdowns.

Paul Smith, Gettysburg, Returner, 1996-99.  Smith was twice an All-American and still holds a record of 527 All-Purpose Yards in a Game.

Tony Stefanoni, Widener (PA), Defensive Lineman, 1979-82.  Stefanoni was the 1982 ECAV Player of the Year and had 54.5 Sacks.

Tom Stenglein, Colgate, Wide Receiver, 1982-85.  Stenglein was a two-time All-American and two-time All-ECAC Selection.

Michael Strahan, Texas Southern, Defensive Lineman, 1989-92.  The eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee was the 1992 Division I-AA Player of the Year, Black College Defensive Player of the Year and also a two-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Alex Tanney, Monmouth (IL), Quarterback, 2008-11.  Tanney won the 2009 Melberger Award, and set the all-time Division III record for Passing Yards.  He is also a three-time Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Jimmy Terwillger, East Stroudsburg (PA), Quarterback, 2002-05.  The three-time Harlon Hill Finalist own it 2005.  He is also a three-time PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year.

Freddie Thomas, Troy, Defensive Back, 1984-87.  Thomas was a two-time All-American and helped Troy win the Division II National Championship in 1987.

Markus Thomas, Eastern Kentucky, Tailback, 1989-92.  A two-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, Thomas rushed for 5,149 Yards and 52 Touchdowns.

Brad Tokar, Westminster (PA), Running Back, 1988-91.  Tokar led Westminster to two NAIA Division II Titles, was a two-time First Team NAIA All-America Selection, and is Westminster’s rushing leader with 5,269 Yards.

Jay Wessler, Illinois College, Running Back, 1978-81.  A three-time team MVP, Wessler was also a three-time NAIA District All-Star Team.

Tim Whelan, Tufts (MA), Running Back, 1973-76.  Whelan is a former ECAC Division III Player of the Year.

Mike Wiggins, Iowa Wesleyan, Punter, 1984-87.  Wiggins was a two-time NAIA All-American and a one-time Little All-American.

Jerry Woods, Northern Michigan, Defensive Back & Kick Returner, 1985-88.  Woods was a two-time All-American, and a star returner.

Andre Young, Bowling Green, Defensive Lineman, 1979-82.  Young was an All-Conference Player who had 13 Sacks as a Senior.

John Zanieski, Yale, Middle Guard, 1981-84.  Zanieski was a one-time First Team All-Ivy League Selection.

Divisional Coaches:

Dick Biddle, Colgate 1996-2013, 137-73. Biddle was a four-time Patriot League Coach of the Year and won seven Patriot Leagues.

Rod Broadway, North Carolina Central 2003-06, Grambling State 2007-10, North Carolina A&T 2011-17, 125-45.  Broadway won five Black College Football National Championships, and is the only Coach to do so with three different schools.

Paul Durham, Linfield (OR), 1948-67, 121-51-10.  Durham was the 1962 NAIA Coach of the Year and won seven NWC Championships.

Jim Feix, Western Kentucky, 1968-83, 106-56-6.  Feix won six Conference Titles, and was a two-time Division II Coach of the Year and won three Conference Coach of the Year Awards.

Howard Fletcher, Northern Illinois, 1956-68, 74-48-1.  Fletcher helmed NI to an undefeated NAIA National Championship Team in 1963.  He also took his team to three straight Conference Titles (1963-65).

Ross Fortier, Minnesota Moorhead, 1970-92, 152-80-4.  Fortier won nine conference championships and seven postseason playoffs.

Morley Fraser, Albion (MI), 1954-68, 81-41-1.  The 1964 Small College Coach of the Year, Fraser coached Albion to five Conference Championships.

Rick Giancola, Montclair State (NJ) 1983-2022, 260-143-2.  Giancola took Montclair State to 11 Championships and was a nine-time NJAC Coach of the Year. 

Walt Hameline, Wagner, 1981-2014, 224-139-2.  Hameline led Wagner to the 1987 Division III Championship and 24 winning seasons.

Bill Hayes, Winston Salem State 1976-87, North Carolina A&T 1988-2002, 195-104-2.  Hayes led his squads to two Black College Football Championships and six Conference Championships.

Eddie Hurt, Virginia Lynchburg 1925-28, Morgan State 1930-59, 188-64-24.  Hurt took Morgan State to six Black College National Championships and 14 CIAA Titles.

Art Keller, Carthage (WI), 1952-82, 177-87-7.  Keller won eight Conference Titles and is a four-time NAIA District Coach of the Year.

Glenn Killinger, Dickinson (PA) 1922, Rensselaer (NY) 1927-32, Moravian (PA) 1933, West Chester (PA) 1934-41 & 1945-49, 176-72-16.  Killinger only had one losing season out of 37 years.

Larry Korver, Northwestern College (IA) 1967-94, 212-77-6.  Korver won two NAIA Division II National Championships and 10 consecutive Tri-State Titles.  He was also the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1973 and the NAIA Division II Coach of the Year in 1985.

Maxie Lambright, Louisiana Tech 1967-78, 95-36-2.  Lambright led Tech wo three NCAA Division II Titles, one GSC Title and six SLC Titles.

Dick Lowry, Wayne State (MI) 1974-79, Hillsdale (MI) 1980-86 172-75-3.  Lowry won one NAIA Division I Championship, six GLIAC Titles and one MIFC Title.  He was also named the NAIA Division I Coach of the Year.

James Malosky, Minnesota-Duluth 1958-97, 255-125-13.  Malosky led Minnesota-Duluth to three MIAC Conference Titles and eight NIC/NSIC Conference Titles.  He is also a two-time NIC/NCIS Coach of the Year.

Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins (MD) 1990-2018, 221-89-3.  Margraff led the Blue Jays to 14 Centennial Conference Championships, and he was named a four-time Centennial Coach of the Year.  He is also a one-time AFCA NCAA Division III Coach of the Year.

George Mihalik, Slippery Rock (PA) 1998-2015, 197-111-4.  Mihalak took his school to two PSAC Championships and eight PSAC West Division Titles.

Don Miller, Trinity (CT), 1967-98 174-77-5.  Miller was a four-time NESCAC Coach of the Year.

Steve Mohr, Trinity (TX), 1990-2013 186-74.  Mohr won a whopping 15 SCAC Titles and is a five-time AFCA Regional Coach of the Year.

Charles Murphy, Middle Tennessee State 1947-68, 115-63-8.  Murphy took Middle Tennessee to nine VSAC Titles and seven OVC Titles and was named the 1965 OVC Coach of the Year.

Jim Ostendarp, Amherst (MA) 1959-91, 168-91-5.  Ostendarp won the UPI Small College Coach of the Year in 1965 and won 13 Little Three Titles.

Forrest Perkins, Wisconsin-Whitewater 1956-84, 185-93-8.  Perkins won 11 WSCC/WSUC/WAIC Championships and was the 1966 NAIA Coach of the Year.

Bill Ramseyer, Wilmington (OH) 1972-90, Virginia’s College at Wise 1991-2001, 176-104-4.  Ramseyer led Wilmington to three Hoosier-Buckeye Titles.

Dwight Reed, Lincoln (MO), 1949-72, 149-84-7.  Reed led his school to three Conference Championships.

Pete Schmidt, Albion (MI), 1983-96, 105-27-4.  Schmidt took Albion to a Division III Championship in 1994 and nine MIAA Conference Titles.

Gideon Smith, Hampton, 1921-40, 102-47-13.  Smith helmed the Pirates to five CIAA Championships.

Clyde “Buck” Starbeck, Northern Iowa, 1936-42 & 1945-57, 95-58-10.  Starbeck guided his school to eight NCC Championships.

Clarence Stasavich, Lenoir-Rhyne (NC) 1946-61, East Carolina 1962-69, 171-64-7.  Stasavich took Lenoir-Rhyne to a 1960 NAIA National Championship, and was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1959.  He also had a 27-3 stretch for East Carolina from 1963 to 1965.

Lou Wacker, Emory & Henry (VA) 1982-2004, 164-76.  Wacker brought the Wasps 11 ODAC Titles.

John Whitehead, Lehigh, 1976-86, 75-38-2.  Whitehead coached Lehigh to a 1977 Division II National Championship, and he was the 1977 Division II Coach of the Year and the 1979 Division I-AA Coach of the Year.

Alex Yunevich, Alfred (NY), 1937-41 & 1946-76, 186-98-13.  Yunevich won two ICAC Conference Titles

Allen Zikmund, Nebraska-Kearney, 1955-71, 121-31-3.  Zikmund’s teams won 11 NCC Conference Championships.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate all of the players who made it this far.

Marshawn Lynch, who is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year, received an endorsement from a player who knows him very well; Quarterback, Russell Wilson.

The duo won Super Bowl 48 together with the Seattle Seahawks, and were on the losing side of following contest on a controversial play call where Wilson threw an interception that ended the game.  If there were any hard feelings between the two, that has not extended to Wilson’s respect for Lynch, who recently said on the I Am Athlete Podcast, that his former backfield partner in Canton worthy:

“To me, he (Marshawn) should be a Hall of Fame football player. You know what he meant to Seattle, what he meant to our team, and what he meant to me. I wouldn't be as great as I am without him, watching him and observing him and also vice versa, just how hard he worked”

Lynch played most of his career with Seattle, and rushed for 10,413 Rushing Yards, 85 Rushing Touchdowns and had 2,214 Receiving Yards and 9 Receiving Touchdowns.  He also went to five Pro Bowls, was a First Team All-Pro, and twice led the league in Rushing Touchdowns.

While there are other Running Backs who are Hall of Fame eligible who have more Rushing Yards and Yards From Scrimmage than Lynch, they do not have the same cultural impact, nor the big game moments that “Beast Mode” had.

Coincidentally, we will be working next month on our Notinhalloffame.com list on the football players who are worthy of PFHOF consideration, and Lynch will be ranked among them.

We have updated our Football futures with some new names for you to cast your votes on and offer your opinions.

Added to the 2024 Football Section are:

John Denney a Long Snapper who was a two-time Pro Bowler who played his entire career with the Miami Dolphins.

He joins Adam Jones, Andrew Luck, Antonio Gates, Brandon Marshall, Brent Grimes, Brian Orakpo, Chris Ivory, Connor Barwin, Corey Graham, Derek Anderson, Derrick Johnson, Doug Martin, Eric Berry, Glover Quin, Haloti Ngata, Jamaal Charles, Jermaine Gresham, Jermon Bushrod, Jonathan Stewart, Jordy Nelson, Josh Sitton, Julius Peppers, Kyle Williams, Lorenzo Alexander, Mark Sanchez, Matt Cassell, Max Unger, Muhammad, Wilkerson, Phil Dawson, Reggie Nelson, Sam Shields, Sebastian Janikowski, T.J. Lang, Vontae Davis and Zane Beadles.

Added to the 2025 Football Section are:

Adam Vinatieri, who is the most successful Place Kicker of all-time, and is the all-time leader in Points and Field Goals. He also has three Super Bowl wins with the Patriots.

DeMaryius Thomas, a four-time Pro Bowl Wide Receiver who won a Super Bowl with the Broncos.  He had 9,763 Receiving Yards and 69 Touchdowns.

Roosevelt Nix, a Fullback who went to the Pro Bowl in 2017.

They join Antoine Bethea, Aqib Talib, Brynden Trawick, Cameron Wake, C.J. Anderson, Darren Sproles, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Donald Penn, Eli Manning, Eric Weddle, James Develin, Joe Staley, Jon Condo, Kyle Long, Luke Kuechly, Marshal Yanda, Matt Bryant, Michael Bennett, Mike Pouncey, Patrick DiMarco, Patrick Chung, Ryan Kalil, Travis Frederick, Vernon Davis, Zach Brown and Zak DeOssie.

Added to the 2026 Football Section are:

Dez Bryant, who went to three Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Touchdown Receptions in 2016 as a Cowboy.

Don Muhlbach, a two-time Pro Bowl Long Snapper who played his entire career with the Lions.

Johnathan Joseph, a two-time Pro Bowl Cornerback.

Jurrell Casey, who went to five Pro Bowls as a Defensive End, and played most of his career with Tennessee.

LeSean McCoy, who went to six Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Rushing Yards in 2013.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro and would have an even 15,000 Yards From Scrimmage.

Malcolm Butler, a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots.

Marshawn Lynch, the man who made “Beast Mode” popular, and was a five-time Pro Bowl, one-time First Team All-Pro and two-time Rushing Touchdown leader.  The Running Back would win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks and had 10,413 Rushing Yards.

They join Alex Smith, Anthony Costanzo, Anthony Sherman, Drew Brees, Greg Olsen, Jason Witten, Jordan Reed, Julian Edelman, Matt Schaub, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Iupati, Philip Rivers, Sean Lee, Thomas Davis and Tramon Williams.

As we proceed further, we will be adding new names to all of our future sections.

As always, thank you for your support.

In the early 2010’s, Marshawn Lynch could make the claim that he was the best Running Back in the NFL, and if you didn’t believe that you would have to agree that he was one of the best known.  Lynch had over 1,000 Rushing Yards in his first two seasons in football where he was offensive cog of the Buffalo Bills.  He struggled in 2009 and was traded to the Seattle Seahawks early in 2010 in a transaction that Orchard Park would like to forget.

From 2011 to 2014, Lynch would rush for over 1,200 Yards and was in the top seven in that metric each year.  A First Team All-Pro in 2012 (with a career high of 1,590 Yards) he would also have at least 11 Rushing TD those years with him leafing the league in both 2013 and 2014.  Lynch was the focus of the Seahawks offensive attack and it would get them to two straight Super Bowls where he rushed for a Touchdown in Seattle’s Super Bowl XLVIII dismantling of the Denver Broncos.  He led them to the next Super Bowl where he rushed for 102 Yards and a TD but in the last play of the game where everyone thought he would get the ball on the New England 1 Yard Line, he didn’t and Seahawks Quarterback, Russell Wilson threw a pick that ended the game.

Lynch retired after 2015 but would make a comeback for his hometown Oakland Raiders where he played for two more seasons.  He retired again, but made a brief comeback with the Seahawks late in the 2019 season for their playoff run.  This allowed Lynch to retire with over 10,000 Rushing Yards (10,413) and he would gain another 2,214 from the air.  Overall, he would punch the ball in the endzone 94 times.

Many in the city of Buffalo are still upset that they traded Marshawn Lynch for a pair of draft picks in 2010, and in that year’s playoff, “Beast Mode” became a nationally known figure. 

In April, we did our standard recap where we wished a player the best in their post-playing endeavors, with the individual person in question being Marshawn Lynch.  Let’s retract that as “Beast Mode” is back.

Lynch resigned with the Seattle Seahawks yesterday, and the five-time Pro Bowl Selection comes back with “unfinished business” as he said in a recent YouTube video.  

We know what the unfinished business is.  At Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks were driving late in the game and were on the one-yard line.  It was expected that Lynch would get the ball, but instead a passing play was called that resulted in a Malcolm Butler interception.  That saved the game for the Patriots, and every arm chair quarterback in the world wondered why Lynch didn’t get the ball.

Last season, Lynch had 460 Yards from Scrimmage with the Oakland Raiders, and he has 12,595 in total.  Should the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, and Lynch has a good game, it would be huge for his Pro Football Hall of Fame chances.

As always will be watching.  

This is the second day in a row where we have a Running Back retiring from the National Football League.  Following yesterday’s retirement of longtime Carolina Panther, Jonathan Stewart, Oakland Raiders Running Back, Marshawn Lynch will be retiring from the game for a second time.

Lynch was drafted 12^thoverall in 2007 by the Buffalo Bills where as a rookie he rushed for 1,115 Yards, and in his second season, he again hit 1,000 Yards (1,036) and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.  He did not have a great 2009, and early in the 2010 season, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for two mid-round draft picks, which would prove to be beneficial for Seattle and Lynch and one that Bills fans still bemoan today.

With the Seahawks, he became a star, and his “Beast Mode” nickname became known through every NFL fanbase.  Lynch returned to the Pro Bowl in 2011 with a 1,204 Rushing Yard, 12 TD performance and in 2012 he was even better going for 1,590 Rushing Yards with 11 Touchdowns. Not only did he go to the Pro Bowl he was also a First Team All-Pro.  

Lynch would again have more than 1,000 Receiving Yards in the next two years, but this time he helped take Seattle to the Super Bowl those seasons.  The Seahawks would win Super Bowl XLVIII in a dismantling of the Denver Broncos but they would fail in Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots. In that contest, Lynch had rushed for 102 Yards and a Touchdown but on Seattle’s final offensive play of the game they threw a pass instead of run (they were on New England’s 1-yard line) in a play that everyone thought should have gone to Lynch.

Injuries kept Lynch out of half of the 2015 season and he retired from the game but not all sports retirements stick.  After sitting out the 2016 season he returned to the game, this time signing with the Oakland Raiders where he would play the last two years.

Lynch played in 148 Games, rushing for 10,379 Yards and 84 Touchdowns and he would also record another 287 Receptions for 2,214 Yards and 9 Touchdowns. 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank Marshawn Lynch for the incredible on the field memories, his always entertaining banter with reporters, skittles and of course, “Beast Mode”.   We wish Marshawn Lynch the best in post-playing career and are certain that whatever he does next it will be entertaining!

Thank you, Marshawn!