2020 Hall Of Fame Ballot Released - CollegeFootballPoll.com's Congrove Reveals His Selections

June 3, 2019 by Staff

The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the names on the 2020 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including 76 players and five coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 101 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks.

The ballot was emailed today to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Courts, which will deliberate and select the class.

The 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8, 2020, at the New York Hilton Midtown. They will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2020 season.

The criteria for Hall of Fame consideration include:

• First and foremost, a player must have received First-Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise their consensus All-America teams.
• A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation's Honors Courts 10 full seasons after his final year of intercollegiate football played.
• While each nominee's football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man, with love of his country. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether the candidate earned a college degree.
• Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years.* For example, to be eligible for the 2020 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1970 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
• A coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head football coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage.
• Nominations may only be submitted by the athletics director of a potential candidate's collegiate institution; by the head coach or sports information director (SID) representing a dues-paying college/university; or by a dues-paying chapter of the National Football Foundation.

CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove has been a member of the National Football Foundation and College Hall Of Fame since 2012. Last year, his selections of Florida State DB Terrell Buckey, Notre Dame wide receiver Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, USC running back Lorenzo White and Texas QB Vince Young were added to the hall

Congrove's 2020 selections are as follows:

FBS Head Coaches

Larry Blakeney - Troy (1991-2014) All-time winningest coach in Sun Belt Conference history. Four-time conference Coach of the Year who led the Trojans to eight conference titles (5 Sun Belt, 3 Southland) and seven FCS playoff appearances in eight seasons. Led Troy to four bowl games, including wins at the 2006 and 2010 New Orleans Bowl. Congrove also nominated Blakeney last year.

Darryl Rogers - Cal State East Bay [formerly Cal State Hayward] (1965), Fresno State (1966-72), San Jose State (1973-75), Michigan State (1976-79), Arizona State (1980-84) Took Fresno State to two bowl games. Achieved an unprecedented national ranking at San Jose State. Named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1977 and National Coach of the Year by Sporting News in 1978. Won the Big Ten title in 1978. Congrove also nominated Rogers last year.

FBS Players

Eric Bieniemy, Running Back, Colorado (1987-1990) - 1990 unanimous First Team All-American and finished third in 1990 Heisman voting ... Played in two national championships, leading Buffs to 1990 national title ... Two-time All-Big Eight pick, still holding eight CU records.

Marco Coleman, Linebacker, Georgia Tech (1989-1991) - Helped lead Jackets to the national championship and an 11-0-1 record in 1990. 28 career sacks. Was also nominated by Congrove each of the previous two years.

Eric Dickerson, Running Back, SMU (1979-1982) - Finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1982. Twice named SWC Player of the Year. Holds 14 school records including 4,450 career rushing yards. Nominated by Congrove multiple times, including last year.

Marvin Harrison, Wide Receiver, Syracuse (1992-1995) - 1995 First Team All-American as a kick returner and 1995 Big East Special Teams Player of the Year. Three-time All-Big East selection who set a conference record with a 94-yard punt return for a TD in 1995. Left Syracuse as the school’s all-time receiving leader with 2,718 yards. Nominated by Congrove last year.

Corey Moore, Defensive Lineman, Virginia Tech (1996-1999) - Two-time First Team All-American (1999-unanimous) and winner of the 1999 Lombardi and Nagurski awards. Two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year led Hokies to 2000 National Championship Game. Leader of Hokies famed “Lunch Pail Defense” that led the nation in rushing defense (85.0 ypg). Nominated by Congrove last year.

Ken Norton, Jr., Linebacker, UCLA (1984-1987) - 1987 First Team All-American, leading Bruins to four consecutive bowl wins ... Member of the 1985 conference championship team ... Led team in tackles in 1986 (106) and in 1987 (125) and ranks sixth in school history with 339 career tackles.

Julius Peppers, Linebacker, North Carolina (1999-2001) - 2001 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the 2001 Bednarik and Lombardi awards ... 2001 Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year who finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting ... Two-time First Team All-ACC selection, leading the conference in TFL (24) and sacks (15) in 2000.

Ron Rivera, Linebacker, California (1980-1983) - 1983 consensus First Team All-American ... Lombardi Award finalist in 1983 and named East-West Shrine Game Most Valuable Player ... Selected as Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1983 ... Led team in tackles from 1981-83.

Aaron Taylor, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame (1990-1993) - Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in ‘92 and unanimous in ’93 ... 1993 Lombardi Award winner and named College Interior Lineman of the Year by Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio) ... Led Irish to four bowl games.

Troy Vincent, Defensive Back, Wisconsin (1988-1991) - 1991 First Team All-American and runner-up for the 1991 Thorpe Award ... Two-time All-Big Ten selection and 1991 Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year ... Finished career as Wisconsin’s leader in punt return yards (773) and passes defended (31).

Steve Wisniewski, Ofensive Guard, Penn State (1986-1989) - 1988 First Team All-American ... Member of 1986 12-0 national championship team ... Helped Blair Thomas rush for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1987 and D.J. Dozier attain First Team All-America honors in 1986.

Elmo Wright, Wide Receiver, Houston (1967-1970) - 1970 consensus First Team All-American who earned Second Team honors in 1969 and Honorable Mention honors in 1968 ... Set an NCAA single-season record of eight TD receptions of 50 yards or more (1968) ... Still holds Houston career records for all-purpose yards per play (21.0 avg.) and yards per reception (21.9 avg.)

Divisional Head Coaches

John Luckhardt, Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) (1982-98), California (Pa.) (2002-11) - Led teams to 14 conference titles and 16 NCAA playoff appearances. Led W&J to Stagg Bowl in 1992 and ’94 and named national runner-up both seasons. 1992 AFCA DIII Coach of the Year and all-time winningest coach at W&J and California, Pa. Nominated by Congrove in two other classes.

Andy Talley - St. Lawrence (N.Y.) (1979-83), Villanova (1985-2016) - Led Villanova to 2009 FCS National Championship and 12 playoff appearances. All-time winningest coach in Colonial Athletic Association and Villanova history. Twice earned AFCA National Coach of the Year honors. Nominated by Congrove each of the last 3 years.

Divisional Players

Blake Elliott, Wide Receiver, St. John's Minnesota (2000-2003) - Two-time First-Team All-American and winner of the 2003 Gagliardi Trophy ... Two-time MIAC Player of the Year who holds NCAA All-Divisions record of 47 consecutive games with a reception ... Led SJU to 2003 DIII national title and owns 29 school records.

Bob Gaddis, Wide Reciver, Mississippi Valley State (1971-1974) - 1974 First-Team All-American and Pittsburgh Courier National Receiver of the Year ... Named 1970 NAIA Freshman of the Year en route to twice leading the NAIA in yards per catch (1971-72) ... Three-time All-SWAC selection led conference in yards per catch all four years.

Steve McNair, Quarterback, Alcorn State (1991-1994) - 1994 First Team All-American and the all-time passing leader (14,496) in the FCS. Finished third in 1994 Heisman Trophy voting and the only four-time SWAC Offensive Player of the Year in league history. 1994 Walter Payton Award winner who led Braves to two SWAC titles and two NCAA playoff appearances. After 13 seasons in the NFL (1995-2007), he was tragically the victim of a murder-suicide on July 4, 2009. Nominated by Congrove last year.

Joe Skladany, Linebacker, Lafayette (1978-1981) - Four-year starter who never missed a game. Holds school records for career tackles (532) and blocked kicks in a season (3). Helped lead nation's second-ranked defense in 1981. Was also nominated by Congrove last year. Nominated by Congrove last year.