The National Football Foundation announced today their nominees for the 2014 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 87 players and 26 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Former Bengals great Tim Krumrie was among those nominated. This year's class will be announced in May, and they will be inducted at the 57th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 9, 2014 at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
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.
Congratulations to one of the most beloved Bengals in the franchise's history. Here is some of the notable players from this year's class:
Tim Krumrie, Wisconsin-Defensive Tackle-Named a consensus First Team All-American in 1981… Led Badgers to 1981 Garden State Bowl and earned Defensive MVP honors in 1982 Independence Bowl…Three-time First Team All-Conference selection, recording 444 career tackles.
Dre Bly, North Carolina-Defensive Back-Three-time First Team All-American, twice earning consensus honors…Three-time All-ACC pick who earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1996…Holds school records for career (20) and single-season (11) interceptions.
Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma-Linebacker-Two-time consensus First Team All-America pick (1985-86)…Set school record for tackles in a game (22) and named Butkus Award winner in 1985 and ’86…Led Sooners to three consecutive Orange Bowls and ’85 national championship.
Jerome Brown, Miami (Fla.)-Defensive Tackle-1986 Unanimous First Team All-American and finalist for both the Outland and Lombardi trophies as senior…Helped Canes to four consecutive New Year’s Day bowl games…Ranks 10th in school history with 21 career sacks.
Mark Carrier, Southern California-Safety-Two-time First Team All-American (1988-89) – unanimous in 1989… 1989 Jim Thorpe Award winner… Two-time First Team All-Conference selection… Led the Pac-10 in interceptions in 1989 with seven.
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.
Tom Cousineau, Ohio State-Linebacker-Two-time consensus First Team All-American and three-time All-Big Ten performer… Recorded 572 career tackles, ranking second all-time in OSU history… Held nine school records at career’s end, still holding six.
Eric Crouch, Nebraska-Quarterback-2001 Heisman, Walter Camp, and Davey O’Brien Award winner who led Huskers to 2001 national title game…Holds NCAA record for career rushing TDs by a quarterback (59)…Led team to 42-9 record and four bowl berths.
Randall Cunningham, UNLV-Punter-Named First Team All-American as a punter in 1983 and Second Team All-America as a punter and Honorable Mention as a quarterback in 1984…Led UNLV to their first-ever Bowl game…Broke 18 UNLV records.
Eric Dickerson, Southern Methodist-Running Back-Named unanimous First Team All-American and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1982…Twice named SWC Player of the Year, he holds 14 SMU records including career rushing yards (4,450).
Keyshawn Johnson, Southern California-Wide Receiver-1995 unanimous First Team All-American who ranked seventh in Heisman voting…1995 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year…Earned MVP honors in 1995 Cotton Bowl and 1996 Rose Bowl wins.
Ray Lewis, Miami (Fla.)-Linebacker-1995 First Team All-American and Butkus Award runner-up…Led Canes to Fiesta and Orange bowl appearances and ranks sixth all-time at Miami with 388 career tackles…Two-time First Team All-Big East performer who twice led the league in tackles.
Antwaan Randle El, Indiana-Quarterback-2001 First Team consensus All-American…First player in FBS history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in career…Rushed for more yards than any QB in FBS history upon conclusion of career.
Simeon Rice, Illinois-Linebacker-Two-time First Team All-American and three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection…Holds conference and school record for career sacks (44.5) and Illini record for career tackles for loss (69)…Set school record for single-season sacks (16).
Ron Rivera, California-Linebacker-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.
Willie Roaf, Louisiana Tech-Offensive Lineman-1992 consensus First Team All-American and finalist for Outland Trophy… Led team to 1990 Independence Bowl berth and two-time All-South Independent selection.
Warren Sapp, Miami (Fla.)-Defensive Tackle-1994 unanimous First Team All-American who finished sixth in Heisman voting… Recipient of the 1994 Lombardi and Nagurski awards and named Big East Defensive Player of the Year…Led Canes to national title game appearance in 1995.
Sterling Sharpe, South Carolina-Wide Receiver-1987 First Team All-American…Two-time First Team All-Conference…Set nearly every school receiving record by career’s end, including career receptions (169), single-season receiving yards (1,106) and career receiving yards (2,497).
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).
Derrick Thomas, Alabama-Linebacker-1988 unanimous First Team All-American and Butkus award winner… Led Tide to four consecutive bowl berths, earning 1988 SEC Defensive Player of the Year… Set NCAA career sack record (52) and finished career with 74 TFL.
Zach Thomas, Texas Tech-Linebacker-Two-time First Team All-American, earning unanimous honors in 1995…Two-time Consensus SWC Defensive Player of the Year (1993, 94) who led Red Raiders to 1994 SWC title…Ranks fifth all-time at Tech with 390 career tackles.
LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU-Tailback-2000 Unanimous First Team All-American and 2000 Doak Walker Award winner…1999 WAC Offensive Player of the Year who led TCU to consecutive co-shares of WAC title… Holds 15 school records and is TCU’s all-time leading rusher.
Ricky Williams, Texas-Running Back-Two-time unanimous First Team All-American and 1998 Heisman Trophy winner…Finished career as NCAA’s all-time leading rusher and won back-to-back NCAA rushing titles…1998 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year who left Texas with 46 school records.
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