Moderators Jeff Howe Posted 5 hours ago Moderators Posted 5 hours ago Here’s the news release from UT: IRVING, Texas – Longhorn Legends defensive tackle Casey Hampton (1996, 1998-2000) and quarterback Colt McCoy (2006-09) are among the greats on the 2027 ballot under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame class, the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame announced on Monday. The 2027 ballot includes 80 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks. One of the nation's most dominant defensive linemen in his final two seasons at Texas, and among the most decorated Longhorn NFL players ever, Hampton's college and NFL career spanned 17 years. A two-time first-team All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, Hampton was the anchor of one of the nation's top defenses in 1999 and 2000. The Horns ranked sixth nationally in total defense (286.6 ypg) in 1999, and seventh (278.3 ypg) in 2000. A starter in 47 of 54 games as a Longhorn, including the final 38 of his career, Hampton became the first defensive lineman in school history to lead the team in tackles in back-to-back seasons, posting 101 tackles as a junior and 78 as a senior. The big, powerful defensive tackle ranks fifth on the UT all-time list in tackles for loss with 54 with 39 of those registered in his last two years. He finished his Texas career with 329 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 56 QB pressures, nine caused fumbles and three fumble recoveries. An all-state performer at Galveston Ball High School, he had his prep jersey number 63 retired in 2009. Hampton was selected with the 19th pick of the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2001 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the NFL's premier linemen. In 12 seasons, Hampton made five Pro Bowls, joining Earl Campbell, Bobby Layne, Bud McFadin and Tommy Nobis as Longhorns with that many appearances in the Pro Football all-star game. He was voted MVP by his teammates on the Steelers Super Bowl Championship squad in 2005 along with Hines Ward. A starter in 164 of 173 career NFL games, he helped lead the Steelers to three Super Bowls, winning the coveted Lombardi Trophy twice (Super Bowl XL and XLIII). He also was a member of the Steelers 75th Anniversary Team selected during the 2007 season. His durability and success were even more impressive when you consider Hampton retired in 2012 after his third ACL reconstruction surgery. Those surgeries dated back to his first ACL tear, which prematurely ended his sophomore season at Texas. Hampton is a member of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor (Class of 2014) and Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor (Class of 2024) and has been a Steelers nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame every year since his retirement in 2017. A legend in Longhorn football history whose retired jersey number 12 is prominently displayed in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, McCoy is one of only three two-time winners of the prestigious Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF) National Player of the Year award. He also was a two-time consensus first-team All-American, Heisman Trophy finalist and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in a historic run from 2008-09. In addition, McCoy claimed the Maxwell Award, AT&T Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as a senior in 2009. McCoy earned bowl game offensive MVP honors three times in leading Texas to victories at the 2006 Alamo Bowl, 2007 Holiday Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl following the 2008 season. A four-year starter with a 45-8 career record, he finished his career as the NCAA's all-time winningest quarterback and was the first QB in major college football history to lead a team to four 10-win seasons. He is also the first QB in Texas history to lead his team to consecutive 12-win seasons. McCoy finished his career with 47 school records including 16 career, 13 single-season, five single-game, six freshman and seven miscellaneous marks. During his 53-game career, he completed 1,157-of-1,645 passes (70.3 percent) for 13,253 yards and 112 TDs for a passer rating of 155.0. When his career concluded, his 13,253 passing yards were sixth on the NCAA all-time list, his 112 TD passes ranked seventh and his 70.3 career completion was just shy of the NCAA record. In addition, Texas’ all-time leader in total offense (14,824 yards), McCoy rushed for 1,571 yards and 20 TDs and finished his career ranked sixth on the NCAA's TDs responsible for list and first at UT in that category with 132. A standout on and off the field, McCoy was a National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athlete and member of the AFCA Good Works team for his community service efforts during his time at Texas. He graduated from Texas in December 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management and served as his alma maters commencement speaker this spring. A third-round selection by the Cleveland Browns in the 2010 NFL Draft, McCoy played 13 NFL seasons with the Browns (2010-12), San Francisco 49ers (2013), Washington Redskins (2014-19), New York Giants (2020) and Arizona Cardinals (2021-22). That's second only to Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Bobby Layne's 15 NFL seasons for a Longhorn quarterback. He was inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor in 2024, Texas Sports Hall of Fame that same year, Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2022, and the Big Country Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. The announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future. The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2027 season. Michael Huff, who was part of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class, was inducted this past December and became the 23rd Texas player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame, which also has enshrined three former Longhorn coaches. 3 Quote
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