NFF Press Release | Illini in CFB HOF
IRVING, Texas – 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 two former Fighting Illini, 76 overall players and five coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Illini greats Moe Gardner and Simeon Rice are among the 76 FBS greats on the ballot.
Seventeen former Illini are currently enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, with Dana Howard most-recently joining the exclusive list in 2018. Howard joined 16 previously selected Fighting Illini in the hall of fame, including college football legends Red Grange (inducted 1951), Dick Butkus (inducted 1983) and David Williams (inducted 2005) | Illini CFB Hall of Fame bios.
The 2020 ballot was emailed this week 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 deliberate and select the class. The announcement of the 2020 Class will be made The announcement of the 2020 Class will be made in January 2020 in the days leading up to the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship in New Orleans.
2020 Illinois College Football Hall of Fame Candidates
DT Moe Gardner, Illinois: Two-time First Team All-American (unanimous-'89, consensus-'90) ... 1990 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and 1989 Big Ten Lineman of the Year ... Three-time First Team All-Conference pick and set school record for career tackles for loss (57) ... Chosen by Atlanta in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL draft.
LB Simeon Rice, Illinois: 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) ... Chosen by Arizona as the No. 3 pick in the 1996 NFL draft.
Illini in the College Football Hall of Fame (17)
Alex Agase, G (inducted 1963)
Bob Blackman, coach (inducted 1987)
Al Brosky, DB (inducted 1998)
Dick Butkus, LB (inducted 1983)
Chuck Carney, WR (inducted 1966)
J.C. Caroline, RB (inducted 1980)
Pete Elliot, coach (incudcted 1993)
Jim Grabowski, RB (inducted 1995)
Harold "Red" Grange, RB (inducted 1951)
Edward K. Hall, coach (inducted 1951)
Dana Howard, LB (will be inducted 2018)
Bart Macomber, RB (inducted 1972)
Bernie Shively, G (inducted 1982)
David Williams, WR (inducted 2005)
George W. Woodruff, coach (inducted 1963)
Claude "Buddy" Young, RB (inducted 1968)
Robert Zuppke, coach (inducted 1951)
