Nine players from Alabama high schools and colleges are among the 173 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, including two former Auburn standouts who haven’t previously been nominated.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby and fullback Tony Richardson also are former Alabama prep stars – Dansby at Woodlawn in Birmingham and Richardson at Daleville.

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The modern-era nominees also include Stephen Davis, who returns to the list after a seven-year absence. Davis was among the modern-era nominees for the classes of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Offensive tackle Willie Anderson starts the Hall of Fame process again after reaching finalist status for the 2022 and 2023 classes before being turned back in the final vote.

The other players with Alabama football roots repeating as modern-era nominees from last year are running back Shaun Alexander, linebacker Cornelius Bennett, defensive end Robert Mathis, linebacker Takeo Spikes and defensive end Justin Tuck.

Former UAB wide receiver Roddy White, who was a modern-era nominee for the Class of 2021 and Class of 2023, is not on this year’s list.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame released the list of modern-era nominees on Tuesday. A player is considered modern era if he has been retired for at least five seasons and was active within the past 25 seasons.

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Alexander (Alabama) went to the Pro Bowl in 2003, 2004 and 2005, when his career hit its peak. In 2005, Alexander won The Associated Press NFL MVP Award and the Bert Bell Award as the NFL Player of the Year as the league’s leader in rushing yards. He set an NFL single-season record with 28 touchdowns and led the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl in 2005. Alexander’s 100 rushing touchdowns rank eighth in NFL history.

Anderson (Vigor High School in Prichard, Auburn) became a fixture at right offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals after joining the team as the 10th pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. Anderson started every Cincinnati game except for two from 1997 through 2006. From 2003 through 2006, he was on the AFC Pro Bowl team and, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, he made first-team All-Pro. Anderson blocked in two record-setting games for running back Corey Dillon — an NFL rookie record 246 rushing yards against the Tennessee Oilers in 1997 and an NFL record 278 rushing yards versus the Denver Broncos in 2000.

Bennett (Ensley High School in Birmingham, Alabama) was the second player picked in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played in four straight Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills and was a Pro Bowl selection in each of those seasons – 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993. He also was an All-Pro in 1988, played in 206 regular-season games and appeared in another Super Bowl with the Atlanta Falcons.

Dansby (Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Auburn) played 14 seasons as an NFL linebacker and became the eighth player in league history with at least 20 interceptions and 40 sacks after being chosen by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2004 draft. He returned six of his interceptions for touchdowns. A member of the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2004, Dansby played for the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals in addition to Arizona. In Super Bowl XLIII, Dansby was the Cardinals’ leading tackler and intercepted a pass.

Davis (Auburn) lasted until the fourth round of the 1996 draft before the Washington Redskins took him. After three seasons working as a fullback and a backup running back, Davis became Washington’s feature back in 1999 and delivered 1,405 rushing yards and an NFL-best 17 touchdowns in the first of his three Pro Bowl seasons. In a three-year span, Davis ran for 4,155 yards and 33 touchdowns. Davis joined Carolina in 2002. In 2003, he helped the Panthers reach the Super Bowl by rushing for a career-high 1,444 yards in the regular season and 315 yards in the postseason.

Mathis (Alabama A&M) played in 13 NFL seasons for the Indianapolis Colts and is the NFL’s career leader for forced fumbles with 54. Mathis recorded 123 sacks, which ranks 19th in NFL history, and led the league in that stat with 19.5 in 2013, when he was a first-team All-Pro selection. A five-time Pro Bowler, Mathis played in two Super Bowls, including the Colts’ 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in the 2006 NFL championship game, and Indianapolis won 68 percent of the 192 regular-season games in which he played.

Spikes (Auburn) went to the Bengals with the 13th selection in the 1998 NFL Draft and played for five teams during a 15-year, 219-game career. Spikes’ top seasons came in 2003 and 2004 with the Bills, when he earned Pro Bowl invitations. He also made first-team All-Pro in 2004. His 1,425 tackles are the most for an Auburn alumnus in the NFL.

Richardson (Daleville, Auburn) started his NFL on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad before playing in 234 regular-season games for the next 16 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. He earned Pro Bowl selection in 2003, 2004 and 2007. Richardson had a nine-season stretch in which he lined up in front of a 1,000-yard tailback eight times.

Tuck (Central High School in Rockford) helped the New York Giants win two Super Bowl championships after joining the team as a third-round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft. Tuck made first-team All-Pro in 2008 and earned another Pro Bowl invitation in 2010. Tuck recorded 66.5 sacks and forced 20 fumbles during his 11-year career.

Sixteen men who played at Alabama high schools and colleges are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The state’s Hall of Famers are Robert Brazile (Vigor), Buck Buchanan (Parker High School in Birmingham), Frank Gatski (Auburn), Kevin Greene (Auburn), John Hannah (Albertville High School, Alabama), Don Hutson (Alabama), Walter Jones (Aliceville High School), Joe Namath (Alabama), Ozzie Newsome (Colbert County High School, Alabama), Terrell Owens (Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City), Ken Stabler (Foley High School, Alabama), John Stallworth (Tuscaloosa, Alabama A&M), Bart Starr (Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama), Dwight Stephenson (Alabama), Derrick Thomas (Alabama) and DeMarcus Ware (Auburn High, Troy).

The modern-era nominees will be narrowed to 25 semifinalists in November. The semifinalists will provide the 15 finalists for consideration for the Class of 2024 by the 50-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee next year.

Also under consideration at that time will be senior nominees Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael and Art Powell (predating the 25-year window for modern-era nominees) and coach/contributor finalist Buddy Parker.

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The modern-era nominees include:

Quarterbacks:  Marc Bulger, Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Doug Flutie, Rich Gannon, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Michael Vick

Running backs: Shaun Alexander, Terry Allen, Mike Alstott, Jamal Anderson, Tiki Barber, Michael Bates, Jamaal Charles, Larry Centers, Stephen Davis, Corey Dillon, Warrick Dunn, Charlie Garner, Eddie George, Ahman Green, Priest Holmes, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Daryl Johnston, Thomas Jones, John Kuhn, Vonta Leach, Dorsey Levins, Jamal Lewis, Eric Metcalf, Glyn Milburn, Lorenzo Neal, Tony Richardson, Robert Smith, Fred Taylor, Chris Warren, Ricky Watters, Brian Westbrook, Ricky Williams

Wide receivers:  Anquan Boldin, Troy Brown, Donald Driver, Antonio Freeman, Irving Fryar, Dante Hal, Devin Hester, Torry Holt, Joe Horn, Andre Johnson, Chad Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Derrick Mason, Herman Moore, Muhsin Muhammad, Jordy Nelson, Andre Rison, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, Steve Smith, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker

Tight end:  Ben Coates, Antonio Gates, Wesley Walls

Offensive linemen: Willie Anderson (T), Bruce Armstrong (T/G), Matt Birk (C), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), Jahri Evans (G), Kevin Glover (C/G), Olin Kreutz (C), T.J. Lang (T), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Makins (G), Tom Nalen (C), Nate Newton (G/T), Jeff Saturday (C), Mark Schlereth (G/C), Josh Sitton (G), Chris Snee (G), Mark Stepnoski (C), Dave Szott (G), Max Unger (C), Brian Waters (G), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G)

Defensive linemen: John Abraham, Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney, La’Roi Glover, Casey Hampton, Robert Mathis, Haloti Ngata, Leslie O’Neal, Julius Peppers, Simeon Rice, Justin Smith, Neil Smith, Dan Stubblefield, Henry Thomas, Justin Tuck, Ted Washington, Vince Wilfork, Jamal Williams, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams

Linebackers: Jessie Armstead, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Cornelius Bennett, Lance Briggs, Keith Brooking, Tedy Bruschi, Karlos Dansby, Donnie Edwards, James Farrior, London Fletcher, James Harrison, Larry Izzo, Willie McGinest, Hardy Nickerson, Ken Norton Jr., Bryce Paup, Julien Peterson, Joey Porter, Takeo Spikes, Jessie Tuggle, Mike Vrabel, Patrick Willis, Al Wilson, Lee Woodall

Defensive backs: Eric Allen, Dre Bly, Kam Chancellor, Nick Collins, Antonio Cromartie, Merton Hanks, Rodney Harrison, Carnell Lake, Tim McDonald, Eugene Robinson, Samari Rolle, Allen Rossum, Bob Sanders, Charles Tillman, Troy Vincent, Antoine Winfield, Darren Woodson

Kickers/punters: David Akers (K), Gary Anderson (K), Darren Bennett (P), Jason Elam (K), Jeff Feagles (P), Jason Hanson (K), John Kasay (K), Sean Landeta (P), Shane Lechler (P), Brad Maynard (P), Pat McAfee (P), Brian Moorman (P), Matt Stover (K), Matt Turk (P), Mike Vanderjagt (K)

Special teams: Josh Cribbs, Brian Mitchell

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.