College Football Hall of Fame adding 2 SEC stars
The College Football Hall of Fame is adding two of the most lauded players in SEC history in its Class of 2023.
Announced on Monday afternoon, the 18 players in the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 include Tennessee safety Eric Berry and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
Georgia’s Mark Richt is among the four coaches in the Class of 2023.
Berry played at Tennessee from 2007 through 2009. He became the second of three SEC players who were unanimous All-Americans more than once when he earned the honor n 2008 and 2009. The two others are Georgia running back Herschel Walker and Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr.
Berry won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2008 and the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back in 2009.
Berry holds the SEC records for career interception-return yards with 481 and single-season interception-return yards with 265 in 2008. Berry had seven of his 14 career interceptions in 2008.
During his career at Florida from 2006 through 2009, Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007, when he also won the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Tebow repeated as the Maxwell Award winner in 2008, when he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting and won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year Award. Tebow repeated as SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2009, when he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Tebow set the SEC career scoring record with 57 touchdowns, and he played on Florida’s 2006 and 2008 national championship teams.
Berry and Tebow are the first SEC stars who played after the 2007 season to reach the College Football Hall of Fame.
Richt coached Georgia from 2001 through 2015, then closed his career with three seasons at Miami (Fla.). Richt compiled a career record of 171-64 and guided Georgia to SEC championships in 2002 and 2005.
The 80-player NCAA FBS portion of the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 ballot featured 12 former SEC stars, including Auburn linebacker Gregg Carr and Alabama defensive back Antonio Langham and offensive tackle Chris Samuels.
The other SEC players on the ballot who were not chosen for the Class of 2023 were Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch, Florida defensive tackle Brad Culpepper, Tennessee wide receiver Willie Gault, Georgia running back Garrison Hearst, LSU linebacker Bradie James, Florida running back Errict Rhett and Tennessee wide receiver Larry Seivers.
SEC member Missouri had wide receiver Jeremy Maclin chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. But Maclin played for the Tigers in 2007 and 2008, before the program joined the SEC.
The other players in the Class of 2023 include:
· Kansas State quarterback Michael Bishop
· Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush
· Syracuse defensive end Dwight Freeney
· Iowa offensive tackle Robert Gallery
· Oregon running back LaMichael James
· Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson
· Montana State defensive tackle Bill Kollar
· Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly
· New Mexico wide receiver Terance Mathis
· Miami (Fla.) offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie
· Virginia Tech defensive lineman Corey Moore
· Notre Dame linebacker Michael Stonebreaker
· Wisconsin defensive back Troy Vincent
· Villanova running back Brian Westbrook
· Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams
The other coaches in the Class of 2023 were Monte Cater from Lakeland and Shepherd, Paul Johnson from Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech and Roy Kramer from Central Michigan.
With the additions of Berry and Tebow, the SEC has 102 former players in the College Football Hall of Fame.
To be considered for the College Football Hall of Fame today, a player must have been a first-team All-American selection by one of the organizations that the NCAA uses to compile its annual consensus All-American team.
Players aren’t considered for the College Football Hall of Fame until 10 years after their final season. They also aren’t considered while they are active NFL players.
Players aren’t considered if their college careers ended more than 50 years ago either. Those players still can be considered for the College Football Hall of Fame, but their qualifications are examined by the Football Bowl Subdivision Honors Review Committee, bypassing the ballot.
Players on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot are nominated by athletic directors, head coaches and sports-information directors at National Football Foundation-member schools.
The FBS nominees are sorted geographically for eight District Screening Committees. The committee members vote on which players will represent their region on the ballot. Players who received significant support in the final voting in the previous year but did not make the College Football Hall of Fame also are held over on the ballot automatically.
Here’s a breakdown of the SEC’s Hall of Famers by school, including players and coaches. It also includes players and coaches from before the formation of the SEC for the league’s current members. Players and coaches who straddle the pre-SEC and SEC eras are listed under SEC.
ALABAMA
Players
SEC:
Dixie Howell, halfback, 1932-1934. Elected 1970
Don Hutson, end, 1932-1934. Elected 1951
Riley Smith, quarterback, 1933-1935. Elected 1985
Don Whitmire, Alabama and Navy, tackle, 1941-1944 (played at Alabama 1941-42). Elected 1956
Vaughn “Cisco” Mancha, center, 1944-1947. Elected 1990
Harry Gilmer, halfback, 1944-1947. Elected 1993
Billy Neighbors, tackle, 1959-1961. Elected 2003
Lee Roy Jordan, center, 1960-1962. Elected 1983
Johnny Musso, halfback, 1969-1971. Elected 2000
John Hannah, guard/tackle, 1970-1972. Elected 1999
Sylvester Croom, center, 1972-1974: Elected 2022
Woodrow Lowe, linebacker, 1972-1975. Elected 2009
Ozzie Newsome, wide receiver, 1974-1977. Elected 1994
Marty Lyons, defensive tackle, 1975-1978. Elected 2011
E.J. Junior, defensive end, 1977-1980. Elected 2020
Cornelius Bennett, linebacker, 1983-1986. Elected 2005
Derrick Thomas, linebacker, 1985-1988. Elected 2014
Pre-SEC:
Johnny Mack Brown, halfback, 1923-1925. Elected 1957
John Cain, quarterback/fullback, 1930-1932. Elected 1973
Pooley Hubert, fullback, 1922-1925. Elected 1964
Fred Sington, tackle, 1928-1930. Elected 1955
Coaches
SEC:
Frank Thomas, Chattanooga, Alabama, 1925-1946 (at Alabama 1931-46). Elected 1951
Paul “Bear” Bryant, Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Alabama, 1945-1982 (at Alabama 1958-82). Elected 1986
Gene Stallings, Texas A&M, Alabama, 1965-1971, 1990-1996 (at Alabama 1990-96). Elected 2010
Pre-SEC:
Wallace Wade, Alabama, Duke, 1923-1950 (at Alabama 1923-30). Elected 1955
ARKANSAS
Players
SEC:
Darren McFadden, running back, 2005-2007. Elected 2019
Pre-SEC:
Wear Schoonover, end, 1927-1929. Elected 1967
Clyde Scott, Navy and Arkansas, halfback, 1944-1948, 1971
Wayne Harris, center, 1958-1960. Elected 2004
Lance Alworth, halfback, 1959-1961. Elected 1984
Ray Caveness, center, 1962-64. Elected 2010
Loyd Phillips, defensive tackle, 1964-1966. Elected 1992
Chuck Dicus, wide receiver, 1968-1970. Elected 1999
Billy Ray Smith, defensive end, 1979-1982. Elected 2000
Coaches
SEC:
Danny Ford, Clemson, Arkansas, 1978-1989, 1993-1997 (at Arkansas 1993-1997). Elected 2017.
Pre-SEC:
Hugo Bezdek, Oregon, Arkansas, Penn State, Delaware Valley, 1906-1949 (at Arkansas 1908-1912). Elected 1954
Francis Schmidt, Tulsa, Arkansas, Texas Christian, Ohio State, Idaho, 1919-1942 (at Arkansas 1922-1928). Elected 1971
Bowden Wyatt, Wyoming, Arkansas, Tennessee, 1947-1962 (at Arkansas 1953-1954). Elected 1997
Frank Broyles, Missouri, Arkansas, 1957-1976 (at Arkansas 1958-1976). Elected 1983
Lou Holtz, William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, South Carolina, 1969-2004 (at Arkansas 1977-1983). Elected 2008
AUBURN
Players
SEC:
Walter Gilbert, center, 1934-1936. Elected 1956
Ed Dyas, fullback, 1958-1960. Elected 2009
Tucker Frederickson, halfback, 1962-1964. Elected 1994
Terry Beasley, wide receiver, 1969-1971. Elected 2002
Pat Sullivan, quarterback, 1969-1971. Elected 1991
Bo Jackson, halfback, 1982-1985. Elected 1998
Tracy Rocker, defensive tackle, 1985-1988. Elected 2004
Pre-SEC:
Jimmy Hitchcock, halfback, 1930-1932. Elected 1954
Coaches
SEC:
Shug Jordan, Auburn, 1951-1975. Elected 1982
Pat Dye, East Carolina, Wyoming, Auburn, 1974-1992 (at Auburn 1981-1992). Elected 2005
Pre-SEC:
John Heisman, Oberlin, Akron, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Pennsylvania, Washington & Jefferson, Rice, 1892-1927 (at Auburn 1895-1899). Elected 1954
Michael Donahue, Auburn, Louisiana State, 1904-1927 (at Auburn 1904-1906, 1908-1922). Elected 1951
FLORIDA
Players
SEC:
Steve Spurrier, quarterback, 1964-1966. Elected 1986
Jack Youngblood, defensive end, 1968-1970. Elected 1992
Carlos Alvarez, wide receiver, 1969-1971. Elected 2011
Wes Chandler, split end, 1974-1977. Elected 2015
Wilber Marshall, linebacker, 1980-1983. Elected 2008
Lomas Brown, offensive tackle, 1981-1984. Elected 2020
Emmitt Smith, running back, 1987-1989. Elected 2006
Danny Wuerffel, quarterback, 1993-1996. Elected 2013
Tim Tebow, quarterback, 2006-2009. Elected 2023
Pre-SEC:
Dale Van Sickel, end, 1927-1929. Elected 1975
Coaches
SEC:
Ray Graves, Florida, 1960-1969. Elected 1990
Doug Dickey, Tennessee, Florida, 1964-1978 (at Florida 1970-1978). Elected 2003
Steve Spurrier, Duke, Florida, South Carolina, 1987-2001, 2005-15 (at Florida 1990-2001). Elected 2017
Pre-SEC:
Charlie Bachman, Northwestern, Kansas State, Florida, Michigan State, Hillsdale, 1919-1953 (at Florida 1928-1932). Elected 1978
GEORGIA
Players
SEC:
Bill Hartman, fullback, 1935-1937. Elected 1984
Frank Sinkwich, halfback, 1940-1942. Elected 1954
Charley Trippi, halfback, 1942, 1945-1946. Elected 1959
John Rauch, quarterback, 1945-1948. Elected 2003
Fran Tarkenton, quarterback, 1958-1960. Elected 1987
Bill Stanfill, defensive tackle, 1966-1968. Elected 1998
Jake Scott, defensive back, 1967-68. Elected 2011
Scott Woerner, defensive back, 1977-1980. Elected 2016.
Herschel Walker, running back, 1980-1982. Elected 1999
Terry Hoage, safety, 1980-1983. Elected 2000
Kevin Butler, place-kicker, 1981-1984. Elected 2001
Matt Stinchcomb, offensive tackle, 1995-1998. Elected 2018
Champ Bailey, cornerback, 1996-1998: Elected 2022
David Pollack, defensive end, 2001-2004. Elected 2020
Pre-SEC:
Bob McWhorter, halfback, 1910-1913. Elected 1954
Vernon “Catfish” Smith, end, 1929-1931. Elected 1979
Coaches:
SEC:
Wally Butts, Georgia, 1939-1960. Elected 1997
Vince Dooley, Georgia, 1964-1988. Elected 1994
Jim Donnan, Marshall, Georgia, 1990-2000 (at Georgia 1996-2000). Elected 2009
Mark Richt, Georgia, Miami (Fla.), 2001-2018 (at Georgia 2001-2015). Elected 2023
Pre-SEC:
Pop Warner, Georgia, Cornell, Carlisle, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Temple, 1895-1938 (at Georgia 1895-1896). Elected 1951
KENTUCKY
Players
SEC:
Bob Gain, tackle-guard, 1947-1950. Elected 1980
Babe Parilli, quarterback, 1949-1951. Elected 1982
Steve Meilinger, end, 1951-1953. Elected 2013.
Lou Michaels, tackle, 1955-1957. Elected 1992
Art Still, defensive end, 1974-77. Elected 2015
Pre-SEC: None
Coaches
SEC:
Paul “Bear” Bryant, Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Alabama, 1945-1982 (at Kentucky 1946-1953). Elected 1986
Jerry Claiborne, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Kentucky 1961-1989 (at Kentucky 1982-1989). Elected 1999
Pre-SEC: None
LSU
Players
SEC:
Abe Mickal, halfback, 1933-1935. Elected 1967
Gaynell Tinsley, end, 1934-1936. Elected 1956
Ken Kavanaugh, end, 1937-1939. Elected 1963
Billy Cannon, halfback, 1957-1959. Elected 2008
Jerry Stovall, halfback, 1960-1962. Elected 2010
Tommy Casanova, cornerback, 1969-1971. Elected 1995
Bert Jones, quarterback, 1970-1972. Elected 2016
Charles Alexander, running back, 1975-1978. Elected 2012
Kevin Faulk, running back, 1995-1998: Elected 2022.
Glenn Dorsey, defensive tackle, 2004-2007. Elected 2020
Pre-SEC:
Doc Fenton, Mansfield and LSU, end/quarterback, 1904-1909. Elected 1971
Coaches
SEC:
Biff Jones, Army, LSU, Oklahoma, Nebraska, 1926-1941 (at LSU 1932-1934). Elected 1954
Bernie Moore, Mercer, LSU, 1925-1947 (at LSU 1935-1947). Elected 1954
Charlie McClendon, LSU, 1962-1979. Elected 1986
Pre-SEC:
Dana Bible, Mississippi College, LSU, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Texas, 1916-1946 (at LSU 1916). Elected 1951
Michael Donahue, Auburn, LSU, 1904-1927 (at LSU 1923-1927). Elected 1951
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Players
SEC:
Jackie Parker, quarterback, 1952-1953. Elected 1976
D.D. Lewis, linebacker, 1965-1967. Elected 2001
Pre-SEC: None
Coaches
SEC:
Allyn McKeen, Memphis State, Mississippi State, 1937-1948 (at Mississippi State 1939-1948). Elected 1991
Darrell Royal, Mississippi State, Washington, Texas, 1954-1976 (at Mississippi State 1954-1955). Elected 1983
Pre-SEC:
Bernie Bierman, Montana, Mississippi State, Tulane, Minnesota, 1919-1950 (at Mississippi State 1925-1926). Elected 1955
MISSOURI
Players
SEC: None
Pre-SEC:
Ed “Brick” Travis, tackle, 1919-20. Elected 1974
Paul Christman, halfback, 1938-40. Elected 1956
Darold Jenkins, center, 1939-41. Elected 1976
Bob Steuber, end/halfback, 1940-42. Elected 1971
Johnny Roland, halfback, 1962, ‘64-65. Elected 1998
Roger Wehrli, cornerback, 1966-68. Elected 2003
Kellen Winslow, tight end, 1975-78. Elected 2002
Jeremy Maclin, wide receiver, 2007-08. Elected 2023
Coaches
SEC:
Gary Pinkel, Toledo, Missouri, 1991-2015 (at Missouri 2001-2015). Elected in 2020
Pre-SEC:
Bill Roper, Princeton, VMI, Missouri, Swathmore, 1903-1930 (at Missouri 1909). Elected 1951
Jim Phelan, Missouri, Purdue, Washington, St. Mary’s, 1920-1947 (at Missouri 1920-1921). Elected 1973
Don Faurot, Northeast Missouri, Missouri, 1926-1956 (at Missouri 1935-1956). Elected 1961
Frank Broyles, Missouri, Arkansas, 1957-1976 (at Missouri 1957). Elected 1983
Dan Devine, Arizona State, Missouri, Notre Dame, 1955-1980 (at Missouri 1958-1970). Elected 1985
OLE MISS
Players
SEC:
Bruiser Kinard, tackle, 1935-1937. Elected 1951
Parker Hall, halfback, 1936-1938. Elected 1991
Charlie Conerly, halfback, 1942, 1946-1947. Elected 1966
Barney Poole, Ole Miss, North Carolina and Army, end, 1942-1948 (played at Ole Miss 1942, ‘47-48). Elected 1974
Charlie Flowers, fullback, 1957-1959. Elected 1997
Jake Gibbs, quarterback, 1958-1960. Elected 1995
Archie Manning, quarterback, 1968-1970. Elected 1989
Wesley Walls, tight end, 1985-1988. Elected 2014
Patrick Willis, linebacker, 2003-2006. Elected 2019
Pre-SEC: None
Coaches
SEC:
Johnny Vaught, Ole Miss, 1947-1970, ‘73. Elected 1979
Pre-SEC: None
SOUTH CAROLINA
Players
SEC: None
Pre-SEC:
George Rogers, halfback, 1977-1980. Elected 1997
Sterling Sharpe, wide receiver, 1983, 1985-87. Elected 2014
Coaches
SEC:
Lou Holtz, William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, South Carolina, 1969-2004 (at South Carolina 1999-2004). Elected 2008
Steve Spurrier, Duke, Florida, South Carolina, 1987-2001, 2005-2015 (at South Carolina 2005-2015). Elected 2017
Pre-SEC: None
TENNESSEE
Players
SEC:
Beattie Feathers, halfback, 1931-1933. Elected 1955
Bowden Wyatt, end, 1936-1938. Elected 1972
George Cafego, halfback, 1937-1939. Elected 1969
Bob Suffridge, guard, 1938-1940. Elected 1961
Ed Molinski, guard, 1938-1940. Elected 1990
Joe Steffy, Tennessee and Army, guard, 1944-1947 (played at Tennessee in 1944). Elected 1987
Hank Lauricella, halfback, 1949-1951. Elected 1981
John Michels, guard, 1950-1952. Elected 1996
Doug Atkins, tackle, 1950-1952. Elected 1985
Johnny Majors, halfback, 1954-1956. Elected 1987
Steve DeLong, middle guard, 1962-1964. Elected 1993
Frank Emanuel, linebacker, 1963-1965. Elected 2004
Bob Johnson, center, 1965-1967. Elected 1989
Steve Kiner, linebacker, 1967-1969. Elected 1999
Chip Kell, guard/center, 1968-1970. Elected 2006
Reggie White, defensive tackle, 1980-1983. Elected 2002
Peyton Manning, quarterback, 1994-97. Elected 2017
Al Wilson, linebacker, 1995-98. Elected 2021
Eric Berry, safety, 2007-2009. Elected 2023
Pre-SEC:
Nathan Dougherty, guard, 1906-1909. Elected 1967
Bobby Dodd, quarterback, 1928-1930. Elected 1959
Gene McEver, halfback, 1928-1929, 1931. Elected 1954
Herman Hickman, guard, 1929-1931. Elected 1959
Coaches
SEC:
Robert Neyland, coach, 1926-34, ‘36-40, ‘46-52. Elected 1956
Bowden Wyatt, Wyoming, Arkansas, Tennessee, 1947-1962 (at Tennessee 1955-1962). Elected 1997
Doug Dickey, Tennessee, Florida, 1964-1978 (at Tennessee 1970-1976). Elected 2003
Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee, 1992-2008. Elected 2012.
Pre-SEC: None
TEXAS A&M
Players
SEC: None
Pre-SEC:
Joe Utay, halfback, 1905-07. Elected 1974
Joel Hunt, quarterback, 1925-27. Elected 1967
Joe Routt, guard, 1935-37. Elected 1962
John Kimbrough, fullback, 1938-40. Elected 1954
Jack Pardee, fullback, 1954-56. Elected 1986
John David Crow, halfback, 1955-57. Elected 1976
Charlie Krueger, tackle, 1955-57. Elected 1983
David Elmendorf, safety, 1968-70. Elected 1997
Jacob Green, defensive end, 1977-1979. Elected 2019
Ray Childress, defensive end, 1981-84. Elected 2010
Dat Nguyen, linebacker, 1995-98. Elected 2017
Coaches
SEC: None
Pre-SEC:
Dana Bible, Mississippi College, LSU, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Texas, 1916-1946 (at Texas A&M 1917-1928). Elected 1951
Matty Bell, TCU, Texas A&M, SMU, 1923-1933, 1935-1949 (at Texas A&M 1929-1933). Elected 1955
Homer Norton, Centenary, Texas A&M, 1919-1947 (at Texas A&M 1934-1947). Elected 1971
Paul “Bear” Bryant, Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Alabama, 1945-1982 (at Texas A&M 1954-1957). Elected 1986
Gene Stallings, Texas A&M, Alabama, 1965-1971, 1990-1996 (at Texas A&M 1965-71). Elected 2010
R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M, 1989-2002. Elected 2012.
VANDERBILT
Players
SEC:
Carl Hinkle, center, 1935-1937. Elected 1959
Pre-SEC:
John Tigert, halfback, 1901-1903. Elected 1970
Josh Cody, tackle, 1914-1916, 1919. Elected 1970
Lynn Bomar, end, 1921-1924. Elected 1956
Bill Spears, quarterback, 1925-1927. Elected 1962
Coaches
SEC:
Dan McGugin, Vanderbilt, 1904-1917, 1919-1934. Elected 1951
Ray Morrison, Southern Methodist, Vanderbilt, Temple, Austin, 1915-1951 (at Vanderbilt 1935-1939). Elected 1954
Red Sanders, Vanderbilt, UCLA, 1940-1957 (at Vanderbilt 1940-42, ‘46-48). Elected 1996
Bill Edwards, Western Reserve, Vanderbilt, Wittenberg, 1935-1968 (at Vanderbilt 1949-1952). Elected 1986
Pre-SEC: None
For former conference members, Georgia Tech, Sewanee and Tulane, only the players and coaches who were active during SEC seasons are listed.
GEORGIA TECH
Players:
Bobby Davis, tackle, 1944-1947. Elected 1978
Ray Beck, guard, 1948-1951. Elected 1997
George Morris, center, 1950-1952. Elected 1981
Larry Morris, center, 1951-1954. Elected 1992
Maxie Baughan, center, 1957-1959. Elected 1988
Coaches:
Bill Alexander, Georgia Tech, 1920-1944. Elected 1951
Bobby Dodd, Georgia Tech, 1945-1966. Elected 1993
SEWANEE
Players: None
Coaches: None
TULANE
Players:
Monk Simons, halfback, 1932-1934. Elected 1963
John “Jack” Green, Tulane and Army, guard, 1942-1945 (played at Tulane in 1942). Elected 1989
Eddie Price, fullback, 1946-1949. Elected 1982
Coaches: None
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.