Seventy-eight former Football Bowl Subdivision All-Americans were named on this week’s ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2021, which has numerous requirements.
Among the 78 are 1975-78 Fighting Irish linebacker/middle guard Bob Golic, and 1990-93 offensive lineman Aaron Taylor.
The announcement of the 2021 class will be made early next year. Last year, 1990 Walter Camp Award winner and Heisman runner-up Raghib “Rocket” Ismail became the 47th Notre Dame player inducted (the most among any school). Taylor also was on the ballot, but did not make it. Generally, about eight to 12 players are chosen annually.
Among the familiar names on the ballot this year are Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Rashaan Salaam.
There are also numerous NFL stars (which should have no bearing in the college voting) Tony Gonzalez, Ray Lewis, Dan Hampton, Marvin Harrison and Troy Vincent … and some names that make Fighting Irish faithful cringe with the massive upsets they helped lead in Notre Dame Stadium, including Stanford’s Ed McCaffrey and Boston College’s Pete Mitchell.
Among the estimated 5.4 million individuals who have played college football, only 1,027 players have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, or less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of those who have played the game during the past 150 years. From the coaching ranks, 219 individuals have achieved Hall of Fame distinction.
Golic is second to Bob Crable, inducted in 2018, in career tackles (479, not including bowls) at Notre Dame. He was an AP and UPI second-team All-America selection for the 1977 national champs at middle linebacker and nose guard, and a consensus All-America pick in 1978 at middle linebacker.
In the 38-10 Cotton Bowl win over No. 1 Texas to win the national title, he was named Defensive MVP with 17 tackles and blocked a kick. He was powerful enough to line up at nose, yet fluid enough to play linebacker, including six career interceptions. Golic also was an All-American heavyweight wrestler. The second-round selection had a 14-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowls as a nose tackle.
Taylor earned consensus All-America notice at offensive guard in 1992 and unanimous at offensive tackle in 1993 while helping the Irish win 17 consecutive games. He earned the 1993 Lombardi Award and was named College Interior Lineman of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio) before becoming a first-round pick and Super Bowl champion at Green Bay.
Taylor is one of only 16 two-time consensus All-Americans in Notre Dame annals. He joins cornerback Todd Lyght and linebacker Michael Stonebreaker, both starters on the school’s most recent national title team in 1988, as the three among the 16 not yet in the College Football Hall of Fame.
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