The National Football Foundation has announced the College Football Hall of Fame ballot for 2027, and there are two Ohio State legends appearing among the 80 names. Former linebacker A.J. Hawk and Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter are the two former Buckeye greats who hope to garner enough votes to be enshrined in Atlanta.
Before the latest run of elite receivers, Carter was widely known in many circles as the most gifted and talented OSU receiver to ever run through the tunnel in Ohio Stadium. His infamous hands and elite body control led to highlight-reel catches that not only resulted in him setting the freshman receiving mark in Columbus (since surpassed by Jeremiah Smith), but also translated to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.
Honestly, it’s probably long overdue for Carter to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, but the controversy with an agent that led to his ineligibility has likely kept the 1986 consensus All-American from getting the votes needed.
Hawk, a Centerville High School product, came to Ohio State as just a three-star recruit but quickly showed that he was going to be a star when he was used as a backup linebacker and on special teams, often showing flashes of his big-play ability during the 2002 national championship run.
From 2003 to 2005, Hawk became one of the best defenders in the country, making First Team All-Big Ten each year. He was a consensus All-American in 2005, and in 2005 he really raked up the awards and trophies, becoming a unanimous All-American, winning both the Lombardi Award and Jack Lambert Trophy while being honored as the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Hawk also had a long and productive NFL career after being selected by the Green Bay Packers as the No. 5 pick in the 2006 NFL draft. His 11-year career at the professional level resulted in 947 total tackles and a Super Bowl XLV victory. He spent nine years with the Packers, leading the team in tackles in five of those before ending his career with the Bengals and then Falcons.
The 2027 class will be announced after all the NFF members and College Football Hall of Fame members submit votes before the July 1 deadline. There’s reason to believe that both should be enshrined, if not this year, then in the near future.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Two Ohio State players on ballot for College Football Hall of Fame
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
