Pair of former Oregon Ducks land on 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
A pair of Oregon Duck legends could potentially be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in the near future.
The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame announced a list of 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Subdivision, and 96 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks on Monday.
Among them are former Oregon stars LaMichael James and Haloti Ngata.
According to the College Football Hall of Fame website, James and Ngata could potentially become the eighth and ninth inductees in Oregon history.
“It’s an enormous honor to just be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering more than 5.54 million people have played college football and only 1,056 players have been inducted,” National Football Foundation President and CEO Steve Hatchell said. “The Hall’s requirement of being a First-Team All-American creates a much smaller pool of about 1,500 individuals who are even eligible. Being in today’s elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to have ever played the game, and we look forward to announcing the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class early next year.”
James, who starred at running back for the Ducks at the height of the Chip Kelly era, is a two-time first-team All-American who won the Doak Walker Award in 2010 and finished third in Heisman voting that same season. He led the nation with 1,731 rushing yards in 2010 and led the Ducks to the 2011 BCS National Championship Game in 2011.
Ngata was a consensus first-team All-American at defensive tackle for Oregon in 2005, becoming the first Duck to receive that honor since 1962. That same season, he also become the first player in program history to be named Pac-10 defensive player of the year.
Haloti Ngata, Oregon – Defensive Tackle – 2005 consensus First Team All-American, the Ducks’ first consensus player since 1962…Two-time All-Pac-10 selection and first player in Oregon history to be named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (2005)…2005 finalist for the Nagurski and Outland trophies and 2002 Freshman All-American.
The announcement of the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2023, with specific details to be announced in the future. The class will be officially inducted during the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2023.
