Skip to main content
USC

Three former USC Trojans named to 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

Erik-McKinneyby:Erik McKinney•06/02/25•

ErikTMcKinney

USC assistant defensive backs coach Taylor Mays runs a drill during a fall camp practice with the Trojans
USC assistant defensive backs coach Taylor Mays runs a drill during a fall camp practice with the Trojans (Erik McKinney/WeAreSC)

The USC Trojans are looking to add to its long list of former players in the College Football Hall of Fame as three landed on the 2026 ballot.

Two of the players are holdovers from previous ballots. The new name is former safety Taylor Mays. The former standout safety became USC’s fourth-ever three-time All-American during his playing career from 2006-2009

Mays was a Freshman All-American and a Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2006 and became a consensus All-American in the 2008 season while playing for one of the best USC defenses of all time. Mays was a finalist for the Thorpe Award in 2008 and was a two-time All-Conference first team selection in 2008 and 2009. He spent the 2010-2015 seasons in the NFL playing for the 49ers, Bengals and Raiders. Mays landed on Lincoln Riley’s USC coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season before leaving this offseason to head home to Washington and take over as safeties coach for the Huskies.

The two players who have appeared on previous College Football Hall of Fame ballots are safety Mark Carrier and offensive lineman Jeff Bregel.

Carrier became USC’s first Thorpe Award winner following a standout 1989 season in which he recorded seven interceptions. He was a two-time All-Conference first-team selection and was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team in 2015.

Bregel played at USC from 1983-1986 and was a two-time consensus All-American. He became a second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers.

Last year, former USC safety Dennis Thurman was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as part of its 2025 class. He is the 36th player and 47th overall inductee to the College Football Hall of Fame with USC ties

You may also like

Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz