USC Defensive Backs Mark Carrier, Dennis Thurman Named to 2024 CFB Hall of Fame Ballot
Former USC defensive backs Mark Carrier and Dennis Thurman are among 78 players and nine coaches from the FBS level to be put on the 2024 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
This is the fourth time Carrier’s name has appeared on the ballot. He was USC’s first Thorpe Award winner, taking home the trophy in 1989 as the nation’s best defensive back.
Carrier led the conference with seven interceptions in 1989, to go along with 107 tackles, three fumble recoveries and 10 pass deflections. And he was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection. Carrier ranks tied for No. 6 on USC’s career interception list with 13. He was inducted into the USC Hall of Fame in 2007 and to the Pac-12’s All-Century Team in 2015.
Carrier was drafted No. 6 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1990 draft. He spent 11 years in the NFL with the Bears, Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins. Carrier then served as a college coach with Arizona State and in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals.
He previously appeared on the 2020, 2022 and 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballots. He gets overshadowed by USC’s more recognizable and regarded all-time safeties in Ronnie Lott and Troy Polamalu. But Carrier belongs in that conversation as to USC’s best defensive backs.
Thurman’s USC Accolades
Thurman earned All-American honors twice while at USC. He earned USC’s Defensive Player of the Year Award and team MVP in 1977. His eight interceptions in 1976 led the Trojans and he’s tied with Carrier at No. 6 all-time with 13 career interceptions for USC.
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Thurman was selected in the 11th round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He turned in a nine-year NFL career and then began a long coaching career. He spent the 1993-2000 seasons as the defensive backs coach at USC and he’s now the Defensive Director of Quality Control at Colorado.
The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2024, with specific details to be announced in the future.
USC in the College Football Hall of Fame
Thirty-five former USC players are enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Reggie Bush became the latest former Trojan with his inclusion as part of the 2023 class.
Before Bush, Carson Palmer was elected in 2021, safety Troy Polamalu in 2019 and quarterback Matt Leinart in 2017.
