A year after retirement Nick Saban is headed to the College Football Hall of Fame as part of a class of 22 to be enshrined at a ceremony in Las Vegas in December.
A seven-time national title winner, Saban retired from Alabama last January and was eligible for immediate induction in the Hall of Fame because he meets the age requirement (over 70).
Former Florida and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was also selected in his first year of eligibility. A three-time national champion who last coached college football in 2018, Meyer won two national championships at Florida before guiding the Buckeyes to their title. He’s eligible three years after his most recent coaching job, which was with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
Former Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (Oregon) and running backs Steve Slaton (West Virginia) and Montee Ball (Wisconsin) are part of a class that also includes former FCS Defensive Player of the Year Michael Strahan, Tennessee defensive tackle John Henderson and Texas safety Michael Huff.
Strahan, who was the top defensive player honor when the FCS was known as I-AA, played at Texas Southern University. Also a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Strahan still holds the school’s single-season record for sacks (19) and career mark of 41.5.
Players must be out of college for at least a decade and have been recognized as an All-American during their playing days.
Saban was 48-16 at LSU following stints at Toledo and Michigan State before he spent 17 seasons and posted an overall record of 206-29 at Alabama. He won five national titles with the Crimson Tide and BCS national championships at LSU in 2003 and 2009. Alabama won the SEC Championship Game 11 times under Saban.
Vick led Virginia Tech to its only national championship game appearance in 1999. Ball set the NCAA record for total touchdowns (83) and is the only player to rush for 100 or more yards in three consecutive Rose Bowl games.
Slaton was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2006 when he rushed for 1,744 yards for the Mountaineers, who posted a 33-5 record during his team at West Virginia.
The Hall of Fame class:
Montee Ball, RB (2009-12) – University of Wisconsin
Gregg Carr, LB (1981-84) – Auburn University
Blake Elliott, WR (2000-03) – Saint John’s University (MN)
Greg Eslinger, C (2002-05) – University of Minnesota
Terry Hanratty, QB (1966-68) – University of Notre Dame
Graham Harrell, QB (2005-08) – Texas Tech University
John Henderson, DT (1999-2001) – University of Tennessee
Michael Huff, DB (2002-05) – University of Texas
Jim Kleinsasser, TE (1995-98) – University of North Dakota
Alex Mack, OL (2005-08) – University of California
Terrence Metcalf, OL (1997, 1999-2001) – University of Mississippi
Haloti Ngata, DT (2002, 2004-05) – University of Oregon
Steve Slaton, RB (2005-07) – West Virginia University
Darrin Smith, LB (1989-92) – University of Miami
Michael Strahan, DL (1989-92) – Texas Southern University
Dennis Thurman, DB (1974-77) – University of Southern California
Michael Vick, QB (1999-2000) – Virginia Tech
Ryan Yarborough, WR (1990-93) – University of Wyoming
Head coaches:
Larry Blakeney – 178-113-1, Troy University (1991-2014)
Larry Korver – 212-77-6, Northwestern College [IA] (1967-94)
Urban Meyer – 187-32-0, Bowling Green State University (2001-02): University of Utah (2003-04); University of Florida (2005-10); Ohio State University 2012-18)
Nick Saban – 292-71-1, University of Toledo (1990); Michigan State University (1995-99); LSU (2000-04); University of Alabama (2007-23)
