Nominees For College Football Hall Of Fame Include Three From UT

The National Football Foundation has released the list of 80 nominees for consideration to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2027. Three of those nominees have ties to the University of Tennessee. One of those nominees is head coach Josh Heupel. Heupel did not play his colegiate career at UT, but starred for the University of Oklahoma as quarterback and led them to a national championship. He was also a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy
Joining Heupel on the ballot are speedster Willie Gault, who tied the NCAA record for most kickoff return touchdowns in a single season. Gault then played for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders. Considered one of the fastest NFL players of all time, Gault helped the Bears win Super Bowl XX back in 1986.
The third nominee is defensive back Deon Grant. Grant was with the Vols from 1997 to 1999 and was a key member of the dfense on the 1998 national championship team. He was a first team All-American in 1999. Grant then was selected in the 2000 NFL draft in the second round by the Carolina Panthers. He also played fdor Jacksonville, Seattle and the New York Giants during his 12 year NFL career.
The 2027 class for the College Football Hall of Fame will be announced early next year.