SCFHOF25 Nomination Ballot

Donnie Abraham

Orangeburg SC, East Tennessee State ’92-‘95, NFL Draft: 1996 Round: 3 Pick: 71, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ‘96–‘01), New York Jets ‘02–‘04, NFL INT co-leader ‘99, Pro Bowl ‘00 PFWA All-Rookie Team ’96, football coach since 2005, current DC for XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks

Edwin Bailey

Savannah, Georgia) South Carolina State ‘77-’80, Seattle Seahawks ’81-’91 (5th Rnd Draft Pick), started 121 of 139 career NFL games at guard, recognized for durability and leadership on the offensive line. After his playing career, served as offensive line coach for the Berlin Thunder (NFL Europe), Morehouse College, and Savannah State University, as well as director of operations for the Seattle Seahawks' community outreach programs. South Carolina State Hall of Fame inductee

Eric Breitenstein

Valle Crucis, NC, Wofford College ’08-’12, Wofford’s all-time rushing leader with 5,730 yards, and 2nd all-time in SoCon, finished third in Walter Payton Award (2012), rushed for 2,035 yards and 19 Touchdowns in 2012, 1st Team AP and Sports Network All-American (2012, 2011), SoCon Male Athlete of the Year (2012), 2x SoCon Offensive Player of the Year (2012, 2011); Class of 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Nominee

Robert Brooks

Greenwood SC, South Carolina ’88-’91, Green Bay Packers ’92-’98 (3rd Rnd Draft Pick), Denver Broncos ’00, Super Bowl XXXI Champion, Longest TD reception in NFL history (99 yards-tied), Played in 100 NFL games, USC Athletics Hall of Fame ’03, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ’23

Sheldon Brown

Lancaster SC, South Carolina ’98-’01, Philadelphia Eagles ’02-’09 (2nd Rnd Draft Pick), Cleveland Browns ’10-’12, tallied 609 tackles, 8 sacks, 9 FF, 146 PD, 26 INTs, & 6 Defensive TD returns in NFL career, 1st Team All-American ’00, 1st Team All-SEC ’01, Played in 188 NFL games starting 154

Brentson Buckner

Columbus GA, Clemson ’91-’93, Pittsburgh Steelers ’94-’96 (2nd Rnd Draft Pick), Cincinnati Bengals ’97, San Francisco 49ers ’98-’00, Carolina Panthers ’01-’05 Assistant Coach: Arizona Cardinals 2x, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Raiders, Jaguars, 1st Team All-ACC ’93, played in 174 NFL games and started 125

Derrick Burgess

Lake City, South Carolina) College: Ole Miss, NFL Draft: 2001 / Round: 3 / Pick: 63, Philadelphia Eagles (2001–2004), Oakland Raiders (2005–2008), New England Patriots (2009), Philadelphia Eagles (2010), Second-team All-Pro (2005), 2× Pro Bowl (2005, 2006), NFL sacks leader (2005), First-team All-SEC (2000)

Jeff Burris

Rock Hill SC, Notre Dame '90-'93, Buffalo Bills ‘94–’97 (1st Rnd Draft Pick), Indianapolis Colts ‘98–‘01, Cincinnati Bengals ‘02–’03, PFWA All-Rookie Team ‘94, Consensus First Team All-American ‘93, Assistant football Coach since 2011, currently CB coach at Louisiana since 2021

Jerry Butler

Ware Shoals, South Carolina, Clemson '75-78, Buffalo Bills (1st Round Pick) 1979-86, Cleveland Browns Wide Receivers Coach '99-00, Cleveland Browns Director of Player Development '01-11, ACC Receptions Leader '78, 2x ACC Receiving Yards Leader '77-78, 2x ACC Receiving Touchdowns Leader '76-77, 1x Pro Bowl '80, Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award '19, Clemson Tigers Hall of Fame '86, Clemson Tigers Centennial Team '96, Clemson Ring of Honor '98

Robbie Caldwell

Pageland SC, Furman ’74-‘76, 3x Letterman, Paladin Team MVP '75,Coaching career: (HC unless noted) ‘78–‘85 Furman (OL), ‘86–‘99 NC State (OL), ‘00–‘01 North Carolina (OL), ‘02–‘09 Vanderbilt (OL), ‘10 Vanderbilt, ‘11–‘21 Clemson (OL), 2x CFP national champion ‘16, ‘18

Barney Chavous

Aiken, SC; South Carolina State ‘70-’73, Denver Broncos 1973-85 (2nd round pick), 75 career sacks (3rd in Broncos history, 1st Team Little All-American ’72, played in 183 NFL games starting 178, recorded 4 or more sacks every season of 13 yr NFL career

Dexter Coakley

Mt. Pleasant SC, Appalachian St. '93-'96, Dallas Cowboys '97-'04 (3rd Rnd Draft Pick), St. Louis Rams '05-'06, SoCon Freshman of the Year, 3x SoCon DPOY '94-'96, 2x Buck Buchanan Award '95, '96, '97 NFL All-Rookie team, 3x Pro Bowl '99, '01, '03, College Football Hall of Fame '11, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame '19

Woody Dantzler

Orangeburg SC, Clemson ’97-’01, Dallas Cowboys ’02, ’05, Atlanta Falcons ’02, First QB in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in same season, held 53 Clemson football records, Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame ’07, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ‘23, current NFLPA South Carolina Chapter

Chartric Darby

North, South Carolina, South Carolina State ‘95-98, Baltimore Ravens ‘98, Barcelona Dragons ‘00, Tampa Bay ‘00-04, Seattle ‘05-07, Detroit ‘08-09, Super Bowl Champion and starter ’03, played in 114 NFL games as an undrafted free agent, played for the legendary Coach Willie Jeffries, MEAC Hall of Fame '18, Sporting News FCS All-American '97, SCSU HOF '06

Dexter Davis

Brooklyn NY/Sumter HS, Clemson ’86-’90, Phoenix Cardinals ’91-’93 (4th Round Draft Pick), LA/St. Louis Rams ’93-’95) 3x All-ACC ’87–’89, 2x Clemson Defensive MVP, started 47 straight games for the Tigers, led Clemson to three ACC Championships, played in the 1989 Gator Bowl, finished collegiate career with 10 interceptions and over 300 tackles, current President of the NFL Alumni Association South Carolina Chapter

Jack Douglas

N Charleston SC, Citadel ’89-‘92, at one time was the all-time leading rushing quarterback in I-AA football (3,674 rushing yards), selected as the 1992 South Carolina Male Amateur Athlete of the Year and South Carolina Offensive Player of the Year, continues to hold many of The Citadel’s career offensive records, led Citadel to a tie for a #1 ranking in 1-AA football and a SoCon Championship in ‘92, Citadel Sports Hall of Fame ’00, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ‘07

Carlos Dunlap

North Charleston, South Carolina, Florida ’07-’09, Cincinnati Bengals (2nd Round Pick) ’10–’20, Seattle Seahawks ’21, Kansas City Chiefs ’22, Super Bowl Champion ’22, 2x Pro Bowl ’15, ’16, First Team All-SEC ’08, SEC Champion ’08, over 100 career NFL sacks, Bengals franchise leader in sacks, member of Florida’s BCS National Championship team ’08

Justin Durant

Florence, South Carolina, Hampton University ‘03-06, Jacksonville Jaguars ‘07-10, Detroit Lions ‘11-12, Dallas Cowboys ‘13-14, Atlanta Falcons ‘15, Dallas Cowboys 16-17, 3x First Team All MEAC ‘04-06, 3x MEAC Defensive Player of the Year ‘04-06, 3rd Team FCS All American 2x Division 1-AA All American ‘05-05, 3x HBCU All American ‘04-06, over 500 career NFL tackles

Armanti Edwards

Greenwood, SC; App State ’06-’09, Carolina Panthers ’10-’13 (3rd Rnd Draft Pick), Cleveland Browns ’13, (CFL); Saskatchewan Roughriders ’16, Toronto Argonauts ’17-’19, Edmonton Elks ’20-’21), 2x Walter Payton (FCS Heisman/’08, ’09), 2x NCAA FCS National Champion ’06-’07, 2x SoCon Offensive Player of the Year 08, 09; Grey Cup Champion ’17, Class of 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee

Bobby Engram

Camden SC, Penn St. ’92-’95, Chicago Bears ’96-’00 (2nd Rnd Draft Pick), Seattle Seahawks ’01-’08, Kansas City Chiefs ’09, Cleveland Browns ’10 (player)/Assistant Coach: San Francisco 49ers ’11, Pittsburgh Panthers ’12-’14, Baltimore Ravens, ’14-’21, Washington Commanders current, 3 x 1st Team All-Big Ten, Biletnikoff ’94, 1st Team All-American ‘94

Shaun Ellis

Anderson SC, Tennessee ’96-’99, National Champion ’98, New York Jets ’00-’10 (1st Rnd Draft Pick), New England Patriots ’11, 2x Pro Bowl ’03, ’09, 73.5 career QB sacks, 1st Team All-SEC ’99, played in 184 NFL games starting 166, forced 13 career fumbles, recorded 4 seasons with at least 8 sacks

Todd Ellis

Greensboro NC, South Carolina ’86-’89, Denver Broncos ’90 (9th Rnd Draft Pick), leading passer in program history (9,953 yards), winningest QB in Gamecock history until Connor Shaw, “Voice of the Gamecocks”, play by play man for football since 2003, part of USC’s radio broadcast for 31 years, USC Athletic Hall of Fame ‘05, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ‘20, set 26 Gamecock records during his career

Rickey Foggie

Laurens SC, Minnesota '84-'88, CFL- BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos, Memphis Mad Dogs, 2x Grey Cup Champ, AFL- Minnesota Fighting Pike, NJ Red Dogs,, Florida Bobcats, Detroit Fury, Toronto Phantoms, Carolina Cobras

AJ Green

Summerville, SC; University of Georgia ’08–’10, Cincinnati Bengals (1st Round Draft Pick, 4th overall) ’11–’20, Arizona Cardinals ’21–’22, 7x Pro Bowl ’11–’17, 2x Second Team All-Pro ’12, ’13, NFL All-Rookie Team ’11, over 10,000 career receiving yards and 70+ touchdowns, First Team All-SEC ’09, ’10, Sporting News Freshman All-American ’08, SEC Freshman of the Year ’08, holds multiple Bengals franchise receiving records, College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Joe Hamilton

Alvin SC, Georgia Tech '96-'99, Tampa Bay Buccaneers '00-'02 (7th Rnd Draft Pick), Indianapolis Colts '04, Consensus All-American '99, Davey O'Brien Award '99, Heisman Trophy runner-up '99, NCAA Quarterback of the Year '99, ACC Player of the Year '99, College Football Hall of Fame '14

Albert Haynesworth

Hartsville, SC, University of Tennessee '99-'01, Tennessee Titans (1st Rnd Pick) '02-'08, Washington Redskins '09-'10, New England Patriots '11, Tampa Bay Buccaneers '11, Pro Bowl '07-'08, First Team All-Pro '07-'08, Sporting News NFL Defensive Player of the Year '08, Second Team All-SEC '01, USA Today High School All-American '98

Vonnie Holliday

Camden SC, North Carolina ’94-’97, Green Bay Packers ’98-’02 (1st Rnd Draft Pick), Kansas City Chiefs ’03-’04, Miami Dolphins ’05-’08, Denver Broncos ’09, Washington Redskins ’10, Arizona Cardinals ’11-’12

Coach Lou Holtz

Follansbee WV, Assist. Coach-South Carolina '66-'67 Head Coach - William & Mary '69-'71, NC State '72-'75, NY Jets '76, Arkansas '77-'83, Minnesota '84-'85, Notre Dame '86-'96, South Carolina '99-'04, Paul “Bear” Bryant Award '77, '88, Eddie Robinson '77, '88, Sporting News College Football COY '77, '88, Walter Camp COY Award '77, ACC Year '72, SEC COY '00, Presidential Medal of Freedom '20, College Football Hall of Fame '08, National Champion '88, SoCon Champion '70, ACC Champion '73, SWC Champion '79

Billy Joe

Aynor, South Carolina College: Villanova, NFL Draft: 1963 / Round: 9 / Pick: 119, AFL Draft: 1963 / Round: 11 / Pick: 85, Denver Broncos (1963–1964), Buffalo Bills (1965), Miami Dolphins (1966), New York Jets (1967–1969), Head coach; Cheyney (1972–1978), Central State (1981–1993), Florida A&M (1994–2004), Miles (2008–2010), Super Bowl champion (III), AFL champion (1968), AFL All-Star (1965), AFL champion (1965), AFL Rookie of the Year (1963), NAIA Division I Coach of the Year (1992), 3× MEAC Coach of the Year (1995–1996, 2001)

Coach Bobby Johnson

Columbia SC, Clemson '69-'72, Asst Coach - Furman '76-'92, Clemson '93 Head Coach - Furman '94-'01, Vanderbilt '02-'10, SoCon Championships '99, '01, SEC Coach of the Year '08, led first bowl victory since 1955 and second in school history in 2008 at Vanderbilt, Furman Athletic Hall of Fame '09, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame '17

Johnathan Joseph

Rock Hill SC, Coffeyville Community College '03, South Carolina '04-'05, Cincinnati Bengals (1st Round Draft Pick) '06-'10, Houston Texans '11-'19, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans '20, 2x Pro Bowl '11/12, 2nd All Time in Career Pass Deflections, 32 Career Interceptions

Steve Kenney

Wilmington, NC, Clemson ’75-’78, Philadelphia Eagles ’79-85, Detroit Lions ’86, 1st Team All-ACC ’87, played in 89 games and started 64 over seven NFL seasons), 6th Round Draft Pick ’80, played offensive guard for seven NFL seasons, started in Super Bowl XV, helped lead the Eagles to three straight playoff appearances , South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ’05

Marcus Lattimore

Duncan SC, South Carolina ’10-’12, San Francisco 49ers ’13-’14, USA Today HS All-American, NCAA Freshman of the Year ’10, Sporting News All-Freshman Team, 1st Team All-SEC ’10, 2nd Team All-American, 2nd Team All-SEC ’11, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame '24

George Martin

Greenville SC, Oregon ’71-’74, New York Giants ’75-’88 (11th Rnd Draft Pick), Super Bowl XXI Champion, scored 7 touchdowns (one lined up as a tight end) as a defensive lineman which is second to Jason Taylor in NFL history), Giants team captain, recorded 46 career sacks, NFLPA President, known for his durability and leadership both on and off the field, recipient of the NFL Man of the Year Award ’86, New York Giants Ring of Honor, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame member

Corey Miller

Pageland SC, South Carolina ’87-’90, New York Giants ’91-’98 (6th Rnd Draft Pick), Minnesota Vikings ’99, Super Bowl XXV Champion, 7-year NFL career as linebacker/defensive end, 1990 First Team All-SEC, led Gamecocks in tackles for loss and sacks during senior season, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ’08, known for his versatility and leadership on and off the field.

Ron Parker

Beaufort, SC; Newberry ’07-‘10, Seattle Seahawks ’11,12; Oakland Raiders ’11, Carolina Panthers ’12, Kansas City Chiefs ’13-’18, played 104 games in 10 NFL seasons, 1st Team Don Hansen All-American ’09, 2nd Team D2Football.com & Daktronics All-American ’09, 1st Team D2Football.com & Don Hanson All-American ’10

Sidney Rice

Gaffney SC, South Carolina '05-'06, Minn Vikings (2nd Rnd Draft Pick) '07-'10, Seahawks '11-'13, Pro Bowl '09, All-Pro '09, Super Bowl XLVIII champ, NFL record for most TD receptions in a playoff game (3), U of SC Athletic HOF '16, USC career TD reception record (23-tied), SC Athletic HOF '22

Tony Rice

Spartanburg SC, Woodruff, Notre Dame '86-'89, Saskatchewan Roughriders '90 (CFL), Barcelona Dragons '91-'92 (World League), Munich Thunder '94 (FLE), 1988 National Champion, '89 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, '89 4th in Heisman, '89 All-American

Andre Roberts

Columbia, SC, The Citadel ’06-’09, Arizona Cardinals (3rd Rnd Draft Pick) ’10-’13, Washington Football Team ’14, Detroit Lions ’15, Atlanta Falcons ’16, New York Jets ’17–’18, Buffalo Bills ’19–’20, Houston Texans ’21, Los Angeles Chargers ’21, Carolina Panthers ’22, 3x Pro Bowl ’18, ’20, ’21, NFL All-Pro ’18, led NFL in kick return yards ’18 and punt return yards ’20, over 8,000 career return yards, holds Citadel records for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ’23

Brian Ruff

Mountainside NJ, Citadel '69-'72, Baltimore Colts '72 (11th Rnd Draft Pick), 3x All-SoCon '74, '75,'76, 2x SoCon Player of the Year '75, '76, SC Player of the Year '75, '76, 1st Team AP All-American '72, Citadel retired his #51 jersey, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame '06, All-time leading tackler in SoCon history (755)

Orlando Ruff

Charleston, SC; Furman ’95-’98, undrafted free agent, San Diego Chargers ’99-’02, New Orleans Saints ’03, Houston Texans ’04-’05, played linebacker for seven NFL seasons, appearing in 108 games with 60 starts. Ruff was known for his consistent tackling and leadership on and off the field, finishing his career with 338 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions. He helped lead Furman to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs and earned First Team All-Southern Conference honors.

Connor Shaw

Flowery Branch GA, South Carolina '10-13, Cleveland Browns '14-'15 (undrafted), Chicago Bears '16, 2014 Capital One Bowl MVP, went 17-0 as a starter at home, and 27-5 overall, was starting quarterback of 3 straight 11-win seasons, USC Director of Football Relations '21

Anthony Simmons

Spartanburg SC, Clemson ’94-’97, Seattle Seahawks ’98-’04 (1st Rnd Draft Pick), New Orleans Saints ’05, Buffalo Bills ’06, NFL All-Rookie Team ’98, recorded over 600 career tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 7 interceptions as a linebacker, recognized for his speed and versatility on defense, Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame ’09, ACC Defensive Player of the Year ’97, 2x First Team All-ACC ’96, ’97, Sporting News Freshman All-American ’95, holds Clemson single-season record for tackles (178 in ’97)

Clyde Simmons Jr

Lane SC, Western Carolina '82-'85, Philadelphia Eagles '86-'93 (9th Rnd Draft Pick), Arizona Cardinals '94-'95, Jacksonville '96-'97, Cincinnati Bengals '98, Chicago Bears '99-'00, 100 sack Club, NFL Leader in Sacks '92, 2x Pro Bowl/All-Pro '91, '92, Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame 2023 Nominee (coaching)LA Rams Asst. Def. Line Coach '12-16 current - Tennessee State '21-'22

CJ Spiller

Lake Butler, Florida, Clemson '06-'09) (1st round draft pick) Buffalo Bills ‘10-14, New Orleans Saints ‘15, New York Jets/Seattle Seahawks ‘16, Kansas City Chiefs ‘17, ‘09 ACC player of the year, ‘09 unanimous All American, 6th in Heisman Voting in ‘09, 3rd All Time in NCAA All Purpose Yards, Clemson Running Backs Coach ‘21, CFBHOF ’20, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ‘20

Bill Thompson

Greenville, South Carolina, Maryland State 1965-68, 3x All CAIA, 2x NAIA All American, Denver Broncos 1969-81 (3rd round pick), 3x Pro Bowl 1977, '78, '81, First Team All Pro '77, 4x All AFC '77-79, '81, 40 Career NFL Interceptions, Maryland State (Now known as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Lawrence Timmons

Florence SC, Florida State ‘04–‘06, Pittsburgh Steelers ‘07–’16 (1st Rnd Draft Pick), Miami Dolphins ‘17), Super Bowl champion (XLIII), Second-team All-Pro ‘14), Pro Bowl ‘14), PFWA All-Rookie Team ’07, 1,067 career NFL tackles

Mike Tolbert

Carrollton, Georgia, Coastal Carolina '04-07) San Diego Chargers '08-'11, Carolina Panthers '12-16, Buffalo Bills '17, 2nd Team FCS All American ''07, 2x First Team All Pro '13, '15, 3x Pro Bowl '13, '15, '16, played in 143 NFL games

Perry Tuttle

Lexington NC, Clemson ‘78-’81, Buffalo Bills (1st Round Pick) ‘82-’83, Atlanta Falcons ‘84, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ‘84, Winnipeg Blue Bombers ‘86-’91, 2 x Grey Cup Champion (‘88, ‘90), caught the TD in the 1981 Clemson National Championship game that ended up on the cover of SI, Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame ‘91

Benjamin Watson

Norfolk, VA; Northwestern High School (Rock Hill); Duke ’99, Georgia “01-’03, New England Patriots ’04-’09. ‘19 (1st Rnd Draft Pick), Cleveland Browns ’10-’12, New Orleans Saints ’13-’15, ’18; Baltimore Ravens ’16-’17, Super Bowl Champion XXXIX, Bart Starr Award ’18, Played in 205 NFL games, starting 143

Travelle Wharton

Greenville SC, South Carolina ’00-’03, Carolina Panthers ’04-’11, ’13 (3rd Rnd Draft Pick), Cincinnati Bengals ’12, started 111 games in the NFL, didn’t allow a sack in college in a 45-game span, 2nd Team All-SEC ’03, Asst Coach: USC ’15, Panthers (NFL) ’18-19, Washington (NFL) ’23, currently with Baltimore Ravens

Roddy White

James Island SC, UAB ‘01-’04, Atlanta Falcons (1st Rnd Draft Pick) ‘05-’15, 4x Pro Bowl, 1x First-Team All Pro, 2010 NFL Receptions Leader, Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor, played in 171 NFL games starting 149 and amassing 10,863 receiving yards, UAB Athletics Hall of Fame ’17, Third Team All-American ’04, PFHOF26 Nominee

Willie Williams

Columbia, SC, Western Carolina ’88-’92, Pittsburgh Steelers ’93-’96, ’04-’05, Seattle Seahawks ’97-’03, Super Bowl Champion XL; played in 188 games, starting 115 in a 13- season career, recorded 4 seasons of 4 interceptions or more in career, and scored 5 defensive touchdowns

Donnell Woolford

Baltimore MD, Clemson ’85-’88, Chicago Bears ’89-’97 (1st Rnd Draft Pick), Pittsburgh Steelers ’97-’98, Carolina Panthers ’98-’99, Pro Bowl ’93, All-Pro ’94, 36 career interceptions, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ’17, 1st Team All-American ’87, Consensus All-American ’88, 2x 1st Team All-ACC ’87, ’88, played in 126 NFL games starting 123, named an All-Time great Chicago Bear and Clemson Tiger