CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Twenty individuals with ties to current Atlantic Coast Conference football programs, including 18 former student-athletes, have been named to the 2027 National Football Foundation (NFF) College Football Hall of Fame ballot, the NFF announced today. ACC representatives comprise nearly one-fourth of the 80 Football Bowl Subdivision players under consideration for induction, joining a ballot that includes nine coaches from the FBS ranks and an additional 138 players and coaches from NCAA divisional and NAIA programs.
 
The 2027 Hall of Fame class will be announced in early 2027 and formally inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas.
 
 
Courtesy of NFF  
Kevin Abrams, Syracuse-Defensive Back-Two-time First Team All-American, earning honors from the FWAA and Sporting News in 1995 and the AFCA in 1996…Two-time First Team All-Big East performer led the league in INTs (6) in 1995 and helped 'Cuse to a share of the 1996 Big East title…Holds school records for career PBUs (49) and passes defended (55).

Cornell Brown, Virginia Tech-Defensive Lineman-Two-time First Team All-American (consensus—1995) and 1995 Football News National Defensive Player of the Year…1995 Big East Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Big East selection led the Hokies to two conference titles…Ranks second in Va Tech history with 36 career sacks, only trailing Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.
 
Antonio Bryant, Pitt-Wide Receiver-2000 consensus First Team All-American and just the second sophomore ever to win the Biletnikoff Award (2000)…2000 Big East Offensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-Big East performer who broke numerous league records…Broke Pitt career records for receiving yards (3,061) and TD receptions (30).

Matt Cavanaugh, Pitt-Quarterback-1977 First Team All-American who led the Panthers to a 1976 national title…Led Pitt to three consecutive bowl wins, earning MVP honors in the 1977 Sugar and 1977 Gator bowls…Finished Pitt career ranked second all-time (behind only Tony Dorsett) with 3,916 career yards of total offense.

David DeCastro, Stanford-Offensive Lineman-2011 unanimous First Team All-American and finalist for the Outland Trophy…Three-time All-Conference selection, twice earning First Team honors (2010-11)…Anchor of offensive line that helped Hall of Famers Andrew Luck and Toby Gerhart break numerous program and conference records.

Ken Dorsey, Miami (FL)-Quarterback-2002 First Team All-American who led the Canes to back-to-back BCS Championship games, winning the national title his junior season…Two-time Big East Co-Offensive Player of the Year and 2001 Maxwell Player of the Year…Left Miami as the school record holder in career total offense and passing yards.

Elvis Dumervil, Louisville-Defensive End-2005 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Nagurski Trophy after leading the nation in sacks (20) and ranking fourth in TFL (22)…2005 Big East Defensive Player of the Year set the NCAA mark for sacks in a game (6 vs. Kentucky, 2005)…2005 Ted Hendricks Award winner and Bill Willis Trophy recipient led the 2004 Cards to a conference title, 11-1 record and a No. 6 final ranking.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia-Offensive Tackle-2005 First Team All-American who helped the Cavaliers to four bowl games and two top 25 final national rankings…Two-time First Team All-ACC selection and four-time ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week, helped RB Alvin Pearman to a conference-leading 1,037 rushing yards in 2004…Boasts most career starts (49) by an o-lineman in UVA history.

Levar Fisher, NC State-Linebacker-Two-time First Team All-American and finalist for the Nagurski Trophy as a senior…2001 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-ACC performer who led the league in tackles (163) in 2000…Four-year starter and the Pack's all-time career leader in tackles (492).

Tony Gonzalez, California-Tight End-1996 First Team All-American and First Team All-Pac-10 selection…Holds Cal record for receptions in a bowl game (9 in 1996 Aloha Bowl)…Posted 89 receptions for 1,302 yards and eight touchdowns during career.

Craig Heyward, Pitt-Running Back-1987 consensus First Team All-American who led the nation in rushing his final season and finished fifth in Heisman voting…Left Pitt as the second-leading rusher in school history (behind only Tony Dorsett) with 3,086 career rushing yards…Rushed for at least 100 yards in every game of 1987 season.
 
Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State-Placekicker-Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1998 and unanimous accolades in 1999…Only two-time recipient of the Lou Groza Award (1998, 1999)…Helped FSU to consecutive BCS Championship appearances, winning the national title at the 2000 Sugar Bowl.

Marshawn Lynch, California-Running Back-2006 First Team All-American who led Cal to a share of the 2006 Pac-10 title…2006 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year led the league in rushing (1,356), all-purpose yards (1,785) and TDs (15) that season…Two-time bowl game MVP (2005 Las Vegas, 2006 Holiday) and Cal's all-time leader in 100-yard rushing games (17).

Heath Miller, Virginia-Tight End-2004 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end…Named a Third Team All-American in 2003 and Freshman All-American in 2002…Three-time All-ACC performer still holds UVA tight end records for career receptions (144), yards (1,703) and TDs (20).

Ron Rivera, California-Linebacker-1983 consensus First Team All-American…Lombardi Award finalist in 1983 and named East-West Shrine Game Most Valuable Player…Selected as Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1983…Led team in tackles from 1981-83.

Jonathan Vilma, Miami (FL)-Linebacker-2003 First Team All-American and finalist for the Butkus Award, led the Canes to back-to-back BCS National Championship games (winning at the 2002 Rose)…Part of Miami teams that won at least a share of four Big East titles and finished with top five national rankings each season…Three-time First Team All-Big East selection and 2003 NFF National Scholar-Athlete who led the Canes in tackles from 2001-03.
 
Sammy Watkins, Clemson-Wide Receiver/All-Purpose-Two-time First Team All-American (2011—all-purpose, 2013—receiver) who set an Orange Bowl record with 16 receptions for 227 yards (2014 game MVP)…Three-time All-ACC selection, leading the conference in receiving (112.6 ypg) in 2013 and all-purpose yards (176.0 ypg) in 2011…Clemson's leader in career (3,391), season (1,464 in 2013) and game (227 vs. Ohio State, 2014) receiving yards.

Donnell Woolford, Clemson-Defensive Back-Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors as a senior in 1988…Two-time First Team All-ACC selection who led the Tigers to three league titles…Holds Clemson records for career PBU (44) and punt returns for a TD in a career (2).
 
Larry Coker-Miami [FL] (2001-06), UTSA (2011-15)-Posted a 60-15 record at Miami, including an astounding 35-3 record in his first three seasons…Led the Canes to consecutive BCS Championship Games, winning at the 2002 Rose Bowl and becoming the first rookie head coach to lead his team to a national title since 1948…Led Miami to three Big East crowns and orchestrated a dominant 2001 offense that set a Big East record with 475 points scored in the regular season.

Jackie Sherrill-Washington State (1976), Pittsburgh (1977-81), Texas A&M (1982-88), Mississippi State (1991-2003)-1981 Walter Camp National Coach of the Year and first Pitt coach to lead the Panthers to five-straight bowl games…Led Texas A&M to three-straight SWC titles (1985-87), the Aggies' first Cotton Bowl appearance in nearly 20 years, and created the famed 12^th Man Kickoff Team…Most wins (75) in Mississippi State history, guiding the Bulldogs to the most bowl appearances (6) by any coach in program history.