Two Payton Award winners on Hall of Fame ballot

Oct 22, 2014 - 7:45 PM Irving, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Former Walter Payton Award winners Archie Amerson and Michael Payton are among the FCS players eligible for induction into the 2015 class of the College Football Hall of Fame, announced Wednesday.

Amerson, a running back at Northern Arizona, was the 1996 Payton winner as the outstanding player in the FCS (then Division I-AA). He finished as the Big Sky school's all-time career rushing leader despite playing only two seasons (3,196 yards) and led the Lumberjacks to their first-ever I-AA playoff appearance.

Payton was the quarterback for Marshall when he won the 1992 Payton Award and led the Thundering Herd to the national championship that season. He was a two- time Southern Conference Player of the Year and passed for over 10,000 yards in his career.

There are 162 players and 31 coaches, including 1994 Eddie Robinson Award winner Jim Tressel from Youngstown State, on the ballot.

The 2015 College Football Hall of Fame class will be revealed on Jan. 9, three days before the College Football Playoff national championship game in Arlington, Texas. Induction ceremonies will take place Dec. 8, 2015 in New York.

Players must have been named a First-Team All American by a major outlet and have at least 10 years since their final collegiate game to be eligible for selection. Additionally, they must have played within the last 50 years and be retired from professional football.

Coaches with at least 10 years and 100 games of experience can be included on the ballot provided they won at least 60 percent of their games and have been retired for a minimum of three years, though active coaches over 75 years old are immediately eligible and there is no waiting period for retired coaches over 70.

2015 FBS PLAYERS CANDIDATES

Trev Alberts, Nebraska, Linebacker; Eric Bieniemy, Colorado, Running Back; Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma, Linebacker; Bob Breunig, Arizona State, Linebacker; Jerome Brown, Miami (Fla.), Defensive Tackle; Ruben Brown, Pittsburgh, Offensive Tackle; Steve Brown, Oregon State, Linebacker; Brandon Burlsworth, Arkansas, Offensive Guard; Larry Burton, Purdue, Split End; Keith Byars, Ohio State, Running Back; Freddie Carr, Texas-El Paso, Linebacker; Mark Carrier, Southern California, Safety; Wes Chandler, Florida, Split End; Tim Couch, Kentucky, Quarterback; Tom Cousineau, Ohio State, Linebacker;

Bob Crable, Notre Dame, Linebacker; Paul Crane, Alabama, Center/Linebacker; Eric Crouch, Nebraska, Quarterback; Randall Cunningham, Nevada-Las Vegas, Punter; Troy Davis, Iowa State, Tailback; Eric Dickerson, Southern Methodist, Running Back; John Didion, Oregon State, Center; Mike Dirks, Wyoming, Defensive Tackle; D.J. Dozier, Penn State, Running Back; Tim Dwight, Iowa, Kick Returner/Wide Receiver; Jumbo Elliott, Michigan, Offensive Tackle; Tony Franklin, Texas A&M, Place-kicker;

William Fuller, North Carolina, Defensive Tackle; Moe Gardner, Illinois, Defensive Tackle; Thom Gatewood, Notre Dame, Split End; Willie Gault, Tennessee, Wide Receiver; Kirk Gibson, Michigan State, Wide Receiver; Charlie Gogolak, Princeton, Place-kicker; Jacob Green, Texas A&M, Defensive Lineman; Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech, Running Back; Al Harris, Arizona State, Defensive End; Dana Howard, Illinois, Linebacker; Randy Hughes, Oklahoma, Defensive Back; Bobby Humphrey, Alabama, Running Back; Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame, Wide Receiver; Dick Jauron, Yale, Running Back; Ernie Jennings, Air Force, Wide Receiver; Keyshawn Johnson, Southern California, Wide Receiver;

Clinton Jones, Michigan State, Halfback; Lincoln Kennedy, Washington, Offensive Tackle; Tim Krumrie, Wisconsin, Defensive Tackle; Greg Lewis, Washington. Running Back; Jess Lewis, Oregon State, Defensive Tackle; Ray Lewis, Miami (Fla.), Linebacker; Robert Lytle, Michigan, Running Back; Buddy McClinton, Auburn, Defensive Back; Duncan McColl, Stanford, Defensive End; Bob McKay, Texas, Offensive Tackle; Cade McNown, UCLA, Quarterback; Mark Messner, Michigan, Defensive Tackle; Ken Norton Jr., UCLA; Linebacker; Herb Orvis, Colorado, Defensive End; Jim Otis, Ohio State, Fullback; Paul Palmer, Temple, Running Back

Antwaan Randle-El, Indiana, Quarterback; Simeon Rice, Illinois, Linebacker; Ron Rivera, California, Linebacker; Mike Ruth, Boston College, Nose Guard; Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, Tailback; Warren Sapp, Miami (Fla.), Defensive Tackle; Larry Seivers, Tennessee, Wide Receiver; Art Still, Kentucky, Defensive End; Zach Thomas, Texas Tech, Linebacker; Dennis Thurman, Southern California, Defensive Back; Andre Tippett, Iowa, Defensive End; Jackie Walker, Tennessee, Linebacker; Lorenzo White, Michigan State, Running Back; Ricky Williams, Texas, Running Back; Steve Wisniewski, Penn State, Offensive Guard; Scott Woerner, Georgia, Defensive Back

2015 FBS COACH CANDIDATES

Jim Carlen - West Virginia (1966-69), Texas Tech (1970-74), South Carolina (1975-1981); Pete Cawthon Sr. - Austin College (Texas) (1923-27), Texas Tech (1930-40); Danny Ford - Clemson (1978-1989), Arkansas (1993-97); Billy Jack Murphy - Memphis (1958-71); Darryl Rogers - Cal State-Hayward (1965), Fresno State (1966-72), San Jose State (1973-75), Michigan State (1976-79), Arizona State (1980-84); Bill Snyder - Kansas State (1985-05, 2009-present)

2015 DIVISIONAL PLAYER CANDIDATES

Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona, Running Back; Eddie Bell, Idaho State, Wide Receiver; Rennie Benn, Lehigh, Wide Receiver; John Bothe, Augustana (Ill.), Center; Carl Boyd, Northern Iowa, Running Back; Sean Brewer, Millsaps (Miss.), Defensive Lineman; Marlin Briscoe, Nebraska-Omaha, Quarterback; Joe Campbell, Middle Tennessee State, Running Back; William Campbell, Western State (Colo.), Defensive Back; Vin Carioscia, Franklin & Marshall (Pa.), Offensive Tackle; Peter Catan, Eastern Illinois, Defensive End; Bruce Cerone, Emporia State (Kan.), End; Steve Cockerham, Akron, Linebacker; Bruce Collie, Texas-Arlington, Offensive Tackle; Tom Collins, Indianapolis (Ind.), Defensive Back; Ray Condren, Gettysburg (Pa.), Running Back;

Mark Cotney, Cameron (Okla.), Defensive Back; Case deBruijn, Idaho State, Punter; William Dillon, Virginia Union, Free Safety; Al Dorenkamp, Central (Iowa), Linebacker; John Dorsey, Connecticut, Linebacker; Karl Douglas, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Quarterback; Chuck Downey, Stony Brook, Safety; Tom Ehrhardt, Rhode Island, Quarterback; Curtis Eller, Villanova, Linebacker; Blake Elliott, Saint John's (Minn.), Wide Receiver; Richard Erenberg, Colgate, Running Back; Jim Ferge, North Dakota State, Linebacker/Defensive Tackle; John Fitzgerald, Central Oklahoma, Offensive Guard; Bernard Ford, Central Florida, Wide Receiver; Duane Fritz, Chadron State (Neb.), Punter; Rick Fry, Occidental (Calif.), End; Chris George, Glenville State (W.Va.), Wide Receiver;

Darwin Gonnerman, South Dakota State, Running Back; Don Greco, Western Illinois, Offensive Guard; Don Griffin, Middle Tennessee State, Safety; Don Hass, Montana State, Halfback; Ron Hausauer, Jamestown (N.D.), Offensive Guard; Pat Hauser, Cal State-Northridge, Offensive Tackle; Conway Hayman, Delaware, Offensive Guard; Bobby Hedrick, Elon, Running Back; Chris Hegg, Truman State (Mo.) (formerly Northeast Missouri State), Quarterback; Lynn Hieber, Indiana (Pa.), Quarterback; John Hill, Lehigh, Center; Rene Ingoglia, Massachusetts, Running Back; Louis Jackson, Cal Poly, Running Back; Terron Jackson, Missouri Southern State, Offensive Tackle; Ed Kelley, Hampden-Sydney (Va.), Defensive End; Garry Kuhlman, Delaware, Offensive Tackle;

Steve McAdoo, Middle Tennessee State, Offensive Lineman; Gary McCauley, Clarion (Pa.), Tight End; Fran McDermott, St. Mary's (Calif.), Defensive Back; Bill McGovern, Holy Cross, Defensive Back; Robert Morris, Georgetown, Defensive End; Kenneth Murawski, Carnegie Mellon (Pa.), Linebacker; Ed O'Brien, Central Florida, Place-kicker; John Ogles, Austin Peay State, Fullback; Randy Page, Central Oklahoma, Quarterback; Chris Parker, Marshall, Running Back; Alonzo Patterson, Wagner, Running Back; Michael Payton, Marshall, Quarterback; Martin Peterson, Pennsylvania, Offensive Tackle; Charlie Pierce, Central Florida, Punter/Place-kicker; Dave Pomante, Whitworth (Wash.), Defensive Lineman; Gary Puetz, Valparaiso, Offensive Tackle; Gerry Quinlivan, Buffalo, Linebacker;

Michael Renna, Delaware, Defensive End; Kirk Roach, Western Carolina, Place- kicker; Harold Roberts, Austin Peay State, Wide Receiver; Bill Royce, Ashland (Ohio), Linebacker; Bobby Saiz, Adams State (Colo.), Quarterback; Terry Schmidt, Ball State, Defensive Back; Larry Schreiber, Tennessee Tech, Running Back; Steve Schubert, Massachusetts, Wide Receiver; Joe Skladany, Lafayette, Linebacker; Ed Smith, Bethel (Kan.), Wide Receiver; Tom Stenglein, Colgate, Wide Receiver; Freddie Thomas, Troy (formerly Troy State), Defensive Back; Markus Thomas, Eastern Kentucky, Tailback; Billy Thompson, Maryland Eastern Shore, Defensive Back; Brad Tokar, Westminster (Pa.), Running Back;

Jay Wessler, Illinois College, Running Back; Gary Wichard, LIU-C.W.Post (N.Y.), Quarterback; Lee White, Weber State, Fullback; Mike Wiggins, Iowa Wesleyan, Punter; Jerry Woods, Northern Michigan, Defensive Back; John Zanieski, Yale, Middle Guard

2015 DIVISIONAL COACH CANDIDATES

Bill Bowes - New Hampshire (1972-98); Paul Durham - Linfield (Ore.) (1948-67); Jim Feix - Western Kentucky (1968-83); Howard Fletcher - Northern Illinois (1956-68); Ross Fortier - Minnesota Moorhead (formerly Moorhead State) (1970-92); Morley Fraser - Albion (Mich.) (1954-68); Frank Girardi - Lycoming (Pa.) (1972-2007); Rudy Hubbard - Florida A&M (1974-85); Art Keller - Carthage (Wis.) (1952-82); Glenn Killinger - Dickinson (Pa.) (1922), Rensselaer (N.Y.) (1927-32), Moravian (Pa.) (1933), West Chester (Pa.) (1934-41, 45-59); Larry Korver - Northwestern College (Iowa) (1967-94); Dick Lowry - Wayne State (Mich.) (1974-79), Hillsdale (Mich.) (1980-96); James Malosky - Minnesota Duluth (1958-97); Don Miller - Trinity (Conn.) (1967-98);

Charles Murphy - Middle Tennessee State (1947-68); Jim Ostendarp - Amherst (Mass.) (1959-91) Forrest Perkins-Wisconsin-Whitewater (1956-84); Bill Ramseyer - Wilmington (Ohio) (1972-90), Virginia's College at Wise (1991-2001); Dwight Reed - Lincoln (Mo.) (1949-71); Pete Schmidt-Albion (Mich.) (1983-96); Clyde "Buck" Starbeck - Northern Iowa (1936-42, 1945-57); Jim Tressel - Youngstown State (1986-2000), Ohio State (2001-2010); John Whitehead - Lehigh (1976-86); Alex Yunevich - Alfred (N.Y.) (1937-41, 1946-76); Allen Zikmund - Nebraska- Kearney (formerly Kearney State) (1955-71)