Craig Heyward, Steve Wisniewski and Matt Cavanaugh are among those with local ties who were listed on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021 that was announced Tuesday.
Heyward was a 1987 consensus All-American after leading the nation in rushing yards for Pitt. The late Heyward’s son, Cameron, is entering his 10th season as a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wisniewski was an All-American guard in 1988 at Penn State, where he was part of the national championship Nittany Lions team two years prior. Wisniewski blocked for D.J. Dozier, who led Penn State in rushing four consecutive seasons and is also on this year’s college Hall ballot.
Cavanaugh led Pitt to the national title in 1978, and he was a first-team All-American quarterback for the Panthers the following season.
Former Penn State wide receiver Bobby Engram and former West Virginia defensive back Aaron Beasley are nominees after starring in college during the mid-90s.
Announcing the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot!
Full Ballot: https://t.co/cWZ66GUxHt
Join the NFF and receive a vote: https://t.co/3nfIaLVtdt pic.twitter.com/3TlX4zvSyB
— Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) June 16, 2020
Seventy-eight players and seven coaches from major college football are up for selection to the Atlanta-based Hall of Fame. There also are 99 players and 33 coaches from outside the highest level of college football eligible for induction, including former Slippery Rock coach George Mihalik.
Three former Steelers are on the ballot: receiver Antwaan Randle El, who was a star quarterback at Indiana; offensive tackle Flozell Adams (Michigan State) and cornerback Donell Woolford (Clemson).
Jim Carlen, who coached West Virginia from 1966-69, is a nominee in recognition of a 16-season major-college coaching career that also included stops at Texas Tech and South Carolina.
The College Hall of Fame class of 2021 will be announced early next year.
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