Georgia programs well-represented on College Hall of Fame ballot

Georgia programs and players are well-represented on the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

Two players from Georgia Tech, one from the Georgia and one from Fort Valley State are among those under consideration by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.

There are 75 players and six coaches from FBS programs and 98 players and 31 coaches from the other divisions under consideration. The announcement will be made live Jan. 8 in Atlanta prior to the College Football Playoff national championship.

Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson and Marco Coleman, Georgia’s Matt Stinchcomb and Fort Valley’s Tyrone Poole are all under consideration.

Johnson, a wide receiver, was a two-time first-team All-American, including 2006 when he was a unanimous selection and won the Biletnikoff Award. The native of Fayetteville was a three-time All-ACC choice and the 2006 ACC Player of the Year. He still holds six program records, including career touchdown receptions (28) and career receiving yards (2,927).

Coleman, a linebacker, was a first-team All-American and two-time first-team All-ACC player. He helped the Yellow Jackets go 11-0-1 in 1990 and win the national championship. He had 28 career sacks and ranks 14th all-time in the ACC.

Stinchcomb, an offensive lineman, was a two-time first-team All-American and a consensus choice in 1998. He was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection and received the 1998 Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Stinchcomb, a native of Lilburn, was the 1998 recipient of the William Campbell Trophy and a national scholar-athlete.

Tyrone Poole, a defensive back from Fort Valley State, was nominated from Division II. Pool was a first-team All-American in 1994 and a two-time SIAC Defensive Player of the Year. He had 44 pass breakups and 17 interceptions, returning four for touchdowns.

The list also includes Cordele’s Bernard Ford and Pelham’s Don Griffin.

Ford, a wide receiver at Central Florida, was named a first-team All-American and 1987 Harlon Hill Trophy finalist. He ranks in the top 10 of 14 program records, including first in single-season yardage (1,403), all-purpose yards per game (188) and average yards per catch in career (21.8).

Griffin, a safety at Middle Tennessee State, was a first-team All-American and Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1985. He was a three-time first-team All-OVC choice. Griffin finished his career with 210 tackles, 13 interceptions and held the program record for interceptions in a game (three).

This story was originally published June 1, 2017 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Georgia programs well-represented on College Hall of Fame ballot."