Trio of former Ohio State players included on 2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced the names on the 2021 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame Tuesday, with three Ohio State players included. Chris Ward, James Laurinaitis, and Mike Doss are all up for inclusion. The ballot includes 78 players and seven coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, and 99 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks.

“It’s an enormous honor to just be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering more than 5.4 million people have played college football and only 1,027 players have been inducted,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell in a released statement. “The Hall’s requirement of being a First-Team All-American creates a much smaller pool of about 1,500 individuals who are even eligible. Being in today’s elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to have ever played the game, and we look forward to announcing the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class.”

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

Here are the bios provided by the NFF in the release:

Next … Bios from the National Football Foundation

Bios for Ohio State players on 2021 ballot

Mike Doss, Ohio State-Defensive Back

Three-time First Team All-American, earning unanimous honors as a senior…2002 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection…Led Buckeyes to the 2003 BCS National Championship, earning Defensive MVP honors.

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State-Linebacker-

Three-time First Team All-American (consensus-2006, 2008; unanimous-2007)…Two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year who led the Buckeyes to two national championship games and four consecutive conference titles…2007 Butkus and 2006 Nagurski recipient, leading OSU in tackles three-straight seasons.

Chris Ward, Ohio State-Offensive Tackle

Two-time First Team All-American (consensus-‘76, unanimous-‘77)…Three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection who helped Buckeyes to at least a share of four conference titles…Blocked for Archie Griffin during second Heisman Trophy-winning campaign.

This is the first year Doss is on the ballot, while Laurinaitis (second) and Ward (fourth) are appearing again. Each program is allowed just three nominations per year. Those eligible must have been selected as a first-team All-American, have been removed from the college game for ten years, must not be active professionally, and shall have played in the last fifty years.

The announcement of the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2021. The specific date will be announced at a later time.

The 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 7, 2021. They will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, during the 2021 season.

The next Buckeye selected will be the 27th Ohio State player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

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