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Former Steelers CB Elected to College Football Hall of Fame

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4 months ago

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Deon Figures has been selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2024.

Figures was one of 19 players and three coaches announced on Monday as the latest additions to the Atlanta-based Hall of Fame. Also included of local interest were former Pitt wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Hopewell and Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny and Johnstown native, coach Frank Solich.

A Bellflower, California native, Figures attended Junipero Serra High in nearby Gardena before matriculating to the University of Colorado. He made an immediate impact with the Buffaloes, playing as a true freshman in 1988. After taking an academic redshirt in 1989, he helped Colorado to a national championship as a redshirt sophomore in 1990.
He had the game-sealing interception of Notre Dame quarterback Rick Mirer in the Orange Bowl to ice the victory for Colorado.

As a redshirt junior in 1992, Figures tallied six interceptions and won the Jim Thorpe Award and the Jack Tatum Trophy as the nation’s best defensive back. He was a consensus All-America selection.

Figures was drafted by the Steelers with the No. 23 overall pick in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft, and played four years for the team, spending one season as a full-time starter. He was a part of the Steelers teams that went to consecutive AFC Championship Games in 1994 and 1995 and played in Super Bowl XXX after the 1995 season.

An offseason shooting injured Figures’ knee in 1995 and other injures changed the trajectory of his career. In 61 career games, he made 23 starts and recorded 177 tackles, one sack, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and three interceptions.

In 1997, Figures departed through free agency, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars for his final two NFL seasons.

Figures was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.

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