Kirkland, Miller, Randle El among Steelers on College Football HOF Ballot
Former Steelers tackle Flozell Adams, inside linebacker Levon Kirkland, wide receiver Terance Mathis, tight end Heath Miller, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El and running back DeAngelo Williams are all on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Adams, Kirkland and Randle El were on the ballot for the Class of 2022, but were not selected. Mathis, Miller and Williams are new additions to the ballot.
A 1991 consensus All-American and three-time All-ACC selection, Kirkland was an imposing force for the Clemson Tigers in the early 90s. Selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft, Kirkland played the first nine years of his career with the Steelers. He ended his career with 1,026 total tackles, 19.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and eleven interceptions. Kirkland earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Before he was catching passes for the Steelers, Randle El was a First-Team All-American quarterback at Indiana. He passed for 7,469 yards and 42 touchdowns with 37 interceptions, while also rushing for 3,895 yards and 44 scores. Upon leaving Bloomington, Randle El became the first player in FBS history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in career.
Miller was drafted in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Steelers and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his combination of receiving and blocking abilities. Miller spent 11 seasons in Pittsburgh was selected to two Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XL and XLIII with the team.
Adams spent the 2010 season with the Steelers after playing for the Dallas Cowboys from 1998-2009. He started in Super Bowl XLV for the Steelers in his final NFL game.
Mathis played for Pittsburgh in 2022 after having spent the bulk of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons. He caught 23 passes for two touchdowns and 218 yards in his final NFL season.
Williams signed with the Steelers in 2015 expecting to be a backup, but a suspension and an injury to starter Le’Veon Bell pushed Williams into a more prominent role. He started 10 games, rushing 200 times for 907 yards and tying for the NFL lead with 11 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 40 passes for 367 yards. After another Bell suspension to start the 2016 season, Williams returned to his expected backup role as the Steelers went to the AFC Championship Game, his last professional game.
In addition to the six players with direct Steelers ties, Craig Heyward, the father of Steelers Cam and Connor Heyward, is also on the ballot.
There are a total of 80 players on the ballot, comprised of eligible candidates that were named a First-Team All-America choice during their playing career, played their final season of college football between 1973 and 2011 and is no longer playing professional football.
Voting will take place through the end of June. The Class of 2023 will be announced in January and enshrined on Dec. 5, 2023 at the 65th National Football Foundation annual awards dinner.
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