The upcoming class of the College Football Hall of Fame, set to be announced early next year, already boasts a pair of names that will feel familiar to Ohio State fans.
Cris Carter, who burst onto the national scene as Ohio State's first All‑America wide receiver in 1986, still holds the school record for 1,127 receiving yards in a single season — a mark that stood unchallenged for nearly a decade.
His combination of speed and sure‑handedness earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013, and his candidacy now opens the possibility of a rare double induction that would place him alongside the likes of Randy Gradishar and Orlando Pace in both halls.
A Dual Threat from Ohio State
A.J. Hawk, a two‑time All‑American linebacker, capped his collegiate career with a Lombardi Award in 2005 and amassed 394 tackles that still rank fifth in Buckeyes history.
Beyond his statistical achievements, Hawk’s relentless pursuit of the quarterback helped define a defensive era for Ohio State that still influences the program’s identity.
The 2027 class will mark the latest chapter in a tradition that has seen Ohio State represented in the Hall of Fame in four of the past five years, a streak that includes recent inductee James Laurinaitis, a former All‑American linebacker who now serves as the team’s linebackers coach.
As the selection committee prepares its vote, the conversation underscores how the legacies of Carter and Hawk continue to shape the narrative of college football, reminding observers that excellence on the field can translate into lasting Hall of Fame consideration.