Utah legends Alex Smith, Eric Weddle on 2024 College Football HOF ballot
Utah has a pair of program legends on the ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Alex Smith and Eric Weddle are among those on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot, released Monday by the National Football Foundation (NFF) in conjunction with the College Hall of Fame. The ballot consists of 78 players and nine coaches from the FBS ranks, with another 101 players and 32 coaches coming from divisional ranks.
“It’s an enormous honor to just be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering more than 5.62 million people have played college football and only 1,074 players have been inducted,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “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 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class early next year.”
The announcement of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2024. NFF members will vote through June 30.
Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005 after earning first-team All-America honors in 2004, finished his career at Utah with 5,203 passing yards and 47 touchdowns along with 1,072 rushing yards and 15 rushing scores. He was a two-time All-MWC selection, earning MWC Offensive Player of the Year and National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 2004.
The 2005 Fiesta Bowl MVP went on to have a 16-year career in the NFL, earning Pro Bowl invitations three times and being named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year after returning from a life-threatening lower leg injury.
Weddle wrapped up his career at Utah with 277 tackles, 10.0 sacks, and 22.5 tackles for loss. He also produced nine forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries (two of which were returned for scores), 18 interceptions (three taken back for scores), and 23 pass breakups. He set the Mountain West record for career interceptions and still ranks second all-time at Utah.
He was the MWC Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006, also earning first-team All-MWC in those years to become a four-time all-conference selection. He was a consensus All-American in 2006 and a Freshman All-American by the FWAA in 2003.
Weddle spent 14 years in the NFL, earning two All-Pro first-team selections, three second-team nods, six Pro Bowl invites, and a Super Bowl ring with the L.A. Rams in 2021. Weddle came out of retirement to help the Rams win Super Bowl LVI. He also has launched a jewelry line to benefit organizations providing resources to domestic violence victims while also supporting charities with his wife, Chanel, to fight against childhood cancer and breast cancer.