College Football Hall of Fame names two Illinois football players to 2025 ballot

Numerous legends have come through the Illinois football program, and now two are a step closer to being enshrined as one of the greatest in the college game.

The College Football Hall of Fame, located in Atlanta, Georgia, has 1,093 players inducted out of the roughly 5.7 million players to have played the game. Out of the 1,093 players who have been inducted, the Illini account for 15 players thus far.

Moe Gardner is the latest Illinois football player to secure a spot in the prestigious pantheon of great athletes. He was inducted back in 2022. Before that, Dana Howard notched a spot in 2018.

Could another Illinois football player see the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025? On Monday, they published the ballot for the 2025 Hall of Fame class.

Two Illinois football players made the ballot. Former great Illini linebacker Kevin Hardy is on the ballot for 2025. Joining Hardy is fellow former Illinois linebacker, Simeon Rice.

Illinois football has two great options with solid resumes for the College Football Hall of Fame

Between the two great Illinois football players, I think Rice is the most shocking to have not made the Hall of Fame yet. He is a two-time first-team All-American. He also made the All-Big Ten first team on three occasions.

Hardy’s resume can hold its own, though. He was a consensus first-team All-American in 1995. He helped Illinois win a lot of games in the early-to-mid 1990s, which included multiple bowl game appearances.

These two players were so talented in the college ranks that in the 1996 NFL Draft, they went back-to-back with picks No. 2 and No.3. The No. 1 overall pick was Keyshawn Johnson to the New York Jets. Hardy was then selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with pick No. 2. Rice was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with pick No. 3.

The College Football Hall of Fame is a great honor. It is time to honor these two college legends with their spot at the top.