Maclin, Smith Included on 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

COLUMBIA, Mo. – All-purpose player Jeremy Maclin and defensive lineman Justin Smith are included on the 2023 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, it was announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) on Monday. The ballot totals 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 96 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks.

In 2007, Maclin broke the NCAA single-season freshman record for all-purpose yards, as he amassed a whopping 2,776 yards – including 1,055 receiving, 1,039 kickoff return, 375 rushing and 307 punt return. Maclin scored 16 touchdowns total, with nine scores coming on receptions, four on the ground, two via punt returns and one on a kickoff return. A first-team consensus All-American, he was the only player in Division I in 2007 to score touchdowns in all four all-purpose categories.

He repeated with consensus first-team All-America honors in 2008 as he led the NCAA in all-purpose yardage (202.36 ypg) and broke MU’s single-season receiving records with 102 receptions, 1,260 yards and 13 TDs. He closed his career with Offensive MVP honors in the 2008 Alamo Bowl, as he returned a punt for a TD and caught the game-winning TD pass from Chase Daniel in Mizzou’s 30-23 overtime win.

Smith was the first true freshman to start every game since 1986, starting all 12 contests in 1998 and earning a Freshman All-America selection. He was a key factor in the Tigers’ win over West Virginia in the Insight.com Bowl, MU’s first bowl win since 1981.

Smith, a first-team All-American as a junior in 2000, concluded his MU career with the quarterback sack record (22.5 in just three years) and currently second all-time. He broke the MU single-season sack record as a junior, recording 11 on his own and now sits at fourth. A two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, Smith is Mizzou’s all-time leader in career (50) and single-season (24 in 2000) tackles for loss.

He declared for the NFL Draft after his stellar junior season, and became the fourth overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft, by the Cincinnati Bengals, who he led in sacks each of his first two seasons in the league.

To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a first team All-American by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 full seasons prior; played within the last 50 years; and cannot be currently playing professional football.