What do we have included in this week’s National Football Foundation Footballetter?

🏈 The 2027 NFF Hall of Fame ballot has been released
🏈 Under Armour founder Kevin Plank tells his ‘I Played’ story
🏈 And much more!

The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot has been revealed

The National Football Foundation announced yesterday the names on the 2027 Ballot under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame!

The 2027 ballot includes 80 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks.

CLICK HERE to see the 2027 NFF Hall of Fame ballot.

NFF COO Matthew Sign and NFF Director of Membership David Flores traveled to Stephenville (TX) High School on May 20 to formally present the Yellowjackets with the 2025-26 NFF Hatchell Cup Presented by Bob's Steak & Chop House. Stephenville claimed the honor in February as the top high school football team in the nation for their combined achievements. The Yellowjackets posted a perfect 4.0 team GPA while completing an undefeated 16-0 season and capturing the Texas Class 4A state championship.

College football players are members of the greatest fraternity in the world. Check out the National Football Foundation’s ‘I Played’ roster and submit your story to join today!

Members who recently submitted their ‘I Played’ story: 

• Jeffrey Fette, West Virginia — Construction Code Enforcement/Plans Examiner, City of Hardeeville, S.C.

• Thomas Freeman, Akron — Former Managing Partner of Grant Thornton’s Cleveland office

• Brian Rolle, Ohio State — Engineer, 3S Incorporated

Name: Kevin Plank
College: Maryland
Now: Founder, President & CEO, Under Armour, Inc.

There are good things happening all over the game of football. The National Football Foundation has asked individuals to share an example of something they see happening within our sport that is good for the game. Here is one example of what makes the sport so meaningful!

. . .

“The entertainment value of the game now is off the charts. People are talking about the game, they’re passionate about it like never before. The game is so good, the players are so good now, the coaches are so good, it’s off the charts.”

— Jim Kleinsasser, 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee

What does it look like when a player truly does it all — the right way? In this episode of Good in the Game, the official podcast of the National Football Foundation, host and College Football Hall of Famer LaVar Arrington sits down with one of the greatest linebackers in the history of college football — Paul Posluszny.

A two-time Butkus Award winner, Academic All-American of the Year, two-time team captain at Penn State (first Lion to do it since 1968), one of only 49 individuals recognized as both an NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee and an NFF National Scholar-Athlete, 11-year NFL veteran, with his MBA from Carnegie Mellon (PA) — Posluszny is the definition of Linebacker U. But this conversation goes far beyond the highlight reel.

George Bork, a 1999 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee who became one of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football history at Northern Illinois from 1960-63, passed away May 27 at the age of 84.

A four-year letterman and three-year starter, Bork thrived in Coach Howard Fletcher's innovative "Shotgun Spread" offense. In 1963, he became the first player in college football history to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a season while establishing more than 16 national records.

Click here to read more about the life and legacy of George Bork.

• Raymond Berry, who played wide receiver collegiately at Southern Methodist before becoming a six-time Pro Bowler and Pro Football Hall of Famer as a member of the Baltimore Colts, passed away on May 25. He was 93.

• William Buchanan, who played collegiately at Duke, passed away on May 15. He was 76.

• Marlow Eckhoff, who played collegiately at Iowa, has passed away. He was 93.

• Manuel Fernandez, who played collegiately at Utah before joining the historic Miami Dolphins of the 1970s as an undrafted free agent, passed away on May 24. He was 79.

• James German, a running back who played for South Carolina State in the late 1970s, passed away on May 15. He was 65.

• Oval Jaynes, who coached college football from 1965-80 before Athletics Director stops at Colorado State, Pittsburgh, Idaho, Chattanooga and Jacksonville State from 1981-2011, passed away on May 24. He was 85.

• Donovan Johnson, who played collegiately at Virginia, has passed away. He was 25.

• James Matz, who played collegiately at Ohio State and earned three varsity letters, passed away May 25. He was 87.

• David Pierce, who played both football and baseball at Appalachian State and later became the head baseball coach for the school, passed away May 29. He was 96.

• Terry Don Phillips, who played collegiately at Arkansas before serving as the Athletics Director at Liberty, Southwestern Louisiana, Oklahoma State and Clemson, has passed away. He was 78.

• Vic Purvis, who played quarterback at Southern Miss and a member of the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame, has passed away. He was 82.

• Curt Newsome, who coached collegiately at James Madison, Virginia Tech and Emory & Henry, has passed away. He was 67.

• JD Quinn, who played collegiately at Montana, has passed away.

• Walt Rock, who played on both the offensive and defensive lines at Maryland before a pro career with both San Francisco and Washington, passed away on May 19. He was 84.

• Steve Tracy, who played collegiately at Colorado, has passed away. He was 79.

• Gavin Yates-Lyon, a freshman defensive back on the Ball State football team, has passed away. He was 18.

Join the Celebration of College Football’s Greatest Legends — December 8, 2026

July 23-25 — NFF Campbell Trophy® Summit at Stanford University

September 23 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists

October 21 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF Campbell Trophy® Finalists

December 8 — 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas at Bellagio Resort & Casino

December 8 — Announcement of the winner of the 37th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®

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