Two Oregon Legends on Ballot for College Football Hall of Fame

Oregon football legends Haloti Ngata and Kenjon Barner look to join six players and two coaches to represent the Ducks in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Kaleb Henry | Jun 4, 2024

Haloti Ngata is flanked by teammates at the Civil War Game Saturday, November 19, 2005. / Statesman Journal file

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A pair of former Oregon Ducks are one step away from the College Football Hall of Fame.

The ballots for the 2025 CFB HOF class are out, with 77 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players and nine FBS coaches listed as candidates. Voters are asked to vote for 12 players and two coaches.

The two former Oregon football players on the ballot are Haloti Ngata and Kenjon Barner.

Ngata was Oregon's first consensus first-team All-American in 43 years, earning the honor in 2005. That same season, he was recognized as a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Ngata was drafted No. 12 overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. His professional career from 2006 to 2018 saw him play for the Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles, and included five Pro Bowls, five All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl.

Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens defensive end Haloti Ngata (92) knocks the ball away from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during the fourth quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. / Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

In 2021, Ngata was inducted into the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor, which represents "the highest honor for a career of individual accomplishment resulting in team success".

Barner was another consensus All-American for Oregon, his coming on the second-team in 2012. That same season he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors. The Ducks never had fewer than 10 wins in a season with Barner on the roster, as he helped the team to a trio of conference titles.

More than just an elite running back, Barner was also a deadly return specialist. He was the first Duck since 1965 to score rushing, receiving, punt return, and kickoff return touchdowns.

May 3, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Kenjon Barner at Autzen Stadium. / Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Barner was selected in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. HIs career from 2013 to 2022 saw him bounce around to several teams, with three of them ultimately winning Super Bowls. In Super Bowl LII as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Barner had three kick returns for 73 net yards.

Voting from National Football Foundation members runs through July 1. The class will be announced in early 2025 with induction set for Dec. 9, 2025 in Las Vegas.

Oregon is represented in the College Football Hall of Fame by six players and two coaches. Those representatives and their year of induction are below.

LaMichael James, Running Back, 2023
Mike Bellotti, Coach, 2014
Ahmad Rashad, Running Back, 2007
Mel Renfro, Halfback, 1986
Len Casanova, Coach, 1977
John Bekcett, Tackle, 1972
Johnny Kitzmiller, Halfback, 1969
Norm Van Brocklin, Quarterback, 1966

Published Jun 4, 2024

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans.He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team.