Saints Have 8 Players on CFB Hall of Fame Ballot

A handful of former New Orleans greats are now on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame.

The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot was announced by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame on Monday. Eight former New Orleans Saints are among the 78 players on the ballot.

Ashley Ambrose - CB

• Mississippi Valley State

Saints CB Ashley Ambrose (33) recovers a fumble against the St. Louis Rams during a 2004 game. Credit: Alamy.com

A New Orleans native and graduate of Alcee Fortier High School, Ambrose was a second-round choice in the 1992 NFL Draft (29th overall) by the Indianapolis Colts. He had a 13-year NFL career that included 42 interceptions, 14 fumbles forced or recovered, and three defensive touchdowns. 

Ambrose played the first four years of his NFL career with the Colts. He moved on to the Cincinnati Bengals from 1996-98, then played with the New Orleans Saints in 1999. He'd move on to the Atlanta Falcons from 2000-2002 before returning home to finish his career with the Saints in 2003 and 2004.

In three combined seasons with New Orleans, Ambrose had 12 interceptions, broke up 47 passes, forced or recovered six fumbles, and had one touchdown. His six interceptions for the Saints in 1999 tied for second in the league. 

In 1991, Ambrose was a 1st Team All-American for Mississippi Valley State. He was also named as the SWAC defensive back of the year and led the NCAA in punt returns that season. 

Ambrose, now 52, was a collegiate defensive backs coach for five different teams after his retirement, most recently with the University of Colorado (2018-19). He also served as an intern with the New Orleans Saints in 2013.

Larry Burton - WR

• Purdue

Former New Orleans Saints WR Larry Burton (20). Credit: Sports Illustrated 

Burton was the first of two first-round picks by the Saints in the 1975 NFL Draft and was the first wideout selected with the seventh overall choice. He played three seasons in New Orleans, catching 35 passes for 615 yards and 4 touchdowns. His last two NFL seasons were with the San Diego Chargers in 1978 and 1979.

In two collegiate seasons at Purdue, Burton had 53 receptions for 973 yards and 7 touchdowns. Also a world-class sprinter, Burton finished fourth in the 200m at the 1972 Summer Olympics and once held the world record (5.9 seconds) in the 60m.

Ki-Jana Carter - RB

• Penn State 

Sep 1993; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Ki-Jana Carter (32) runs against the Michigan Wolverines. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY

The first overall choice by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1995 NFL Draft, Carter basically had his career wrecked by a devastating knee injury suffered during the preseason of his rookie year. He'd still manage to play seven NFL seasons, but rushed for just 1,144 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. 

Carter played the last two years of his NFL career for the Saints in 2003 and 2004. He played just 10 games and picked up 89 yards on the ground, scoring once.

One of the most explosive backs in NCAA history, Carter rushed for 2,565 yards and 30 touchdowns his last two years for the Nittany Lions. His 1,539 yards on the ground and 23 scores in 1994 topped the Big 10 and spurned him to second place in the Heisman Trophy voting. 

Vaughn Dunbar - RB

• Indiana

Saints RB Vaughn Dunbar (32) runs against the Los Angeles Rams. Credit: The Herald Bulletin 

A first-round pick by the Saints in the 1992 NFL Draft, the 21st overall selection, Dunbar played three NFL seasons. He had 574 yards and three touchdowns in 25 games with New Orleans, including a team-high and career-best 565 yards on the ground as a rookie in 1992.

Dunbar had 3,029 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns in two collegiate seasons with the Indiana Hoosiers. He led the NCAA with 1,805 rushing yards in 1991.

Craig Heyward - RB

• Pitt

Dec 13, 1992; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints full back Craig Heyward (34) runs against the Los Angeles Rams. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK

''Ironhead'' Heyward was the 24th overall selection in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He'd go on to have a 10-year NFL career that included 4,301 rushing yards and 34 total touchdowns. 

Heyward played his first five NFL seasons in New Orleans. He totaled 1,813 rushing yards over just 46 games for the team and scored 14 touchdowns with three 100-yard outings. His best year as a Saint was in 1990, when he led the team with 599 yards rushing. 

Upon leaving New Orleans, Heyward played one year for the Chicago Bears in 1993 and three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons from 1994-97 before finishing his playing career with the Indianapolis Colts in 1998. Tragically, Heyward passed away suddenly in 1999 at the age of 39.

A bruising fullback with quick feet, Heyward reminded many of Hall of Fame RB Earl Campbell when he entered the NFL. Heyward ran for 3,086 yards in three years at Pitt, still fifth on the Panthers all-time rushing list. His 1,791 yards in 1987 led the NCAA.

Cameron Heyward, one of Craig's four sons, is a six-time Pro Bowl defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Olin Kreutz - C

• Washington 

October 16, 2011; New Orleans Saints center Olin Kreutz (50) snaps the ball during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

A third-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 1998 NFL Draft, Kreutz had a distinguished 13-year career for the Bears before joining the Saints in 2011. He'd start just four games for New Orleans before abruptly retiring.

James Laurinaitis - LB

• Ohio State 

 

Sep 26, 2016; New Orleans Saints linebacker James Laurinaitis (53) hits Atlanta Falcons wideout Justin Hardy (16). Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY

A second-round choice by the St. Louis Rams in the 2009 NFL Draft, Laurinaitis spent six years with the Rams before finishing his career with New Orleans in 2016. He had 871 career tackles, 10 interceptions, and 16.5 sacks.

Despite not missing a game over his first six years, injuries limited Laurinaitis to only five contests as a Saint. He had a fumble recovery and 17 tackles for New Orleans. 

Laurinaitis was a three-time All-American for the Buckeyes, intercepting nine passes and recording 13 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss over his final three collegiate seasons. His other accolades included the Bronko Nagurski Award (2006), Dick Butkus Award (2007), Ronnie Lott Trophy (2008), and back-to-back Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2007 and 2008.

Laurinaitis, now 36, is currently the Linebackers Coach at Ohio State after serving in that same capacity for Notre Dame in 2022.

Jahri Evans - G

• Bloomsburg 

Nov 17, 2016; New Orleans Saints offensive guard Jahri Evans (73) blocks against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY

Evans became just the second player ever drafted out of Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania when the Saints selected him in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He'd play 11 of his 12 NFL seasons with New Orleans, earning four All-Pro honors and six trips to the Pro Bowl. 

One of the NFL's most dominant interior linemen when he played, Evans helped lead a historically prolific New Orleans offense. He missed just seven of a possible 200 games during his time as a Saint, including 129 consecutive starts between 2006-2013.

Evans was voted onto the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2010's in addition to the All-Rookie Team in 2006. He is a member of the Saints 50th Anniversary team and was voted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2020.

While at Bloomsburg, Evans was a two-time 1st Team All-American and Division II player of the year finalist twice. In addition to being a College Football Hall of Fame finalist, Evans was also a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022, his first year of eligibility. 

The 39-year-old Evans is now an assistant offensive line coach for the Saints. It's his first year in that capacity after serving as a coaching intern for the team last season. 

New Orleans has 20 players enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, along with three former coaches who were inducted as players. The list is highlighted by:

• Reggie Bush (USC)

• Jim Dombrowski (Virginia)

• Archie Manning (Mississippi)

• Rueben Mayes (Washington State)

• Sam Mills (Montclair State)

• Willie Roaf (Louisiana Tech)

• George Rogers (South Carolina)

• Pat Swilling (Georgia Tech)

A player must have played college football within the last 50 years and had been selected as a 1st Team All-American at least once during their career to be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame. The announcement of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame inductees is expected to take place in January 2024.