The National Football Foundation revealed its ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 on Tuesday, with former Tar Heel greats Julius Peppers and Harris Barton among those who made the list.

Peppers was a unanimous All-American in 2001 for the Tar Heels, while also claiming the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player and the Rotary Lombardi Award as the nation’s top interior lineman.  He also finished 10th place in Heisman Trophy voting that year.

For his career at UNC–which lasted from 1999-2001–Peppers racked up 167 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 53 tackles for loss, five interceptions and five forced fumbles. In addition, he was also a two-time All-ACC performer.

Peppers went on to be drafted No. 2 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft and played 18 years as a professional–earning a spot on the NFL’s All-Decade Team for both the 2000’s and the 2010’s.

Barton, meanwhile, started on the Tar Heel offensive line for four years at both center and tackle–earning First Team All-American honors as a senior in 1986. He then went on to play 10 years in the NFL, winning three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers.

The College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021 will be revealed early next year.

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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