Manning, Spurrier debut on College Hall of Fame ballot

(AP Photo/John Bazemore, File).

FILE – In this November 22, 1997, file photo, Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning launches a pass during the second half of his team’s 59-31 win over Kentucky in an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky. Spurrier, Peyton Manning and Ma.

A pair of former Razorbacks are on the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame ballot released Wednesday.

Former University of Wisconsin defensive back Troy Vincent was among 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision placed on the 2017 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The College Football Hall of Fame class of 2017 will be announced on January 6, 2017 in Tampa – three days prior to college football’s national championship.

To be eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot, players must have been named a first-team All-America 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 years prior to nomination; played within the last 50 years and can not be now playing professional football. Spurrier is the winningest coach ever at both Florida and SC, and ranks second all-time in SEC victories.

Faulk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 while Manning, who just retired from the NFL, is a lock to be inducted when he becomes eligible in five years. The Canton, Illinois, native was a three-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, making him the only player in league history to accomplish the feat.

The ballot also includes current Chiefs running backs coach Eric Bienemy, the former Colorado running back who finished third in the 1990 Heisman Trophy balloting and helped lead the Buffaloes to a national championship that season.

Since 1951, The National Football Foundation has been selecting players and coaches in college football who excel on the field.

The ballot features three-time first team All-America running back Marshall Faulk (San Diego State), former Kansas City Chief consensus First Team All-America tight end Tony Gonzalez (California), 1997 NFF Campbell Trophy victor and Heisman Trophy runner-up Peyton Manning (Tennessee), and First Team All-America defensive back Troy Vincent ( Wisconsin). He won or shared six conference titles, was a three-time conference coach of the year (1973, 1978, 1980) and is the winningest coach in school history.