Hokies great Michael Vick was among the players listed on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
The ballot, which was released by the National Football Foundation on Monday, has 78 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, with 101 players and 32 coaches from lower-division ranks.
Vick, who quarterbacked Virginia Tech to the cusp of the national championship in the 1999 season and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that year, is making his debut on the ballot.
“It’s an enormous honor to just be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering more than 5.62 million people have played college football and only 1,074 players have been inducted,” NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell said in a news release. “Being in today’s elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to have ever played the game.”
To be eligible, players must have received first-team All-America recognition by a selector recognized by the NCAA (Vick was a first-team pick by Sporting News in 1999) and have concluded their college careers at least 10 years earlier.
A player’s post-football career as a citizen is also weighed, with the committee taking into consideration if a player has “proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community.”
Voting will take place through June 30, with the announcement of next year’s Hall of Fame class coming early in 2024.
Defensive end Corey Moore was the most recent Hokie to be selected for the Hall of Fame in January. When he’s inducted this December in Las Vegas, he’ll be the eighth person with Virginia Tech ties to be enshrined, joining Hunter Carpenter (inducted 1957), Andy Gustafson (1985), Carroll Dale (1987), Frank Loria (1999), Jerry Claiborne (1999), Bruce Smith (2006) and Frank Beamer (2018).
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Congratulations MV!
not only are you a College Football Hall of Fame candidate,
and justifiably, “soon” a member, . . .
THOSE UNIFORMS are the ultimate, also.
go MV,
your fellow Warwick and Virginia Tech alum.
Before Vick, every coach was looking for the next Peyton Manning. After his 2 sensational seasons at VT, every coach was looking for the next Michael Vick. He unequivocally changed the college game and the way coaches view the QB position and how to utilize it. If that’s not a sure-fire hall-of-famer, I don’t know what is.
I completely agree…and you could see it all happening in real time. You just knew the game would be different from 1999 on. He is still one of the top two athletes I have seen play live with my own two eyes.
He only played 2 years. If he doesn’t make it that will be why.
Mebbe you missed a minor detail that occurred after he left VT. Personally, I think he should have been inducted a long time ago. But there are those who will never forgive him for the dogfighting issue. I feel he paid a far stiffer price for those transgressions than any normal citizen would have. And he showed genuine remorse. But that doesn’t matter to the haters.
Absolutely spot-on. Whereas MV wasn’t the first dual-threat QB, even today he remains the best, ever. Before or since, there has not been another like him. He changed the game. He was a freak of nature. As for his post-college indiscretions, as pointed out elsewhere on this blog, he paid his debt to society, has openly acknowledged his mistakes and moved on w/his life.
Btw, the first time I saw him live, vs. Clemson 1999, I could not believe what I was seeing. He operated @ warp-speed, made eveyone else of the field look as if they were standing still.
He made a horrible mistake, served his time, and did everything he could to make it right, including paying every dime he owed debtors…..he refused to declare bankruptcy which would have saved him millions….most exciting player I’ve ever seen, he deserves to be elected into college hof.
No, he didn’t make a horrible mistake. He intentionally financed and participated in an illegal, cruel, and reprehensible activity. Vick admitted to providing most of the financing for the operation, and to participating directly in dog fighting on the east coast. in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He also admitted that he knew of the intentional killing of dogs who didn’t perform well. AND he admitted to actually taking part in the killings of 6–8 dogs, by hanging, beating, and drowning.
THAT is not a horrible mistake. That is disgusting and intentional behavior that in my opinion supersedes his talents in order to receive this high honor. I’m fine that he served his time. But second chances don’t always include access to everything.
What do we know about the voters? If they’re football people, he has a decent chance. If they’re journalists, his chances probably drop significantly.
It will never happen. Let the protests begin.
Good luck, Mike! You deserve it!
He deserves to be inducted. Greatest player in VT history and probably the most exciting QB that ever played in either college or the pros. My guess is that had he remained in school and stayed healthy he could have been a back to back Heisman trophy winner. He made a mistake in his life and paid for his wrongdoings and deserves this honor.
Most exciting and greatest football player I have ever seen watching him play was a highlight reel every time sure hope he is voted in
Should be in. Michael changed the game. Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes owe him 1,015,000,000 thanks between just the three of them.
It’s about dang time. MV paid a heavy price, was sincere in his atonement, and from what I hear became a better person from his life journey. Many of those who will not forgive him are the same type people that are indifferent when a human life is lost. He deserves to be in theNCAA HOF.
I think he redeemed himself. He has to be top 5 college QBs I have seen. My rankings (1995 on) for best I have seen in any one or more seasons:
1. Joe Burrow – to put up the numbers he did and win the NC playing SEC is extraordinary.
2. Michael Vick – most exciting player I have ever seen.
3. Vince Young – great year at Texas and beat great USC team.
4. Johnny Manziel – Just below Vick, but amazing college player.
5. Tim Tebow – Winner and put up insane numbers in the sec as a runner and passer. Gets a bad rap, IMO.
Let the debate begin!
I agree with your choices. Spot on!
Agree 100%! Somewhere in that list I’d have to put Archie Manning. I still say he was robbed of the Heisman with very little supporting cast.
Another year and move Mike to no. 1. Book it! Once in a generation (at least) athlete, anywhere.
Repping VT out here in Oregon there are different camps.. one group animal lovers will never forgive michael for the dog fighting other group marvel over his football skills. I point out mike the adult that took the hardest bankruptcy path paid his debts and worked for prevention of cruelty to animals and for that and his football he is in
There are some people who will never, ever forgive MV no matter what. This despite the fact he paid very, very dearly for his erroneous ways (lost all his money, pulled prison time, football career seriously damaged). He was convicted of the crime, did the time, and has reportedly been a model citizen in the years since then. That’s not enough for some folks who apparently never made a mistake and for whom there is no room for forgiveness, ever, under any circumstance.
Ignoring that and only focusing on football: Vick is a first ballot, no-brainer Hall of Famer. He revolutionized the QB position and is hands-down the most exciting offensive player in the history of the sport, IMHO.
“some folks who apparently never made a mistake” … c’mon. The guy financed and participated in an illegal activity for several years. Dog fighting is cruel and barbaric. Additionally, he admitted to torturing and killing several dogs himself through beating, electrocuting, drowning, and hanging them to death.
I’m all about second chances and Vick clearly got a second chance getting to play in the NFL again (and now broadcasting). But second chances don’t mean that the past can’t still have some ramifications on the present, particularly when we’re talking about something that includes honor and distinction. The second requirement of entry into the NCAA Football HOF states “While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen.” He didn’t just make a mistake, he participated in this activity for years.
I’m glad for him that he got his second chance. I just don’t think he deserves to be honored as one of the best when his character and actions (two main requirements for entry) for many years weren’t even close to being worthy of it.
He only played 2 years. Should he be in if he played 1? His 2 years were as good as anyone’s but many had more years.
Wait and watch. He overcame the tough culture in which he was raised. Always seemed to show modesty and character. I vote yes, early and often.
I concur. Michael Vick should be a Hall of Famer.