Two Syracuse football legends deserve induction into College Hall of Fame

Two of the best players in the history of the Syracuse football program are once again on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Personally, I think that the time is way overdue for legendary defensive end Dwight Freeney and iconic kick returner/wide receiver Marvin Harrison to get inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

According to a press release from SU Athletics, Freeney and Harrison are on the ballot for the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame class.

The National Football Foundation says in an announcement that the 2023 ballot includes 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (“FBS”).

Former Syracuse football stars Dwight Freeney, Marvin Harrison are up for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Per cuse.com, this is the fifth time for Harrison on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame ballot, while it’s the third occasion for Freeney.

The Orange program has 18 members in the College Football Hall of Fame, which is the second-most among Atlantic Coast Conference teams, cuse.com says.

According to SU Athletics, Freeney was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2001, and he holds the NCAA record for career sacks per game (1.61).

As a senior in 2001, Freeney was named the Big East Conference co-defensive player of the year, when he posted 17.5 sacks. He still owns the Syracuse football career record for the most tackles for loss, at 50.5.

In the NFL, Freeney won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts, and he’s in the top-20 of the NFL all-time with 125.5 career sacks.

In 1995, Harrison was a first-team All-American as a kick returner, while getting named the Big East’s special teams player of the year.

When his tenure in Central New York culminated, he was at the time in the top three within the team’s history in career receptions, touchdowns and yards. Harrison also represented the first Syracuse football player, in 1995, to average more than 100 yards receiving per contest.

Harrison would be a total star in the NFL, advancing to eight Pro Bowls. He is in the top-five in the NFL on the all-time list for receiving touchdowns and catches, while hauling in 14,580 receiving yards, good for ninth in NFL history.

In 2016, Harrison was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both he and Freeney deserve inclusion in the College Football Hall of Fame for their top-flight careers for the Orange.

The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame class will be unveiled early next year, with the official induction ceremony scheduled for Dec. 5, 2023, according to the National Football Foundation.