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Julius Peppers on ballot for College Football Hall of Fame

By Zack Pearson

10 Nov 2001: Defensive End Julius Peppers #49 of the North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels running after the ball during the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Demon Deacons defeated the Tar Heels 32-31.Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones /Allsport
10 Nov 2001: Defensive End Julius Peppers #49 of the North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels running after the ball during the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Demon Deacons defeated the Tar Heels 32-31.Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones /Allsport /
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Former UNC defensive end Julius Peppers could find himself in the College Football Hall of Fame next year after being put on the ballot.

Former University of North Carolina football standout Julius Peppers just wrapped up his long career in the NFL by announcing his retirement this offseason.

Peppers was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and played a total of 17 years in the league. He spent the majority of his career with the Panthers but also had stops with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.

Before Peppers made his way into the NFL he was a standout with the Tar Heels and now 18 years later, he could be rewarded for that.

On Monday, the 2020 College Football Hall of Fame ballot was released by the National Football Foundation to its more than 12,000 members. Among the names on the ballot was 12 first time players listed, including the former pass rush standout Peppers.

He is now eligible to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class but will need the votes from the panel. Each year, the members select 13 players and 2 coaches for the class which is announced on January 13th before the College Football Playoff Championship.

Joining Peppers on the ballot for the first time is Tony Romo, Josh Heupel, CJ Spiller,  Chris Samuels, and James Laurinaitis among others. They are among the 76 player ballot overall.

Peppers played three seasons at the University of North Carolina, recording 167 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 53 Tackles For Loss, five forced fumbles and five interceptions. He was named All-ACC First Team twice in his career (2000 and 2001) and was an All-American in 2001. Peppers also won the  Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s top defensive player and the Rotary Lombardi Award, which at the time was given to the nation’s top interior lineman.

He will certainly be elected into the College Football Hall of Fame but the only question that remains is if he will be a first ballot inductee.

Next. Former UNC WR Ryan Switzer almost quit. dark

For more on Peppers and other former UNC Football players, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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