Four Knights on ’23 NFF College Hall of Fame Ballot

ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Four former UCF football greats are listed on the National Football Foundation's 2023 College Football Hall of Fame divisional ballot.

The Hall of Fame class will be announced in early 2023 (date TBD), inducted at the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's Annual Awards Dinner, honored on the field via on-campus salutes by their respective schools during the 2023 season—and later immortalized at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been chosen first-team All-America by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for its consensus All-America teams, played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 years prior, played within the last 50 years and be retired from playing professional football.

The four former UCF players among 96 on the Hall of Fame's divisional ballot of Football Championship Subdivision players are:

Bernard Ford, Wide Receiver, Cordele, GA (1985-87)--Named a first-team All-American (Football News and Kodak in 1987) and a 1987 Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, he ranks in the top 10 of 14 UCF records, including first in receiving yards in a season (1,403), all-purpose yards per game (188) and average yards per catch in career (21.8).

Ed O'Brien, Placekicker, Hialeah, FL (1984-87)--Named 1987 first-team All-America (Football News), he is the UCF record-holder for career field goals made (50), field goals attempted (77) and longest field goal made (55 yards). O'Brien helped UCF to the 1987 NCAA Division II semifinals.

Charlie Pierce, Punter / Placekicker, Lakeland, FL (1993-96)--Named first-team All-America (1994 by The Sports Network), he is the career record-holder at UCF for punts (173), punt yardage (7,111) and points scored (297). Pierce helped UCF to the NCAA FCS playoffs in 1993.

David Rhodes, Wide Receiver, Mulberry, FL (1991-94)--A 1993 first-team Associated Press FCS All-American, he holds UCF records for receptions (213), receiving yards (3,618) and receiving TD (29) in career. The only Knight to record three seasons with at least 1,000-yards receiving, he helped the Knights to the 1993 NCAA FCS playoffs.

Divisional nominees remain on the ballot until they are inducted or until a 50-year period passes. Selections are made by the NFF Divisional Honors Court.