USC’s Mark Carrier and Dennis Thurman Named to 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

LOS ANGELES--Former USC defensive backs Mark Carrier and Dennis Thurman have been named to the 2024 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today. They are two of 78 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision to be placed on the ballot. 

Carrier was USC's first Thorpe Award winner in 1989 as the nation's top defensive back. The two-time All-American (1988-89, unanimous in 1989) lettered for the Trojans from 1987-89. USC was 27-8-1 in his career and was 18th in the final AP poll in 1987, seventh in 1988 and eighth in 1989. The Long Beach, Calif. native was a 2-time All-Conference first teamer (1988-89) and won USC's Defensive Player of the Game versus Notre Dame Award in 1989. He also won USC's Defensive Player of the Game versus UCLA Award in 1987 and 1989. He led USC in interceptions in 1989 (7) and led the Pac-10 in interceptions in 1989 (0.64). He is tied for sixth on USC's career interception list (13). Carrier was drafted in the first round (sixth pick) of the 1990 NFL draft as a junior by the Bears and played for the Bears (1990-96), Lions (1997-99) and Redskins (2000). He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007, and made Pac-12 All-Century Team in 2015. After USC and the NFL, Carrier became a radio sports commentator and a college and pro football assistant coach (Arizona State, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals).

Thurman was a 2-time All-American (consensus in 1976 and unanimous in 1977) while lettering at USC from 1974-77. USC went 37-10-1 in his career, and he was a member of USC's 1974 national championship team. USC was 17th in the final AP poll in 1975, second in 1976 and 13th in 1977. The local product of Santa Monica, Calif. was a 2-time All-Conference first teamer (1976- 77). Thurman was named USC's MVP in 1977 and won USC's Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1977. He led USC in interceptions in 1976 (8, tops in the Pac-8), led USC in punt returns in 1976 (68 yards) and is tied for sixth on USC's career interception list (13, including 2 intercepted fumbles). Thurman was drafted in the 11th round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Cowboys and played with the Cowboys (1978-85) and Cardinals (1986). He played in Super Bowl XIII. After USC and the NFL, he became an assistant football coach with the NFL's Phoenix Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, World League's Ohio Glory and at USC (1993- 2000). 

The College Football Hall of Fame ballot was emailed today to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class.
 
The announcement of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2024, with specific details to be announced in the future. 
 
The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented in Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 2024, and permanently immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. They will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2024 season.