CLEMSON — Former Clemson football defensive back Donnell Woolford is on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot for the first time since 2020.
Woolford, who made his ballot debut in 2020, played for the Tigers from 1985 through 1988 and helped coach Danny Ford’s program to three ACC Championships and three top-20 seasons. He was a first-team All-American in 1987 and 1988, earning consensus honors as a senior in 1988.
There are 79 players and nine coaches from the FBS on the 2026 ballot, and the class will be announced in early 2026. The induction ceremony will be held during the NFF annual awards dinner on Dec. 8, 2026, in Las Vegas.
Woolford finished his career with 187 tackles, 10 interceptions and 44 pass breakups for 54 total passes defensed. He holds Clemson records for pass breakups and passes defensed. He was also dominant on special teams, ranking second in program history in career punt return yards with 754 and tied for first in punt returns for touchdowns with two. He was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
The Chicago Bears selected Woolford with the 11th pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. He played in 126 games over nine seasons in the NFL, having stints with the Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1993.
There are four Clemson players in the College Football Hall of Fame. Running back C.J. Spiller is the most recent member as an inductee of the 2021 class. There are four coaches or former Tigers who were inducted as coaches.
Clemson Tigers in College Football Hall of Fame
- 1954: John Heisman (coach)
- 1959: Banks McFadden
- 1971: Jess Neely (coach)
- 1989: Frank Howard (coach)
- 2001: Terry Kinard
- 2007: Jeff Davis
- 2011: Danny Ford (coach)
- 2021: C.J. Spiller
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
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