Former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant is one of many legends named to the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced the news last week, with Bryant one of 79 players added to the ballot.
Bryant played for OSU from 2007-09 and was well known for his astounding sophomore season in 2008, during which he had 87 receptions for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns, scoring 128 points. He also returned two touchdowns in his 20 punt attempts.
He was named a consensus All-American, Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year and First-Team All-Big 12.
Bryant’s final season in the orange and black ended with just three games in the 2009 season before he headed off to the NFL Draft. Sixteen years later, Bryant remains one of the greatest wide receivers in OSU history.
In 28 games played, Bryant ranks in the top 10 at OSU with 147 catches and 2,425 yards and places top five in touchdowns with 29.
On special teams, Bryant is second all-time with 19.6 yards per punt return, only trailing Darrent Williams, and is tied with Williams and Barry Sanders for most punt return touchdowns (3).
Bryant’s 19 touchdowns back in 2008 were – at the time – the program record for most touchdown receptions in a single season. The record lasted for two years before Justin Blackmon broke it in 2010 with 20.
Bryant went on to have an outstanding NFL career from 2010-2020, particularly during his eight years with the Dallas Cowboys. The OSU legend will have to wait until early 2026 to find out if his name will be listed as part of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class.
If Bryant gets voted in, he will be the ninth Cowboy to join the hall. The previous eight are Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf, Bob Fenimore, Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Jimmy Johnson, Leslie O’Neal, Terry Miller and Justin Blackmon.
