Only a handful of elites in their craft can say they are a part of a Hall of Fame. That’s what former Ohio State linebacker and current assistant coach James Laurinaitis is hoping for, and for good reason.
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot was released this week, and Laurinaitis has his name appearing on it yet again. He’s no stranger to having his name penciled in as a potential, this being his seventh consecutive year, but he has yet to make the cut.
The numbers and accolades are definitely there. During his time at Ohio State from 2005 to 2008, he tallied over 115 tackles three straight years, had 13 sacks, and nine interceptions. He was so good in Columbus that he was a three-time First-team All-Big Ten performer, was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year twice, Jack Lambert recipient twice, was a unanimous All-American in 2007, three time consensus All-American, and won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy, and Butkus Award during his career in college.
Whew.
There aren’t many more accomplished linebackers in college football history, so it’s a wonder why his name has not made it through the voting process yet. Maybe this is the year. If so, he’ll have to be one of the players left standing between other candidates, Mark Ingram II, Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Aaron Donald, Kellen Moore, and another 73 players.
Voting ends on July 1, so we should get some news on Laurinaitis’ fate before the start of the college football season. We say it’s high time the “Little Animal” becomes big-time in the College Football Hall of Fame. If he does get the nod, Laurinaitis will join 32 other Buckeyes, including three other linebackers.
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