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Oklahoma football: Sooners up for 2024 College Football Hall of Fame induction

By Brandon Self

02 Dec 2000: Quarterback Josh Heupel #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates with an orange in hand after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats 27-24 during the Big 12 Championship at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Oklahoma will play for the national championship at the Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT
02 Dec 2000: Quarterback Josh Heupel #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates with an orange in hand after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats 27-24 during the Big 12 Championship at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Oklahoma will play for the national championship at the Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT /
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The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame nomination list has been released for the 2023 voting process. The 78-member list includes the names of three former members of the Oklahoma football program. Here are the names and a brief synopsis of their Hall of Fame careers in Norman.

Rocky Calmus – Linebacker – 1998-2001

7 Oct 2000: Rocky Calmus #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs as he grips the ball during a game agaist the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas. The Sooners defeated the Longhorns 63-14.Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez /Allsport
7 Oct 2000: Rocky Calmus #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs as he grips the ball during a game agaist the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas. The Sooners defeated the Longhorns 63-14.Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez /Allsport /

This one is a sure-fire pick, in my opinion. The 2001 Butkus Award winner was a two-time consensus All-American and a three-time first-team All-Big 12 linebacker at the University of Oklahoma. He finished his career ranked 4th all-time in Sooner tackles after totaling an astounding 431 during his career. Rocky also ranked 1st in Sooner history in tackles-for-loss and sacks by an inside linebacker with 59 and 14, respectfully.

Rocky was the epitome of a tough-nosed, high-motor Brent Venables inside linebacker. He was always in the right place at the right time. His career is full of memorable moments and huge plays. Most of all…

Josh Heupel – Quarterback – 1999-2000

28 Oct 2000: Quarterback Josh Heupel #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs past cornerback Keyuo Craver #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the fourth quarter at Owens Field in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won the game 31-14. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT
28 Oct 2000: Quarterback Josh Heupel #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs past cornerback Keyuo Craver #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the fourth quarter at Owens Field in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won the game 31-14. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT /

Before leading the Tennessee Volunteers back to national relevancy, Heupel was a left-handed field general for the 2000 National Champion Oklahoma Sooners. Following his 2000 National title campaign, Heupel was named a consensus All-American, making him the first Sooner quarterback to ever receive that honor.

He was also named the 2000 season’s AP Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year, and the Big 12’s Player of the Year. Somehow, he finished second to Florida State’s Chris Weinke for the 2000 Heisman trophy… something that fellow Sooner Torrance Marshall ‘kind of’ got back for him.

Heupel ended his two-year Sooner career with 7,456 yards passing with 56 passing touchdowns. Before the massive wave of Heisman-caliber quarterbacks in Norman, Heupel held almost every passing record that OU, and the Big 12 conference, accounted for. He was more of a leader than he was an efficient quarterback. Heupel was one of Coach Bob Stoops’s first recruits, and he turned around an offense, and even a program, almost overnight.

Dewey Selmon – Defensive Line – 1972-1975

Oct, 1973; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman and brothers Lee Roy Selmon (93) Lucious Selmon (98) and Dewey Selmon (91) during the 1973 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Oct, 1973; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman and brothers Lee Roy Selmon (93) Lucious Selmon (98) and Dewey Selmon (91) during the 1973 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Dewey was one of the Sooner football programs’ most dominant interior defensive linemen. During his four years in Norman, Dewey totaled 325 tackles, 25 of which were for loss. He still holds the single-game Sooner record for solo tackles in a game with 22! Dewey also totaled 100+ tackles during a single season… twice (1974 and 1975), coinciding with two Sooner National titles.

Dewey Selmon and his two dominant brothers were leaders of one of college football’s most dominant college football dynasties.

These three players deserve induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Each was a dominant Sooner in their own right. Seeing them get passed up on this year’s induction would be shocking.

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