DALLAS (AP) -The late Pat Tillman, a former Arizona State linebacker who gave up a professional football career to join the military, is among 19 players up for election to the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time this year.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame released a ballot Tuesday with 75 players and eight coaches eligible for election to the hall.
Tillman played linebacker for the Sun Devils from 1994-97 and was one of the best defensive players in the Pac-10 over his final two seasons. He was one of the leaders of the last Arizona State team to play in the Rose Bowl. The Sun Devils lost to Ohio State 20-17 in 1997.
Tillman went on to play safety for the Arizona Cardinals, but quit football, giving up millions of dollars in salary, and became an Army Ranger.
He was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.
Also among the first-timers in the College Hall of Fame ballot are Kansas quarterback Bobby Douglas (1966-68), Florida linebacker Wilber Marshall (1980-83), Temple running back Paul Palmer (1983-86) and Michigan State linebacker Percy Snow (1986-89).
Lou Holtz, who coached Notre Dame to a national championship and 249 games with six schools, is the only coach appearing on the ballot for the first time.
Other notable players up for election include UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman, West Virginia quarterback Major Harris, Ohio State fullback Jim Otis and Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown.
Voting will be done by the 12,000 National Football Foundation members and those votes will be submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which selects the Hall of Fame class.
The class of 2008 will be announced May 1 and inducted Dec. 9 at the NFF awards dinner in New York.
