Top 10 nominees on 2025 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Simeon Rice
Rice is one of several standouts on the ballot who has had a case to get in for quite a while and his time might be coming soon. Perhaps holding Rice back is the lack of success Illinois ultimately had while he was there, but from an individual perspective, the defensive end was as good as it gets before going on to have a fine NFL career as the No. 3 overall pick in 1996. Rice earned numerous accolades during his time at Illinois including Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1992 and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1994. Rice also won the Jack Lambert Trophy in 1995, and was a two-time All-American and a three-time first-team All-Big Ten player. The feared pass rusher ended his career with the Illini as the Big Ten leader in career sacks (44.5) and tackles for loss (69).
