KNOXVILLE — Willie Gault and Deon Grant were named to the College Football Hall of Fame ballot for the 2027 class on June 1, 2026. The National Football Foundation announced the 227 candidates for the 2027 class that same day.
Gault, a standout at the University of Tennessee, was a first team All-America selection in 1982. He broke six Southeastern Conference (SEC) records and 12 school records as a punt and kick returner. In 1980, he tied an NCAA record with three touchdowns on kick returns in a single season. Gault also helped lead the Tennessee Volunteers to three bowl appearances during his college career.
Grant, also a Tennessee alumnus, was a consensus first team All-American and the 1999 AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He led the SEC with nine interceptions in 1999 and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Grant was a key player on Tennessee's 1998 national championship team and contributed to two SEC title teams and three top-10 finishes during his tenure with the Volunteers.
The 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot includes 80 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, along with 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks. More than 12,000 National Football Foundation members and current Hall of Famers will vote on the candidates. The votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF Honors Court, which will ultimately select the inductees.
Tennessee has 27 members in the College Football Hall of Fame, including 23 players and four coaches. The 2027 College Football Hall of Fame class will be announced in early 2027.