2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

IRVING, Texas -  The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the names on the 2027 Ballot under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, including 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from the divisional ranks.

Three of the players from the Divisional Ranks are former Eastern Illinois standouts from the 1970's, 1980's and early 2010's.  Listed on this year's ballot to be considered for College Football Hall of Fame Voting are Pete Catan, John Jurkovic, Erik Lora.  Former Eastern Illinois and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was inducted in December 2021 becoming the first EIU player and second Panthers representative in the College Football Hall of Fame.  Romo joined former coach Darrell Mudra

Pete Catan was a two-time first team All-American selection at defensive end during both the 1979 and 1980 seasons.   He was a member of the 1978 NCAA Division II National Championship team and finished his career in 1980 as the Panthers were the national runners-up in Division II.  He held the school records for sacks in a game (6), season (21) and career (47).   Following his playing days at EIU, Catan went on to star in both the Canadian Football League and USFL where he earned All-League honors for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) and Houston Gamblers (USFL).
 
John Jurkovic was a two-time first team All-American at defensive end for Eastern Illinois in both 1988 and 1989.  He twice was named the Gateway Conference Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to accomplish that feat.  He led the Panthers to the 1986 conference title and twice helped EIU advance to the NCAA I-AA playoff quarterfinal round.  He set the conference record with six sacks in a game and finished his career as the league leader in career sacks (27).  Following his playing days at EIU, Jurkovic went on to have a nine year career in the NFL earning second team All-League honors with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1996.
 
Erik Lora was a two-time first team All-American at wide receiver for the Panthers in both 2012 and 2013.  He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award both seasons finishing fourth in 2012 and then seventh in 2013 when teammate Jimmy Garoppolo won the award.  He was the 2012 OVC Player of the Year and a two-time first team All-OVC selection.   During his playing time he helped lead EIU to three OVC titles.  He was the FCSADA Wide Receiver of the Year in 2013 and rewrote the EIU and OVC receiving records.  He still holds the FCS single season record for receptions with 136 during the 2012 season.