Mandatory minicamp has ended and players and coaches will take a well-deserved break before the start of training camps next month, but the cycle of football continues always.
Just this week, the National Football Foundation announced its ballot for the Class of 2020 College Football Hall of Fame.
Of course, in December of this year, former Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer and cornerback Terrell Buckley will don tuxedos (I cannot wait to see Jake in a tuxedo) for their 2019 induction ceremonies in New York City.
But the 2020 ballot has a heavy Broncos flavor as well, starting with ultimate fan favorite Ed McCaffrey and heavy-hitting linebacker Al Wilson.
In his college days at Stanford, Ed was a 1990 first-team All-American and was named a two time Cardinal MVP. He led Stanford in receiving yards in three of his four years there and still ranks in the top 10 all-time at Stanford with 146 career catches and 2,333 career reception yards.
Before he was blowing up opposing ball carriers in his five Pro Bowl seasons for the Broncos, Al was a 1998 consensus first-team All American who led the Tennessee Volunteers to the inaugural BCS national title in 1998.
Wilson helped lead Tennessee to four preseason berths for four Associated Press top 10 finishes. He was on the losing side of just three SEC games in his career.
Some fans might also remember running back Greg Lewis from the University of Washington.
Greg was a 1990 first-team All American at Washington and won the highly prestigious Doak Walker Award as the best running back in the country.
He too is on the ballot, along with former linebacker Simeon Rice, who played just one year for Denver at the end of his career.
A great college player at Illinois, he set the Illini record for single season sacks with 16, a hefty total then and now.
But the Broncos presence on the College Hall of Fame ballot continues beyond the FBS player candidates.
Hall of Fame status is also given to former players who were on the divisional level, and the 2020 ballot includes current Denver Defensive Line Coach Bill Kollar and former cornerback Tyrone Poole.
Bill Kollar played at Montana State, where he was a 1973 first-team All-American defensive end, also earning second-team honors in 1972. He was the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1972 and was the first lineman in conference history to earn first-team conference honors three times. A totally dominant force on defense, Kollar was the first defensive player to be named Senior Bowl MVP (1974).
Tyrone Poole played his college football at relatively tiny Fort Valley State in Georgia, but he was big on the field as a first-team All American in 1994. Tyrone had 44 career pass breakups and 17 interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns.
Overall, the 2020 ballot includes 76 players and five coaches from the FBS and 101 players and 33 coaches from the divisional level.
The announcement of the 2020 class of inductees will be made in January 2020 and hopefully the Hall will once again include former Denver Broncos who distinguished themselves with outstanding college careers before moving on to the National Football League.
Best wishes to all on selection to the College Football Hall of Fame.
