USC's Troy Polamalu Named To 2019 College Football Hall Of Fame Class

Two-time All-American Troy Polamalu, one of the greatest safeties in college football history, has been named to the 15-member 2019 College Football Hall of Fame class.

He is the 44th inductee with USC ties, including 33 players, in the College Football Hall of Fame. A Trojan has been elected into the Hall in 13 of the past 20 years.

Polamalu will be inducted at a Dec. 10 dinner in New York City and then enshrined at the Hall in Atlanta.

His 2019 classmates include 12 other players – Florida State defensive back Terrell Buckley, Oklahoma defensive back Rickey Dixon, John Carroll linebacker London Fletcher, Texas A&M defensive lineman Jacob Green, North Carolina State wide receiver Torry Holt, Notre Dame wide receiver/kick returner Raghib Ismail, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Arizona State quarterback Jake Plummer, Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Thomas, Michigan State running back Lorenzo White, Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis and Texas quarterback Vince Young – along with 2 coaches: Dennis Erickson of Idaho, Wyoming, Washington State, Miami (Fla.), Oregon State and Arizona State and Joe Taylor of Howard, Virginia Union, Hampton and Florida A&M.

Known for his fearless hitting and flying tackles, Polamalu earned consensus All-American honors in 2002 and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the nation. He led the Trojans to consecutive bowl games, including a victory in the 2003 Orange Bowl and an appearance in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl, where he set a Las Vegas Bowl record with 20 tackles. A two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection, in 2002 he guided USC to its first 11-win season since 1979, a share of the conference title and a No. 4 national ranking.

A two-year team captain, Polamalu was USC's MVP in 2001 and Most Inspirational Player in 2002. The Tenmile, Oregon, native recorded 281 tackles and six interceptions in his four-year career. He led USC in tackles (118) and interceptions (three) in 2001 after topping the team in interceptions (two) and deflections (seven) in 2000. A member of the Pac-12 All-Century Team, he was inducted into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

Polamalu was selected in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he spent his entire 12-year career with the franchise. The 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year went to eight Pro Bowls and led the Steelers to three Super Bowl appearances, including wins in Super Bowls XL and XLIII. He is a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team. During his NFL career, he earned his degree from USC in 2011.

Polamalu and his wife established the Troy & Theodora Polamalu Foundation, which has raised millions for charity. Paying tribute to his American Samoan heritage, he supports the Fa'a Samoa Initiative, set up a medical clinic in Samoa, and serves on the board of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, of which he is an inductee.

He currently serves as the Head of Player Relations for the Alliance of American Football, a new professional league that will kick off in February 2019.

University Southern California Trojans

USC's Troy Polamalu Named To 2019 College Football Hall Of Fame Class

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