Former standout Carlton McDonald on CFB Hall of Fame ballot
6/1/2026 10:23:00 AM | Football
Carlton McDonald, a 1993 Air Force Academy graduate, has been named to the official ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame, announced today by the National Football Foundation. McDonald is one of 80 FBS players named to the ballot.
McDonald was a 1992 unanimous first-team All-American and runner-up for the Thorpe Award. A two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-WAC selection, he twice led the conference in INTs (8—1992, 6—1991). McDonald was the Air Force Male Athlete of the Year in 1993. He set Air Force records for blocked kicks in a game (3 vs. Colorado State, 1990) and career (8). McDonald was inducted into the Air Force Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, the school's fourth class.
Induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame represents the pinnacle of achievement in college football. The Hall of Fame serves as the centerpiece of the NFF's efforts to inspire future generations to greatness.
Air Force has four members of the CFB Hall of Fame, including Brock Strom (inducted in 1985), Chad Hennings (2006), Fisher DeBerry (2011) and Scott Thomas (2012).
The criteria for HOF eligibility follow: First and foremost, a player must have received First-Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise its consensus All-America teams.
• A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation's Honors Courts 10 full seasons after his final year of intercollegiate football played.
• While each nominee's football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man, with love of his country. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
• Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years*. For example, to be eligible for the 2027 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1977 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
• A coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head football coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .595 winning percentage.
• Nominations may only be submitted by the current athletics director, head coach or football communications director of a potential candidate's collegiate institution. Nominations also may be submitted by the president/executive director of a dues-paying chapter of the National Football Foundation. * Players who do not comply with the 50-year rule may still be eligible for consideration by the Football Bowl Subdivision and Divisional Veterans Committees. Veterans Committee candidates must still meet the First Team All-America requirement
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Hall of Fame, the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played. Learn more at footballfoundation.org and follow @NFFNetwork on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
McDonald was a 1992 unanimous first-team All-American and runner-up for the Thorpe Award. A two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-WAC selection, he twice led the conference in INTs (8—1992, 6—1991). McDonald was the Air Force Male Athlete of the Year in 1993. He set Air Force records for blocked kicks in a game (3 vs. Colorado State, 1990) and career (8). McDonald was inducted into the Air Force Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, the school's fourth class.
Induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame represents the pinnacle of achievement in college football. The Hall of Fame serves as the centerpiece of the NFF's efforts to inspire future generations to greatness.
Air Force has four members of the CFB Hall of Fame, including Brock Strom (inducted in 1985), Chad Hennings (2006), Fisher DeBerry (2011) and Scott Thomas (2012).
The criteria for HOF eligibility follow: First and foremost, a player must have received First-Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise its consensus All-America teams.
• A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation's Honors Courts 10 full seasons after his final year of intercollegiate football played.
• While each nominee's football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man, with love of his country. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
• Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years*. For example, to be eligible for the 2027 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1977 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
• A coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head football coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .595 winning percentage.
• Nominations may only be submitted by the current athletics director, head coach or football communications director of a potential candidate's collegiate institution. Nominations also may be submitted by the president/executive director of a dues-paying chapter of the National Football Foundation. * Players who do not comply with the 50-year rule may still be eligible for consideration by the Football Bowl Subdivision and Divisional Veterans Committees. Veterans Committee candidates must still meet the First Team All-America requirement
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Hall of Fame, the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played. Learn more at footballfoundation.org and follow @NFFNetwork on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
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