Football: Three Panthers make College Football HOF ballot
For the second consecutive year, Pitt has three players eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame in defensive tackle AaronDonald, quarterback MattCavanaugh and running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward.
Donald, who played at Pitt from 2010-13, dominated at defensive tackle for the Panthers. His 2013 campaign was one of the most decorated ever by a defensive lineman, earning him the Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lombardi Award. He finished his career with 67 TFL, the most by any defensive tackle in the 2000s, and redefined what interior defensive line play could be.
Donald also excelled at the NFL level with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, making the Pro Bowl all 10 seasons he played, along with earning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards. He was also tabbed to the NFL All-2010s Decade Team. He retired following the 2023 season and will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in just four years.
Additionally, Donald will be formally enshrined in the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame this September as a member of the 2025 induction class.
Cavanaugh started for the Panthers from 1975-77, leading the program to three bowl victories and the 1976 National Championship. In 1977, as he completed 87-of-151 passes for 1,457 yards and 11 touchdowns to secure First Team All-America recognition. He was also the Sugar Bowl MVP in Pitt's win over Georgia, as well as in the Gator Bowl the following season.
Heyward played three seasons for Pitt from 1984-87. As a senior in 1987, he rushed 357 times for 1,791 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with catching 21 passes for 198 yards and a score. He earned consensus All-America honors, finished fifth in Heisman voting and his rushing yards total from that year ranks third in Pitt history. He finished his career with 3,086 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, ranking fifth and ninth in program history, respectively.
Heyward died in 2006 at the age of 39, and was the father of Pittsburgh Steelers players, Cameron and Connor Heyward.
The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future. The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2026 season.
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Pitt Athletics
5:51 pm - 06.02.2025OaklandFootball: Three Panthers make College Football HOF ballot
For the second consecutive year, Pitt has three players eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame in defensive tackle Aaron Donald, quarterback Matt Cavanaugh and running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward.
Donald, who played at Pitt from 2010-13, dominated at defensive tackle for the Panthers. His 2013 campaign was one of the most decorated ever by a defensive lineman, earning him the Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lombardi Award. He finished his career with 67 TFL, the most by any defensive tackle in the 2000s, and redefined what interior defensive line play could be.
Donald also excelled at the NFL level with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, making the Pro Bowl all 10 seasons he played, along with earning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards. He was also tabbed to the NFL All-2010s Decade Team. He retired following the 2023 season and will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in just four years.
Additionally, Donald will be formally enshrined in the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame this September as a member of the 2025 induction class.
Cavanaugh started for the Panthers from 1975-77, leading the program to three bowl victories and the 1976 National Championship. In 1977, as he completed 87-of-151 passes for 1,457 yards and 11 touchdowns to secure First Team All-America recognition. He was also the Sugar Bowl MVP in Pitt's win over Georgia, as well as in the Gator Bowl the following season.
Heyward played three seasons for Pitt from 1984-87. As a senior in 1987, he rushed 357 times for 1,791 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with catching 21 passes for 198 yards and a score. He earned consensus All-America honors, finished fifth in Heisman voting and his rushing yards total from that year ranks third in Pitt history. He finished his career with 3,086 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, ranking fifth and ninth in program history, respectively.
Heyward died in 2006 at the age of 39, and was the father of Pittsburgh Steelers players, Cameron and Connor Heyward.
The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future. The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2026 season.
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