On Monday, the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was announced, and two former Virginia Tech players were on the ballot. This was the first time one of the players was on the ballot, while the other’s name is on the ballot again.
Former Hokies center Jim Pyne was on the ballot for the first time but had a stellar career in Blacksburg, becoming the school’s first unanimous All-American in 1993. He was also a Lombardi and Outland Trophy finalist that season and was a three-time Big East Conference All-Star. A native of Milford, Massachusetts, Pyne appeared in 42 games and played 2,700 snaps at Virginia Tech, allowing just one sack.
After graduating from Virginia Tech, he spent seven years in the NFL, playing three seasons as a left guard with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two years as a left guard and center with the Cleveland Browns, and one year as a center with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. He played 81 games in the NFL during his career and was selected in the seventh round by Tampa Bay in the 1994 draft.
Vick was back on the ballot after a stellar career at Virginia Tech. He led the Hokies to the 1999 BCS Championship Game against Florida State, losing 46-29. In 1999, when the school was in the Big East, he passed for 1,840 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 585 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the Hokies to an 11-0 regular season record, leading the conference with an average of 248 yards per game. A year later, he passed for 1,234 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 617 yards and eight touchdowns.
He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Both players are Hall of Fame worthy.
