10 with ties to state nominated for Hall

Former University of Texas linemen Dan Neil and Kenneth Sims, former Texas A&M kicker Tony Franklin and former Texas Tech running back Byron Hanspard are among the nominees eligible for selection to the College Football Hall of Fame.

The four former Texas college players are among 78 players and seven coaches from Football Bowl Subdivision schools and 99 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks eligible for selection in the annual voting sponsored by the National Football Foundation.

Eight to 10 FBS players and one to two candidates from the other categories will be selected for induction in December into the

Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Neil was a two-time AllAmerican offensive lineman and Sims, a defensive end, won the 1981 Lombardi Trophy. Franklin was a two-time All-American kicker for the Aggies in the 1970s, and Hanspard was the 1996 Doak Walker Award winner at Tech.

Former Texas high school players on the ballot also include quarterback Michael Bishop of Kansas State (Willis) and Penn State guard Steve Wisniewski of Penn State (Spring Westfield).

Other prominent names on the ballot include Georgia defensive back Champ Bailey, Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey, LSU running back Kevin Faulk, California tight end Tony Gonzalez, Arkansas defensive lineman Dan Hampton, Michigan offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson, Miami linebacker Ray Lewis, Miami linebacker Dan Morgan, USC quarterback Carson Palmer, North Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers, Notre Dame offensive tackle Aaron Taylor and Oklahoma defensive back Roy Williams.

Offensive tackle Bruce Collie of Texas-Arlington is among the divisional candidates along with quarterback Tony Romo of Eastern Illinois.

Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and former Texas Tech coaches Jim Carlen and Pete Cawthon are among the FBS coaching candidates. Steve Mohr of Trinity in San Antonio is among the divisional coaching candidates.