Taylor Stubblefield, Larry Burton Nominated for College Football Hall of Fame

Somewhere, Joe Tiller is smiling. One of his own is now up for the greatest honor he can receive at the college level. The ballot for the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame induction class was released today and former Boiler Taylor Stubblefied was one of 78 FBS level players that was on the list.

Stubblefield’s name is all over the record books at Purdue from 2001-04. He finished with 325 receptions for 3,629 yards and 21 touchdowns. He is currently the holder of the following Purdue records:

• Career Receptions: 325
• Single Season touchdowns: 16 (2004)

He twice had 16 receptions in a single game and he is second in career yardage behind John Standeford (3,788). he had more than 100 yards receiving in 11 games at Purdue. only Standeford (14) and Brian Alford (12) had more. At the time his career ended his 325 receptions was an NCAA career record that has since been passed thanks to some team playing as many as 15 games per season vs. the 12 that he often played. That mark is still 6th all-time and all five players above him played at least 2 more games, some as many as 7 more.

Also nominated from Purdue was wide receiver Larry Burton. Burton, who as drafted 7th overall in 1975 by the New Orleans Saints, played in an era when teams simply did not pass much. Against Wisconsin in 1974 he finished with 180 yards receiving. He led Purdue in receiving in both 173 and 1974 and was named an All-American in the Football Writers Association of America. This is the same organization that named Stubblefield and All-American in 2004. He was also an All-American according to the Sporting News.

Strangely enough, it is this distinction that will prevent Drew Brees from someday reaching the CFB Hall of Fame, as he was never named a First Team All-American. The same is true for Joe Montana.

More than 12,000 National Football Foundation members will vote, with he final class being revealed in early January.