Written by Sarah Bergstrom, USC blog contributor
Former USC football quarterback Matt Leinart and defensive backs Mark Carrier and Dennis Thurman may soon join a prestigious group of college football's most accomplished individuals. On Tuesday, the trio were announced as candidates for the 2016 College Football Hall of Fame class which will be announced on January 8, 2016.
Carrier, a two-time All-American (1988-89) at USC, led the Pac-10 conference in interceptions and won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1989. Nicknamed "Aircraft", the safety is tied for sixth on USC's all-time career interceptions list (13) and was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
Named USC's sixth Heisman Trophy winner in 2004, Leinart had one of the most prolific careers under center of any Trojan in history. The quarterback was a three-time All-American and led USC to a 48-4 overall record in his four-year career. He was a member of USC's 2003 and 2004 national championship teams and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award after his senior season in 2005. Leinart set 16 school records, 11 Pac-10 records and two NCAA records including a staggering 1.85 interception percentage.
Thurman was a two-time All-American who led the Trojans to four consecutive postseason wins, including the 1974 National Championship at the Rose Bowl. USC took home two Pac-10 titles in his four-year career and the safety is tied for sixth (with Carrier) on USC's all-time career interceptions list (13).
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