Three-time All-American first team quarterback Matt Leinart, USC’s 2004 Heisman Trophy winner who led the Trojans to a pair of national championships, has been named to the 13-member 2017 College Football Hall of Fame Class.
He is the 43rd inductee with USC ties, including 32 players, in the College Football Hall of Fame. A Trojan has been elected into the Hall in 12 of the past 18 years.
Leinart will be inducted at a Dec. 5 dinner in New York City.
His 2017 classmates include 9 other players – Notre Dame linebacker Bob Crable, San Diego State running back Marshall Faulk, Michigan State wide receiver Kirk Gibson, Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, Texas offensive tackle Bob McKay, Texas A&M linebacker Dat Nguyen, Georgia Southern running back Adrian Peterson, Boston College nose guard Mike Ruth and New Mexico defensive back Brian Urlacher – along with 3 coaches: Danny Ford of Clemson and Arkansas, Larry Kehres of Mount Union and Steve Spurrier of Duke, Florida and South Carolina.