SEC Football: Top 5 SEC Picks for the College Football Hall of Fame

The National Football Foundation (NFF) will announce the 2012 inductees to the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Of the 76 former players and eight coaches on the ballot, 14 players and three coaches will be named to the class of 2013. 

The SEC is well-represented on the ballot. Former SEC players include Charles Alexander of LSU; Alabama's Paul Crane, Bobby Humphrey and Derrick Thomas; Willie Gault, Bobby Majors and Paul Naumoff of Tennessee; Arkansas' Leotis Harris; South Carolina's Sterling Sharpe; Georgia's Matt Stinchcomb and Scott Woerner; Wesley Walls of Ole Miss; and former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel.

Philip Fulmer (Tennessee) and Jim Carlen (South Carolina) are the two SEC coaches on the ballot.

Who should make the cut? My top five options are in this slideshow.

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5. Charles Alexander, LSU RB (1975-78)

Alexander starred for the Tigers in the late '70s, earning First-Team All-American honors in 1977 and 1978.

A 1989 inductee into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame, Alexander set or tied 10 SEC records and 27 LSU records during his time in Baton Rouge, including the current Tiger record for single-season rushing yards per game with 153.3.

4. Sterling Sharpe, South Carolina WR (1984-1987)

Sharpe was voted as a First-Team All-American in 1987 and was recognized as a First-Team All-SEC player in 1986 and 1987. He is tied for the South Carolina record for consecutive 100-yard games (three) and ranks second all-time in career receiving yards with 2,497.

Sharpe was voted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.

3. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee Head Coach (1992-2008)

Fulmer led Tennessee to the 1998 national championship, two SEC titles (1997 and '98) and five appearances in the SEC Championship Game. He amassed a 152-52 record as Tennessee's head coach and is second behind Gen. Robert Neyland (173) in career wins as head coach.

He was named the national coach of the year by several outlets following Tennessee's national championship year in 1998.

2. Derrick Thomas, Alabama LB (1985-88)

Thomas was a star linebacker for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the mid-to-late '80s. He was a unanimous First-Team All-American in 1988 and was awarded the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation's top linebacker.

He set the NCAA record for sacks in a season in 1988 with 27 and owns the SEC's career sack record with 52.

1. Danny Wuerffel, Florida QB (1993-96)

Wuerffel's resume is so long, it's exhausting. He won the 1996 Heisman Trophy, 1996 Johnny Unitas Award, 1996 Maxwell Award, 1996 Walter Camp Award, 1996 Draddy Trophy and the 1995 and 1996 Davey O'Brien awards.

He was a two-time (1995 and 1996) First-Team All-American and All-SEC performer during his four years in Gainesville. He led the Gators to the 1996 national championship and four consecutive SEC Championship Games (1993-96).