Oklahoma State University Athletics
Russell Okung Included on College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
June 01, 2026 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Former Oklahoma State offensive lineman Russell Okung has been added to the ballot for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced Monday.
Okung is one of 80 players from the FBS included on the ballot for the 2027 class.
A four-year letterwinner on the Cowboy football team from 2006-09, Okung's career makes a strong case for him as the best offensive lineman in OSU history. As a senior in 2009 he was a unanimous first team All-America selection, the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, the Jim Parker Trophy winner, a finalist for the Outland Trophy and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award. He was a first team All-Big 12 honoree in both 2008 and 2009.
Okung started 47 consecutive games for OSU and paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his four seasons. Twice in his career he faced an NCAA sacks leader and held him without a sack, shutting down both Greg Middleton and Von Miller.
The Cowboys went to four bowls during his time in Stillwater and finished 2008 with a final AP ranking of No. 16.
Following his outstanding OSU career, Okung was the first selection of the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He went on to play in the NFL for 11 years and had stints with Seahawks from 2010-15, Denver in 2016, the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-19 and Carolina in 2020.
He was a Pro Bowl selection in both 2012 and 2017, a Super Bowl champion in the 2013-14 season and a team captain on each NFL team he played for. He started and played 131 NFL games in his NFL career. For his character both on and off the field, Okung was named the 2015 Seattle Seahawks Man of the Year and received the NFL's Ed Block Courage Award for 2014.
Outside of his playing career, Okung is the founder of the Greater Foundation, a non-profit organization that serves at-risk youth by providing opportunities in the field of technology. He also served as Vice President of the NFL Players Association and now teaches economic literacy through bitcoin education. He was famously paid in bitcoin during part of his NFL career. Okung has also focused on education and economic empowerment in Africa, with his work so far centered in Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot was emailed to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current NFF Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class. Individuals can cast a vote this year by becoming an NFF member.
The announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future.
The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2027 season.
Of the 5.86 million individuals who have played college football since Princeton first battled Rutgers on Nov. 6, 1869, only 1,129 players have earned induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, or less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of those who have played the game during the past 157 seasons. From the coaching ranks, 241 individuals have achieved NFF Hall of Fame distinction.
Okung is one of 80 players from the FBS included on the ballot for the 2027 class.
A four-year letterwinner on the Cowboy football team from 2006-09, Okung's career makes a strong case for him as the best offensive lineman in OSU history. As a senior in 2009 he was a unanimous first team All-America selection, the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, the Jim Parker Trophy winner, a finalist for the Outland Trophy and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award. He was a first team All-Big 12 honoree in both 2008 and 2009.
Okung started 47 consecutive games for OSU and paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his four seasons. Twice in his career he faced an NCAA sacks leader and held him without a sack, shutting down both Greg Middleton and Von Miller.
The Cowboys went to four bowls during his time in Stillwater and finished 2008 with a final AP ranking of No. 16.
Following his outstanding OSU career, Okung was the first selection of the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He went on to play in the NFL for 11 years and had stints with Seahawks from 2010-15, Denver in 2016, the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-19 and Carolina in 2020.
He was a Pro Bowl selection in both 2012 and 2017, a Super Bowl champion in the 2013-14 season and a team captain on each NFL team he played for. He started and played 131 NFL games in his NFL career. For his character both on and off the field, Okung was named the 2015 Seattle Seahawks Man of the Year and received the NFL's Ed Block Courage Award for 2014.
Outside of his playing career, Okung is the founder of the Greater Foundation, a non-profit organization that serves at-risk youth by providing opportunities in the field of technology. He also served as Vice President of the NFL Players Association and now teaches economic literacy through bitcoin education. He was famously paid in bitcoin during part of his NFL career. Okung has also focused on education and economic empowerment in Africa, with his work so far centered in Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot was emailed to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current NFF Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class. Individuals can cast a vote this year by becoming an NFF member.
The announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future.
The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2027 season.
Of the 5.86 million individuals who have played college football since Princeton first battled Rutgers on Nov. 6, 1869, only 1,129 players have earned induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, or less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of those who have played the game during the past 157 seasons. From the coaching ranks, 241 individuals have achieved NFF Hall of Fame distinction.
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