CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch has been placed on the ballot for selection to the Class of 2020 for the College Football Hall of Fame.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, Couch joined the Browns after a standout career for the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
During his three seasons with the Wildcats, Couch completed 795 of his 1,184 yards (67.1 percent) for 8,435 yards and 74 touchdowns against 35 interceptions while matching up against stout competition from other Southeastern Conference teams.
Couch was a consensus first-team All-American in 1998 and twice finished in the top 10 in voting for the Heisman Trophy, including a fourth-place showing in 1998. Couch earned the 1998 SEC Player of the Year award after leading the Wildcats to their first win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in 75 years.
While in the blue and white, Couch set seven NCAA, 14 SEC and 26 University of Kentucky records.
In five years with the Browns, Couch completed 1,025 of his 1,714 attempts (59.8 percent) for 11,131 yards and 64 touchdowns against 67 interceptions, all while being sacked 166 times for 1,119 lost yards behind a patchwork offensive line during the first five years of the expansion era.
Couch was sacked an NFL-high 56 times as a rookie in 1999, and in 2001, endured another 51 sacks.
Couch was not the only player with Northeast Ohio connections selected to the ballot.
Former Ohio State Buckeyes captain/linebacker James Laurinaitis, running back Keith Byars and offensive tackle Chris Ward, as well as University of Mount Union quarterback Bill Borchert are being considered for induction.
Laurinaitis was a three-time first-team All-American linebacker for the Buckeyes, earning consensus status in 2006 and 2008, and was a unanimous selection in 2007. Laurinaitis was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and led Ohio State to two national championship game appearances, as well as four conference titles.
Laurinaitis was the winner of the 2006 Bronko Nagurski, 2007 Dick Butkus and 2008 Ronnie Lott awards, given annually to the best defensive player in the country, best linebacker in college football and players who make an impact on and off the field, respectively.
Laurinaitis registered 375 total tackles, including 159 solo stops, with 13 sacks and nine interceptions during his four years with the Buckeyes and played eight NFL seasons after being selected by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
During his career with the Buckeyes, Byars rushed for 3,200 yards and totaled 4,369 all-purpose yards. Byars was a unanimous first-team All-American and the Heisman Trophy runner-up after leading the country with 1,764 rushing yards, 2,441 all-purpose yards and 144 points during the 1984 season.
Byars was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and the 1984 Big Ten Most Valuable Player.
Ward was a two-time first-team All-American (1976, 1977) and three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. He helped the Buckeyes to at least a share of four Big Ten championships and blocked for running back Archie Griffin’s second Heisman Trophy-winning year.
Borchert led the Mount Union Purple Raiders to back-to-back NCAA Division III national championships in 1996 and 1997 and was a two-time first-team All-American quarterback. The Division III Player of the Year in 1997, Borchert set several NCAA, Ohio Athletic Conference and Mount Union records, some of which still stand.
Borchert threw for 14,482 yards during his Mount Union career.
