Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Beasley, Carlen Remain on College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
June 02, 2025 01:39 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University consensus All-American cornerback Aaron Beasley and former coach Jim Carlen remain on the ballot for this year's College Football Hall of Fame released by the National Football Foundation (NFF) earlier today.
Beasley, from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, led the nation with 10 interceptions in 1994 before earning consensus All-America honors in 1995.
He was a two-time First Team All-Big East choice who helped the Mountaineers to an undefeated regular season and a 1993 Big East title as a sophomore. His 19 career interceptions for 367 yards rank second in school history as do his 38 career pass breakups.
Beasley picked off a career-high three passes against Virginia Tech on Sept. 22, 1994, and broke up a career-best four passes in a 24-13 win over Temple on Sept. 9, 1995.
He played nine NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons and was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Carlen, a Cookeville, Tennessee, native, coached 16 college football seasons at West Virginia, Texas Tech and South Carolina from 1966-81. His first four years at WVU from 1966-69 were transformational for a struggling Mountaineer grid program.
His final season at West Virginia in 1969 saw the Mountaineers win 10 games, defeat South Carolina in the Peach Bowl and return to the national rankings for the first time in 14 years. He had winning seasons in three of his four years at West Virginia and finished with a 25-13-1 record.
The Georgia Tech graduate had winning campaigns in four out of the five seasons he coached at Texas Tech and led the Red Raiders to two Sun Bowls, one Gator Bowl and a Peach Bowl from 1970-74. Carlen's best team at Tech in 1973 posted an 11-1 record, defeated 19th-ranked Arizona during the regular season, topped 14th-ranked Tennessee 28-19 in the Peach Bowl and ended the year ranked 11th in the country.
The following year, Carlen's team upset sixth-ranked Texas 26-3 and tied Vanderbilt 6-6 in the Peach Bowl.
Afterward, Carlen left Texas Tech for South Carolina where he revitalized the Gamecock program. Carlen had 8-4 seasons in 1979 and '80 and coached Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers while he was there.
In his final campaign at South Carolina in 1981, his team upset third-ranked North Carolina and finished the year 6-6. He had 13 winning seasons out of 16 and owns a 107-69-6 career record with eight bowl appearances.
Carlen died July 22, 2012 in Hilton Head, South Carolina, at age 79.
A total of 79 players and nine coaches are on this year's ballot from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches are represented from the divisional ranks.
The ballot was mailed today to more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, chaired by NFF board member and College Football Hall of Famer Archie Griffin.
The Honors Court is comprised of athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and media members. The announcement of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2025, with specific details to be announced by the NFF in the future.
Fourteen former players and coaches associated with West Virginia University are currently in the College Football Hall of Fame. The most recent inductee was All-American running back Steve Slaton, who will be officially enshrined this year.
Beasley, from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, led the nation with 10 interceptions in 1994 before earning consensus All-America honors in 1995.
He was a two-time First Team All-Big East choice who helped the Mountaineers to an undefeated regular season and a 1993 Big East title as a sophomore. His 19 career interceptions for 367 yards rank second in school history as do his 38 career pass breakups.
Beasley picked off a career-high three passes against Virginia Tech on Sept. 22, 1994, and broke up a career-best four passes in a 24-13 win over Temple on Sept. 9, 1995.
He played nine NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons and was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Carlen, a Cookeville, Tennessee, native, coached 16 college football seasons at West Virginia, Texas Tech and South Carolina from 1966-81. His first four years at WVU from 1966-69 were transformational for a struggling Mountaineer grid program.His final season at West Virginia in 1969 saw the Mountaineers win 10 games, defeat South Carolina in the Peach Bowl and return to the national rankings for the first time in 14 years. He had winning seasons in three of his four years at West Virginia and finished with a 25-13-1 record.
The Georgia Tech graduate had winning campaigns in four out of the five seasons he coached at Texas Tech and led the Red Raiders to two Sun Bowls, one Gator Bowl and a Peach Bowl from 1970-74. Carlen's best team at Tech in 1973 posted an 11-1 record, defeated 19th-ranked Arizona during the regular season, topped 14th-ranked Tennessee 28-19 in the Peach Bowl and ended the year ranked 11th in the country.
The following year, Carlen's team upset sixth-ranked Texas 26-3 and tied Vanderbilt 6-6 in the Peach Bowl.
Afterward, Carlen left Texas Tech for South Carolina where he revitalized the Gamecock program. Carlen had 8-4 seasons in 1979 and '80 and coached Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers while he was there.
In his final campaign at South Carolina in 1981, his team upset third-ranked North Carolina and finished the year 6-6. He had 13 winning seasons out of 16 and owns a 107-69-6 career record with eight bowl appearances.
Carlen died July 22, 2012 in Hilton Head, South Carolina, at age 79.
A total of 79 players and nine coaches are on this year's ballot from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches are represented from the divisional ranks.
The ballot was mailed today to more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, chaired by NFF board member and College Football Hall of Famer Archie Griffin.
The Honors Court is comprised of athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and media members. The announcement of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2025, with specific details to be announced by the NFF in the future.
Fourteen former players and coaches associated with West Virginia University are currently in the College Football Hall of Fame. The most recent inductee was All-American running back Steve Slaton, who will be officially enshrined this year.
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