IRVING, Texas-Monday, three former college football players with ties to Utah schools were named to the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. This announcement was made by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.

They are former Utah Utes, quarterback Alex Smith and safety Eric Weddle and former Dixie College (now Utah Tech) tailback Archie Amerson.

Smith was a 2004 first-team All-American for the Utes and led the program to its first undefeated season in school history as well as a 35-7 win over Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. This was the first time a school from a non-power conference played in a BCS bowl. Smith was also the 2004 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year.

Smith went on to star in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers (2005-2012), Kansas City Chiefs (2013-2017) and Washington Redskins (2018; 2020).

Weddle was a 2006 consensus first-team All-American for the Utes. He was one of Smith’s teammates in 2004 and was a two-time Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Weddle is the Utes’ career leader in forced fumbles (9) and second in career interceptions (18).

Weddle also went on to star in the NFL, playing for the San Diego Chargers (2007-2015), Baltimore Ravens (2016-2018) and Los Angeles Rams (2019; 2021), helping the Rams to their first Super Bowl title since the 1999 season.

Amerson starred for the Dixie College Rebels (1993-1994) before moving on to Northern Arizona University. In his senior season of 1996, Amerson was named as the 1996 NCAA I-AA Walter Payton Award recipient. This award is given to the top offensive player in what is now called the NCAA FCS annually.

Amerson led the Lumberjacks to their first NCAA I-AA playoff appearance.

He later went on to star in the Canadian Football League, playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1997-2000; 2001-2004) and Toronto Argonauts (2001).

Amerson won the Grey Cup (the CFL’s equivalent of the Super Bowl) in 1999 as Hamilton bested the Calgary Stampeders 32-21.