Scott Woerner, a star defensive back on Georgia’s 1980 national championship team, has been selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Woerner is among 14 former players in the Hall of Fame’s 2016 induction class announced today by the National Football Foundation. Two former coaches also were named to the Hall of Fame, which is located in downtown Atlanta.
Woerner, who played at Georgia from 1977-80, will be the 13th former UGA player inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In a statement congratulating Woerner on his selection, long-time former Georgia coach Vince Dooley lauded the former defensive back and kick returner.
“On our undefeated national championship team of 1980, he was to our defense and kicking game what Herschel Walker was to our offense that year,” Dooley said.
“Scott was one of the most versatile players I ever coached,” Dooley continued. “He almost beat Clemson singlehandedly that year with a 67-yard (touchdown) punt return and a 98-yard interception return that led to the only other touchdown scored that day. His secondary play in the national championship game against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl was one of the greatest performances I have ever seen.”
Woerner was a consensus first-team All-America selection in 1980,
For his UGA career, he had 147 tackles, 13 interceptions and 1,077 punt-return yards. He still holds UGA’s single-season record for most punt-return yards (488) and the school single-game record most kickoff-return yards (190 vs. Kentucky in 1977).
2016 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
Players:
Marlin Briscoe, QB, Nebraska Omaha (1964-67)
Derrick Brooks, LB, Florida State (1991-94)
Tom Cousineau, LB, Ohio State (1975-78)
Randall Cunningham, P/QB, UNLV (1982-84)
Troy Davis, TB, Iowa State (1994-96)
William Fuller, DT, North Carolina (1981-83)
Bert Jones, QB, LSU (1970-72)
Tim Krumrie, DL, Wisconsin (1979-82)
Pat McInally, TE, Harvard (1972-74)
Herb Orvis, DE, Colorado (1969-71)
Bill Royce, LB, Ashland (Ohio) (1990-93)
Mike Utley, OG, Washington State (1985-88)
Scott Woerner, DB, DB, Georgia (1977-80)
Rod Woodson, DB, Purdue (1983-86)
Coaches:
Bill Bowes, 175-106-5 (62.1%); New Hampshire (1972-98)
Frank Girardi, 257-97-5 (72.3%); Lycoming (Pa.) (1972-2007)
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