There was a time when Deon Figures was the best defensive back in college football.
The Colorado legend is now officially considered among the greats to ever play the sport.
On Monday, Figures was named to the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2024 class, as announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Hall of Fame.
The 2024 class includes 19 players and three coaches. Figures will be the 11th person from CU to be in the Hall, including 10 players and legendary coach Bill McCartney.
“This really means a lot, to be a member of the College Football Hall of Fame,” Figures, who turns 54 on Wednesday, said in a press release from CU. “I must have done a little something on the field. I chose football over basketball; I guess I made the right the choice.
“This is cool, right here, I’m digging it. And it’s really special right before my birthday.”
Figures was an integral part of CU’s lone national championship in 1990, recording a career-high 85 tackles as a sophomore. But, his senior season, in 1992, is when he stood out the most.
In 1992, Figures won the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in the country, while also earning consensus All-American honors. He was also named the Big 8 Conference defensive player of the year that season, recording 38 tackles, six interceptions and eight pass breakups.
During his career at CU (1988-92), he posted 176 tackles, 12 interceptions and 27 pass breakups. He was second-team all-conference as a junior in 1991 and was inducted into CU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
In addition to starring at cornerback, Figures returned punts as a senior, ranking 20th nationally with an average of 11.4 yards per return. He still holds CU single-game records for punt returns and yards, with 10 returns for 167 yards against Kansas State in 1992.
As a sophomore, Figures had two monumental interceptions that helped CU win the national title. He picked off a pass in the end zone in the final minute to seal a 20-14 against Washington. Then, in a 10-9 victory against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, Figures intercepted a pass with eight seconds left and ran out the clock to secure the title.
Following his CU career, Figures was a first-round draft choice of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers (23rd overall) in 1993. He played 93 games in the NFL with the Steelers (1993-96) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1997-98).
Figures was on the regional ballot for the Hall of Fame in 2023, but this was his first year on the national ballot. Running back Eric Bieniemy and linebacker Matt Russell were also on the national ballot this year.
Figures becomes the fourth player from the McCartney era (1982-94) to be enshrined, joining Alfred Williams (inducted in 2010), Michael Westbrook (2020) and Rashaan Salaam (2022). McCartney went into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
“Those guys right there are unique players, legends, and I’m humbled but proud to be a part of that group,” Figures said.
Other former Buffs in the Hall of Fame include: Byron White (1952), Joe Romig (1984), Dick Anderson (1993), Bobby Anderson (2006), John Wooten (2012) and Herb Orvis (2016).
“Deon was the best corner/defensive back that we ever recruited,” said CU athletic director Rick George, who helped Figures when he was McCartney’s recruiting coordinator. “He was long, had great speed and was an outstanding lockdown cover guy. He is very deserving of being our next Buffalo to be selected for induction into the College Hall of Fame.”
The 2024 class will be officially inducted during the NFF annual awards dinner on Dec. 10 in Las Vegas. Inductees will also be honored by their respective schools during the 2024 season.
The other 18 players in the 2024 class include: Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), Paul Cameron (UCLA), Tim Couch (Kentucky), Warrick Dunn (Florida State), Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State), Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Dan Hampton (Arkansas), Steve Hutchinson (Michigan), Antonio Langham (Alabama), Randy Moss (Marshall), Julius Peppers (North Carolina), Paul Posluszny (Penn State), Dewey Selmon (Oklahoma), Alex Smith (Utah), Kevin Smith (Texas A&M), Chris Ward (Ohio State) and Danny Woodhead (Chadron State).
The three coaches being inducted: Mark Dantonio (Cincinnati and Michigan State), Danny Hale (West Chester and Bloomsburg) and Frank Solich (Nebraska and Ohio).
