Ashland College/University football's only four-time All-American,
Vince Mazza, is on the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot, as revealed by the Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation (NFF) on Monday (June 1) morning.
A kicker-punter for the Eagles, Mazza, a 2005 inductee into the AU Hall of Fame, was a first-team Kodak All-American following his senior season. He also has the distinction of being Ashland's first Harlon Hill Trophy (NCAA Division II Player of the Year) candidate in 1986.
Mazza also was named All-Heartland Collegiate Conference four times, and earned the HCC's Most Valuable Player award in 1986, as he helped the Eagles to the program's first-ever Division II postseason appearance. Ashland was 26-14-1 (.646) in his four years as a starter, with a high-water mark of 9-2 in 1986.
His career punting average of 41.3 is fourth in Ashland football annals, and he still has Eagle records in career punts (243) and punting yards (10,043).
The 1987 Ashland College graduate went on to sign contracts in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers in 1987, the Atlanta Falcons in 1988, the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and the Miami Dolphins in 1990. He also was in camps with the World League of American Football's Orlando Thunder in 1991 and the Professional Spring Football League's Utah Pioneers in 1992.
Ashland football boasts a pair of College Football Hall of Famers – former defensive end
Bill Royce in the 2016 class, and former head coach
Dr. Fred Martinelli in the 2002 class.
According to an NFF press release, the announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future. The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2027 season.
