Hokie ClubFormer Virginia Tech great Bruce Smith is among thefirst-year candidates for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, asannounced this week. Smith, who is the NFL’s all-time leader in sacks with 200,made his mark with the Buffalo Bills before finishing his career with theWashington Redskins.
Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates who will beannounced as semifinalists. The field will then be narrowed to 15 and then the classof inductees will be chosen at the selection committee's annual meeting on Jan.31, 2009, in Tampa, the day before the 2009 Super Bowl. There can be as few as four and as many asseven can be selected for enshrinement.
To be considered for Hall of Fame election, a nominatedplayer or coach must be retired for at least five years. Smith finished hiscareer in 2003.
Smith played at Tech from 1981-84, winning the OutlandTrophy as America’stop lineman his senior season. He was the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 1985NFL Draft by the Bills. As a Tech player, Smith had a career total of 71tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses totaling more than five timesthe length of a football field (504 yards) and had 46 career quarterback sacks.