Smith one of 15 still up for NFL Hall of Fame consideration

Former Virginia Tech great Bruce Smith is among 15 finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, asannounced this Tuesday. 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 chose 25 candidates in October from an original list of 135 and the field was narrowed to 15 this week. The classof inductees will be chosen at the selection committee's annual meeting on Jan.31, 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.

Other notables in the final 15 are Chris Carter, Rodd Woodson and former Washington offensive lineman Russ Grimm, who is the father of rising Tech senior linebacker Cody Grimm, who had an interception in the Orange Bowl win over Cincinnati.