Aberdeen Native Josh Heupel is on College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

A former South Dakota high school football player of the year is on College Football's Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.

Aberdeen native Josh Heupel joins Tony Romo, Julius Peppers, and nine others as first-timers to be considered for induction into the shrine.

The Class of 2020 will be announced before the College Football Playoff championship game, January 13, 2020.

Heupel, an Aberdeen native, starred for the Golden Eagles, capturing player of the year honors as a senior.

After stops at Weber State and Snow College in Utah, Heupel ended up at Oklahoma in 1999. With the Sooners, Heupel threw for 50 touchdowns in 24 games and as a senior led Oklahoma to a national championship.

After that season, Heupel won the AP Player of the Year and Walter Camp awards. He also finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting to Chris Weinke of Florida State.

After injuries derailed his NFL career as it was starting, Heupel pursued college coaching opportunities at Oklahoma, Arizona, Utah State, Missouri, and Central Florida.

Heupel became UCF's new head coach in 2018 after Scott Frost left for the Nebraska job.