Breaking News: Oklahoma Legend Rocky Calmus Becomes the Second Most Honored Member of 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class
In a major development that has Oklahoma fans beaming with pride, former Sooners linebacker Rocky Calmus has been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Even more impressively, Calmus has been named the second most honored inductee in this year’s class—an accolade that cements his place as one of the greatest defenders in the modern era of college football.
The National Football Foundation released its final rankings of honorees based on career accolades, statistical dominance, historical impact, and leadership. Calmus’ decorated resume vaulted him past several notable names, falling just behind the top inductee in overall honors for the Class of 2025.
For Oklahoma fans and college football historians, this recognition is more than just a long-overdue honor—it’s a moment of validation for one of the most iconic players to ever wear the crimson and cream.
A Hometown Hero Turned National Force
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Rocky Calmus was a prep football star at Jenks High School, where he helped turn the school into a powerhouse. His name became synonymous with toughness, grit, and football intelligence.
When Calmus committed to the University of Oklahoma in 1997, the program was in a period of transition. But under head coach Bob Stoops, who took over in 1999, Calmus became the heartbeat of a Sooners defense that would lead the team to a national championship in 2000.
By the time he left Norman, Calmus had transformed into a symbol of the program’s return to glory.
The Numbers and Honors That Tell the Story
Calmus’ accolades speak volumes. He was a two-time consensus All-American in 2000 and 2001, and he won the Butkus Award in 2001 as the nation’s top linebacker. He also finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting that year—a rare feat for a defensive player and an even rarer accomplishment for a linebacker.
Here’s a snapshot of what Rocky Calmus accomplished during his Oklahoma career:
- Butkus Award winner (2001)
- Two-time consensus All-American (2000, 2001)
- Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2000)
- Three-time First-Team All-Big 12
- Team captain of the 2000 National Championship team
- Over 400 career tackles
- 14 sacks and 5 interceptions
- Leader of a defense that finished No. 1 in the country in 2000
Few players in college football history can claim such a resume. Calmus was the complete package: a tenacious tackler, a vocal leader, a cerebral play-caller, and a relentless force sideline to sideline.
The 2000 Season: Legacy Sealed
While Calmus was outstanding throughout his entire college career, it was the 2000 season that etched his name into the annals of college football greatness.
That year, Oklahoma shocked the world by going 13-0 and winning the BCS National Championship, defeating No. 1 Florida State 13-2 in the Orange Bowl. The defense, led by Calmus, held a historically prolific Seminole offense without a touchdown.
Many remember the heroics of quarterback Josh Heupel, but insiders know that Calmus and the defense were the true MVPs of that season. Calmus led the team in tackles and was the emotional and strategic anchor of the unit.
Without his leadership and dominant play, Oklahoma’s storybook season might have had a different ending.
Reaction From the Sooner Community
The announcement that Calmus was not only inducted but ranked as the second most honored member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 sparked emotional reactions from across the Sooner family.
Bob Stoops, who coached Calmus during the program’s resurgence, issued a statement on Monday:
“Rocky was the kind of player you dream about as a coach. He was fearless, smart, and he made everyone around him better. I’ve said for years he was one of the most important pieces of our championship puzzle in 2000. This Hall of Fame honor—and the recognition that comes with it—is richly deserved.”
Josh Heupel, the quarterback of the 2000 team and now head coach at Tennessee, also offered praise:
“Rocky was the toughest guy on our team. You always felt like we had an edge when he was on the field. This is a day all Sooners should celebrate.”
Calmus Reflects on the Honor
Now 45 and retired from football, Rocky Calmus has largely lived out of the spotlight in recent years. But the news of his Hall of Fame induction brought him back into it—if only briefly.
In an interview with the National Football Foundation, Calmus expressed humility and appreciation.
“It’s a huge honor, man. You grow up in Oklahoma dreaming about playing at OU. To win a national title, wear that jersey, and now to be recognized like this—it’s overwhelming in the best way.”
When asked about being the second most honored inductee, Calmus laughed.
“I’ll take it. I wasn’t the fastest or flashiest guy, but I gave it everything I had. If people remember that, then I did my job.”
Who Was No. 1?
The only player ahead of Calmus in the 2025 class is former USC wide receiver Marqise Lee, who broke numerous Pac-12 records and won the Biletnikoff Award in 2012. While Lee was a dynamic force at his position, Calmus’ case as a top defensive player—and leader of a national championship defense—was arguably just as strong.
The fact that a linebacker, particularly one from the defensive-minded early 2000s era, finished so high in an era increasingly focused on offensive statistics, speaks volumes about Calmus’ impact.
The Defensive Standard
Oklahoma has had its share of offensive stars over the years—Heisman winners, prolific passers, and electric runners. But in terms of defense, few stand as tall as Rocky Calmus.
He helped redefine what a modern linebacker could be. He had old-school toughness but new-school versatility. He could cover, blitz, tackle, and lead.
In many ways, he was ahead of his time.
Players like Kenneth Murray, Curtis Lofton, and Eric Striker have all pointed to Calmus as a standard-bearer for defensive excellence at Oklahoma.
And now, with his Hall of Fame enshrinement, that legacy becomes even more permanent.
Hall of Fame Ceremony and Next Steps
The College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be formally inducted during a ceremony in Las Vegas this December. Calmus will be joined by 18 other players and four coaches in what’s considered one of the most competitive and talent-rich classes in recent memory.
The induction will include a video retrospective, speeches from fellow honorees, and appearances by former coaches and teammates. Expect a strong Oklahoma presence—both from alumni and fans.
The university is also expected to honor Calmus during a home game this fall, likely during a marquee Big 12 matchup in Norman.
A Symbol of the Sooner Standard
Rocky Calmus’ story is the kind that resonates. A homegrown kid. A three-star recruit. A program leader. A national champion. A college football icon.
But more than anything, Calmus was a cornerstone of the culture shift that brought Oklahoma football back to national relevance at the turn of the millennium.
That legacy—fueled by sweat, pain, film study, and leadership—is what fans remember most.
In 2025, as the College Football Hall of Fame opens its doors a little wider, it also reaffirms what many in Norman have known for years: Rocky Calmus is one of the greatest to ever do it.
And now, the rest of the country knows it too.
Sidebar: Other Notable Inductees in the 2025 Class
While Calmus was ranked second in honors, here’s a look at some of the other big names joining him in the 2025 class:
- Marqise Lee (USC) – Biletnikoff winner, Pac-12 record holder.
- Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) – Two-time Biletnikoff winner.
- Luke Kuechly (Boston College) – All-American, Butkus and Lombardi Award winner.
- Montee Ball (Wisconsin) – NCAA record holder for rushing touchdowns.
- Coach Chris Petersen – Led Boise State and Washington to national prominence.
