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Top 10 first-time eligible candidates for the Hall of Fame in 2021

By Russell S. Baxter

INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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These star players will be on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.

Back in early February, Clark Judge of SI.com’s Hall of Fame Network took a look at the top first-time eligible candidates (listed alphabetically) for each of the next five classes for the Pro Football Hall of Fame starting in 2021. It’s safe to say that the vast majority of names he complied are enclosed in this piece.

So here’s a ranking of sorts when it comes to the next group looking to be enshrined in Canton. Next year, there will be quite the celebration considering the 2020 ceremonies and the Hall of Fame Game were rescheduled for August of ’21. The small city in Ohio will have quite the extra boost in population that weekend as both the 2020 and 2021 classes will be enshrined.

And while the subject of the latter is on tap…

10. Charles Tillman, CB, Chicago Bears

Not only did he possess the gift of grab, but Chicago Bears/Carolina Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman made an art form out of stripping the football from ball carriers, wide receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks.

A second-round pick from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2003, the opportunistic defender spent 12 years in the Windy City before finishing his career in Charlotte. He would play in 12 games for Ron Rivera’s Super Bowl 50-bound team in in 2015 but suffered a knee injury in Week 17 that year and missed the postseason.

A total of 12 campaigns with the Bears added up to 36 interceptions – eight of those thefts returned for scores. There were also an astounding 133 passes defensed, 42 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries, one of those taken back for a touchdown. In his only year with the Panthers, Tillman played in 12 games, picked off two passes, forced two more fumbles (1 recovery) and totaled seven passes defensed.

The two-time Pro Bowler also earned All-Pro honors in 2012 when he returned all three of his interceptions for TDs, scooped up a pair of fumbles, finished with 16 passes defensed and an impressive 10 forced fumbles.

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