Bruschi can become fourth Arizona player in College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday

Tedy Bruschi is nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame and New England Patriots Hall of Fame

Tedy Bruschi, one of the standouts of Arizona’s Desert Swarm defense in the early 1990s, can become the fourth former Wildcat to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame tomorrow morning.

Reports Monday indicated that former Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde and Nebraska quarterback Tommy Frazier are two of the 12 players who will be part of the 2013 Hall of Fame class. Two coaches will also be inducted. The inductions will be announced during a news conference at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

Bruschi is one of 77 players, including Testaverde and Frazier, who are nominated. This is the fourth consecutive year Bruschi is on the ballot.

The Wildcats have three Hall of Fame players — nose tackle Rob Waldrop (inducted in 2011), safety Chuck Cecil (2009) and linebacker Ricky Hunley (1988).

Bruschi, a defensive end at Arizona, was a three-time first-team All-Pac-10 player. He earned second-team All-America honors in 1993, was a consensus All-American in 1994 and a unanimous All-American in 1995. Bruschi and the late Derrick Thomas, a former Alabama linebacker also on the ballot, share the NCAA record for sacks with 52.

Bruschi can enter two hall of fames in one year. He is also nominated for the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.

During his 13-year NFL career as a linebacker with New England, Bruschi won three Super Bowl titles, eight division championships and earned two All-Pro selections and one Pro Bowl appearance.

A stroke survivor, Bruschi is an inspirational figure in Tucson and the Boston area. He was overlooked as a recruit out of high school by major programs before signing with former UA coach Dick Tomey. He is now one of ESPN’s top NFL analysts.

WILDABOUTAZCATS.net publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes blogs for Lindy’s College Sports, TucsonCitizen.com and Sports Illustrated-sponsored site ZonaZealots.com.

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