Fresno State Athletics
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Mankins, Neal named Modern-Era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026
9/24/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
CANTON, Ohio - Former Fresno State football standouts Logan Mankins (OL) and Lorenzo Neal (FB) have been unveiled as Modern-Era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The pair make their return to the ballot this year.
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Neal was a fourth round NFL Draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in the 1993 draft. He would go on to have a prolific professional career, having played 16 seasons in the NFL. Considered one of the best blocking fullbacks in NFL history, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-Pro honoree.
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Mankins was a first-round draft choice (32nd overall) by the New England Patriots out of Fresno State in the 2005 NFL Draft. He spent his first nine professional seasons with New England, going to a pair of Super Bowls, then was traded to Tampa Bay in 2014 where he played two more seasons. Mankins durability was one of his strongest traits, playing in 161 of a possible 176 games during his career. He was a seven time Pro-Bowl selection, and was a first team All-Pro in 2010, and second team All-Pro five times (2007, 2009, 2011-13).
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Mankins was a finalist for the 2025 New England Patriots Hall of Fame class. He was also named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.
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Both Bulldogs were also represented on the East-West Shrine Bowl All-Century team last December.
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The Bulldog duo are among 128 Modern-Era players as nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The roster of nominees consists of 77 offensive players, 42 defensive players and nine special teams players.
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In the next step in the selection process, a Screening Committee will reduce the list to 50 (plus ties, if any, for the 50th spot). The results of that reduction will be announced in mid-October.
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The full 50-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee then will reduce the list further – to 25 Semifinalists, later this fall. Another vote will create the list of 15 Modern-Era Player Finalists who will be discussed at the annual selection meeting ahead of Super Bowl LX. The Class of 2026 can consist of three, four or five Modern-Era Players under the Hall of Fame's bylaws.
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Neal was a fourth round NFL Draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in the 1993 draft. He would go on to have a prolific professional career, having played 16 seasons in the NFL. Considered one of the best blocking fullbacks in NFL history, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-Pro honoree.
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Mankins was a first-round draft choice (32nd overall) by the New England Patriots out of Fresno State in the 2005 NFL Draft. He spent his first nine professional seasons with New England, going to a pair of Super Bowls, then was traded to Tampa Bay in 2014 where he played two more seasons. Mankins durability was one of his strongest traits, playing in 161 of a possible 176 games during his career. He was a seven time Pro-Bowl selection, and was a first team All-Pro in 2010, and second team All-Pro five times (2007, 2009, 2011-13).
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Mankins was a finalist for the 2025 New England Patriots Hall of Fame class. He was also named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.
Â
Both Bulldogs were also represented on the East-West Shrine Bowl All-Century team last December.
Â
The Bulldog duo are among 128 Modern-Era players as nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The roster of nominees consists of 77 offensive players, 42 defensive players and nine special teams players.
Â
In the next step in the selection process, a Screening Committee will reduce the list to 50 (plus ties, if any, for the 50th spot). The results of that reduction will be announced in mid-October.
Â
The full 50-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee then will reduce the list further – to 25 Semifinalists, later this fall. Another vote will create the list of 15 Modern-Era Player Finalists who will be discussed at the annual selection meeting ahead of Super Bowl LX. The Class of 2026 can consist of three, four or five Modern-Era Players under the Hall of Fame's bylaws.
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