Jan. 11, 2013

UCLA's Jonathan Ogden, along with other first-year nominees Larry Allen, Warren Sapp and Michael Strahan, are among the 15 modern-era finalists who will be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when the Hall's Selection Committee meets next month in New Orleans.

The Class of 2013 will be determined at the Selection Committee's annual meeting on Saturday, Feb. 2, in New Orleans, La. the day before Super Bowl XLVII. The election results will be announced immediately afterward from the Super Bowl media headquarters.

To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committees 17 finalists for 2013: Larry Allen (G/T), Jerome Bettis (RB), Tim Brown (WR), Cris Carter (WR), Curley Culp (DT/G), Edward DeBartolo Jr. (owner), Kevin Greene (LB), Charles Haley (DE), Art Modell (owner), Jonathan Ogden (OT), Bill Parcells (coach), Andre Reed (WR), Dave Robinson (LB), Warren Sapp (DT), Will Shields (G), Michael Strahan (DE), Aeneas Williams (CB). The 15 modern-era finalists were chosen by the Hall's Selection Committee from a list of 127 nominees that earlier was reduced to a list of 27 semifinalists.

The Class of 2013 will be officially enshrined on Saturday, Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio as the main event of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Annual Enshrinement Festival Celebration. Additionally, a record number of Hall of Fame members are expected to return to Canton to take part in the annual Enshrinement Festival as a part of the Hall of Fame's special Golden Anniversary Reunion Celebration.

Ogden, the first-ever draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens, was selected with the fourth pick of the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played tackle for 12 seasons with Baltimore, from 1996-2007, and went on to appear in 11 straight Pro Bowls. In 2001, the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV against the N.Y. Giants.

In December of 2012, Ogden was the 14th Bruin to be selected for the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and the third chosen in the last five years. The list includes 10 other UCLA players (Randy Cross, 2010; Troy Aikman, 2008; Bill Kilmer, 1999; Jerry Robinson, 1996; Kenny Easley, 1991; Gary Beban, 1988; Al Sparlis, 1983; Tom Fears, 1976; Donn Moomaw, 1973; and Kenny Washington, 1956) and three coaches (Terry Donahue, 2000; Red Sanders, 1996 and Tommy Prothro, 1991).

Ogden was a four-year starter (41 career starts) at offensive tackle for UCLA in the 1992-95 seasons under Hall of Fame head coach Terry Donahue. He won the 1995 Outland Trophy, was runner-up for the Lombardi Award and earned consensus All-America honors that season. Ogden was selected All-Pac-10 Conference following the 1994 and 1995 campaigns and was awarded the Morris Trophy, as the conference's best offensive lineman in 1995. He helped the Bruins to a share of the Pac-10 title in 1993 and an appearance in the 1994 Rose Bowl. Ogden's #79 jersey was retired in February of 1997, the eighth player in school history to receive that honor. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.