Casillas Elected to College Football Hall of Fame

Former Oklahoma All-American defensive lineman Tony Casillas has been elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Jon F. Hanson, Chairman of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame today announced the 2004 College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A Class.

Casillas, the 21st Sooner to be enshrined, was a consensus All-American in 1984 and 1985 and was the winner of the Lombardi Award in 1985.

As much as offenses tried, Casillas could not be avoided. Looming in the middle of a talented Oklahoma defensive line, Tony Casillas punished opposition prompting head coach and Hall of Famer Barry Switzer to call him “perhaps the greatest Sooner defensive lineman ever.”

Tony Casillas O-Zone Video | Sooner All-Americans

A two-time consensus First Team All-America selection, Casillas became only the second Sooner ever to win the Lombardi Award (1985), which is given to the nation's top lineman. Named UPI National Lineman of the Year and BIG-8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Casillas helped lead Oklahoma to their first National Championship in 10 years in 1985. A two-time First Team All-Conference performer, he amassed 18 career sacks and 213 career tackles.

A stellar student in the classroom as well, Casillas graduated with a degree in public relations and earned Academic All-Conference honors in 1985.

Named College Defensive Player of the Decade for the 1980s, Casillas was selected second overall in the 1986 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Twice named an All-Pro, he played 13 seasons in the NFL with four different teams and won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.

Since retiring from the NFL, Casillas has embarked on a lucrative business career as president of T.C. Oil and Gas Company.

Related Links:
Complete 2004 Class | College Football Hall of Fame

AP Release:
Former Oklahoma defensive standout Tony Casillas and 13 others were named Tuesday to the 2004 College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A induction class.

He is joined by former coaches George Welsh of Navy and LaVell Edwards of BYU; Penn State star Lydell Mitchell, punter Ray Guy of Southern Mississippi, defensive back Jack Tatum of Ohio State, running back Bob P. Anderson of Army and linebacker Frank Emanuel of Tennessee.

Also chosen were guard-linebacker Wayne Harris of Arkansas, quarterback Joe Kapp of California, tight end James Mandich of Michigan, quarterback Andre Ware of Houston, defensive tackle Tracy Rocker of Auburn and tight end Charles Young of Southern California.

The group will be inducted during an awards dinner in New York on Dec. 7, and will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind., during ceremonies in August 2005.

Casillas, who played middle guard from 1982 to 1985, helped lead the Sooners to their first national championship in 10 years in 1985, the same year he became the second OU player ever to win the Lombardi Award.

He was a two-time consensus First Team All-America selection and was named UPI National Lineman of the year and Big Eight Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Former OU coach and Hall of Famer Barry Switzer called him ``perhaps the greatest Sooner defensive lineman ever.''

Casillas was named College Defensive Player of the Decade for the 1980s, and was second overall in the 1986 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

He played 13 seasons in the NFL on four teams and won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.

Casillas is president of T.C. Oil and Gas Co.