CHARLOTTE — A pair of Panthers legends are being honored in this year's class of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Former linebacker Luke Kuechly and running back DeAngelo Williams were among the 18 players announced this week as part of the class.
They will be inducted at a ceremony in Las Vegas on Dec. 5 and will be enshrined at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
During his three years at Boston College (2009-11), Kuechly was a two-time All-American and won all the major defensive honors in 2011, taking home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Butkus Award, the Rotary Lombardi Award, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy after leading all collegiate football players in tackles (191).
He finished his college career with 532 tackles, which is the second-most in NCAA history.
After being picked ninth overall by the Panthers in 2012, he went on to win defensive rookie of the year and defensive player of the year honors (2013) and was named to seven Pro Bowl teams in eight seasons.
Williams led the Memphis Tigers to three straight bowl games for the first time in school history and re-wrote the record books while he was there, making him the first player from the school to reach the College Football Hall of Fame.
He was an All-American in 2005 when he averaged 178.55 rushing yards per game. He set an NCAA record with 34 games of 100-plus yards rushing and finished his career as the FBS record-holder in all-purpose yards with 7,573 (which is now fourth).
The Panthers' first-round pick in 2006, Williams earned a Pro Bowl honor, and led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2008. He's second on the Panthers' all-time rushing list with 6,846 yards, trailing only former teammate Jonathan Stewart (7,318).
They're the latest Panthers legends to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, after former linebacker Dan Morgan was named last year.
View photos of Luke Kuechly from his record-breaking eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly, top, celebrates after sacking Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, September 24, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Luke Kuechly returns an interception during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, November 26, 2017.
Luke Kuechly at the game against the Saints on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.
Luke Kuechly signals before the snap against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, November 18, 2018. The Carolina Panthers play against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 in Detroit, MI.
Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, December 23, 2018.
Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis talk during Panthers practice on Thursday, December 13, 2018.
Carolina Panthers linebackers Luke Kuechly (59) and Thomas Davis (58) look into the backfield during an NFL Super Bowl 50 football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 24-10. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly during team stretch before the game against Washington on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 at FedEx Field in Landover, MD.
Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during warm ups prior to Super Bowl 50 championship football game on Sunday, February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos won the game 24-10. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) celebrates after making a play during an NFL Super Bowl 50 football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 24-10. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) runs to sack Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) during Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers , Sunday, February 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, CA. The Broncos won 28-10. (Tom Hauck via AP)
Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) celebrates his sack of Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 24-10 to win Super Bowl 50. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Carolina Panthers celebrate after the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers won 49-15 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
