Trio Of Tide Legends To Be Inducted Into Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Three former University of Alabama standouts — football All-Americans John Copeland and Evan Mathis and men’s basketball star Ray Odums — have been selected for induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

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The trio is among eight members who will be enshrined during an induction ceremony in May.

John Copeland

Copeland was a dominant defensive presence during his two years in Tuscaloosa and a key contributor to Alabama’s 1992 national championship run.

He helped lead the Crimson Tide to a 34–13 win over Miami in the Sugar Bowl, securing the program’s 12th national title and first since 1979.

Copeland was a consensus All-American in 1992 and earned All-SEC honors in both of his seasons — First Team in 1992 and Second Team in 1991. He was selected fifth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1993 NFL Draft, one of the highest-drafted defensive players in program history at the time.

He played eight seasons in the NFL, appearing in 107 games with 102 starts and totaling 263 tackles and 24 sacks.

Evan Mathis

Mathis anchored Alabama’s offensive line for four seasons and started 47 consecutive games, establishing himself as one of the most reliable linemen of the early 2000s. He earned First Team All-SEC recognition as a senior in 2004.

Mathis was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and went on to a 12-year NFL career. A three-time All-Pro honoree, he earned First Team All-Pro distinction in 2013 and Second Team accolades in 2012 and 2014.

He was a key member of the Denver Broncos’ offensive line during their 2015 championship season, helping the team win Super Bowl 50.

Ray Odums

Odums was a standout guard under legendary head coach C.M. Newton and played a pivotal role in one of the most significant eras in Alabama basketball history.

He made history on Dec. 28, 1973, when he joined Leon Douglas, Charles “Boonie” Russell, Charles Cleveland and T.R. Dunn to form the first all-Black starting lineup in SEC men’s basketball history.

Odums also helped lead Alabama to the 1974 SEC regular-season title, finishing 22–4 overall and 13–3 in conference play. He was a three-time All-SEC selection from 1972–74, ranking 48th on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,112 points) and eighth in career assists (399). His 177 assists in 1972–73 remain ninth-most in a single season at Alabama.

A rare two-sport athlete, Odums also played football at the Capstone for coach Paul W. "Bear" Bryant.

After college, he played 10 seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), earning All-CFL honors as a defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders from 1980–82, before finishing his career in the United State Football League (USFL)

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