BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Three former Alabama standouts were announced as a part of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the organization announced Monday. Football All-Americans John Copeland and Evan Mathis, along with men’s basketball star Ray Odums, were part of the eight members who will be inducted next May.

John Copeland 

Alabama Football 

1991-1992

• A dominant defensive player throughout his time with the Crimson Tide
• Key member of the 1992 National Championship team, helping Alabama defeat the Miami Hurricanes, 34-13, in the Sugar Bowl and secure the program’s 12^th national title overall and first since ’79
• Named a consensus All-American during his senior season in 1992
• All-SEC honoree in both years with the Crimson Tide – First Team All-SEC in 1992 and Second Team All-SEC in 1991
• Selected fifth overall in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, becoming one of the highest drafted defensive players in Alabama history at the time
• Totaled an eight-year NFL career, serving as a consistent presence on the Bengals’ defensive front
• Appeared in 107 games (102 starts), totaling 263 tackles and 24 sacks during his NFL career

Evan Mathis 

Alabama Football

2000-04

• Anchored Alabama’s offensive line for four seasons from 2000-04
• Started 47 consecutive games for the Crimson Tide, demonstrating durability and dependability throughout his collegiate career
• Earned First Team All-SEC honors as a senior in 2004
• Selected in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft (No. 79 overall) by the Carolina Panthers
• Had a 12-year NFL career playing for multiple organizations
• A three-time NFL All-Pro honoree who was selected to the First Team in 2013 along with Second Team accolades in 2012 and 2014
• Key player on Denver Broncos’ offensive line during their championship season in 2015, helping the team win Super Bowl L 

Ray Odums 

Alabama Men’s Basketball

1971-1974

• Standout guard for the Crimson Tide under head coach C.M. Newton, contributing to one of the most transformative eras in Alabama basketball annals
• Made history on December 28, 1973, a part of a historic starting five for Alabama alongside teammates Leon Douglas, Charles “Boonie” Russell, Charles Cleveland, T. R. Dunn, to make the first all-black starting lineup in SEC history
• Helped lead Alabama to an SEC regular season championship in 1974 with a 22-4 overall record and a 13-3 mark in the SEC play
• A three-time All-SEC selection from 1972-74
• Ranks 48th on Alabama’s all-time scoring list with 1,112 career points 
• Ranks eighth on Alabama’s all-time assist list with 399 dimes for his career, including dishing out 177 assists during the 1972-73 season, which ranks ninth-most in a single season in school history
• A multi-sport athlete at Alabama, playing football and basketball
• After graduation from the Capstone, Odums went on to play 10 seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) before finishing his playing career in the USFL 
• He earned All-CFL honors at defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders in three consecutive seasons (1980-82)