USC football legend Carson Palmer voted into CFB Hall of Fame

Carson Palmer is officially USC football's 45th representative in the College Football Hall of Fame.

The Trojan quarterback is one of 13 new members of the Hall of Fame announced on Monday.

Palmer joins teammate Troy Polamalu, who was voted in the class of 2019. Palmer's successor Matt Leinart was put in with the class of 2017.

Next, eyes will turn to Reggie Bush, whose status as a Hall of Fame candidate is complicated by his history with NCAA infractions. He deserves the status regardless just based on his otherwordly performance in college.

Carson Palmer was a shoo-in as a Hall of Fame candidate

Palmer was an obvious choice for the Hall of Fame. He was a four-year starter for USC and became the Trojans first Heisman Trophy winner at the quarterback position in 2002.

When he left the Trojans and became the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, Palmer owned 33 Pac-10 and USC records. He still ranks second in career passing, having been surpassed by Matt Barkley.

His best season was in 2002 when he led the Trojans to an Orange Bowl triumph over Iowa. He put up 3,942 yards and 33 touchdowns. These days we're used to seeing quarterbacks with such numbers, but at the time they were USC records by some margin. That 2002 season is still second in Trojan history in terms of completions.

The other members of this year's Hall of Fame class include Notre Dame OT Aaron Taylor, Arizona State DB David Fulcher, North Carolina OT Harris Barton, Miami LB Dan Morgan, Eastern Illinois QB Tony Romo, Texas DT Kenneth Sims, Clemson RB C.J. Spiller, Kansas State RB Darren Sproles, Iowa DE Andre Tippett and Tennessee LB Al Wilson.

Coaches Rudy Hubbard from Florida A&M and Bob Stoops from Oklahoma were also added.