Gates, who caught 116 touchdown passes in a 16-year career spent entirely with the Chargers, is elected alongside defensive end Jared Allen, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe and cornerback Eric Allen.

The 20th pick in the 1960 NFL Draft, Baughan played his first six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, spent the next five with the Los Angeles Rams and, after serving as the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, came back to play in two games as a player-coach for the Washington Redskins in 1974.

Sharpe has always been honored at South Carolina. One of the greatest wide receivers in Gamecock history, he finished his USC career in 1987 as the school’s all-time leading receiver after catching 169 balls for nearly 2,500 yards and 17 touchdowns.