Kellen Moore, Terence Newman among former Cowboys on College Football Hall of Fame 2025 ballot (2024)

Flozell “The Hotel” was a Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and led the Michigan State Spartans to three consecutive bowl appearances in the mid-1990s before being drafted in the second round by Dallas in 1998. In his 12 seasons as a Cowboy, the 6-foot-7-inch 338-pounder missed only 14 games. Though he’s often overlooked when naming off the organization’s greats, Adams made five Pro Bowls, making him one of the most decorated O-linemen in franchise history.

Any summary of Leaf’s short pro career will always contain the dreaded b-word, but the only thing he busted while at Washington State was school passing records. A Heisman finalist and the No. 2 overall draft pick in 1998, Leaf struggled mightily over his first three seasons with the Chargers. The Cowboys gave him a shot at a comeback in 2001 during the Quincy Carter era, but he appeared in just four games wearing the star, all losses.

The winningest starting quarterback in college football history enjoyed four 3,000-yard seasons with Boise State but went undrafted in 2012. After three seasons in Detroit, he was signed by Dallas as backup depth. He made just two starts under center for the Cowboys but became the team’s quarterbacks coach upon his retirement at age 30. Moore was promoted to offensive coordinator after one year and stayed on the job for four seasons; his innovative schemes helped Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, CeeDee Lamb, and others compile fantasy-worthy stats. He is currently the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

One of the greatest Kansas State Wildcats in program history, Newman won the Jim Thorpe Award and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2002. A few months later, Bill Parcells drafted him fifth overall and made him a Week 1 starter in the Cowboys secondary. The durable Newman played nine seasons in Dallas and totaled 32 interceptions before going on to again play under his defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer with both the Bengals and the Vikings.

The bruising Newsome finished his college career with 3,843 yards and the title of Winston-Salem State’s all-time leading rusher, but he also led the school to back-to-back undefeated seasons and CIAA titles in 1977 and 1978. A sixth-round pick by Dallas in 1980, Newsome was moved to fullback to block for Tony Dorsett. He would later serve alongside Dorsett and Herschel Walker in what Coach Tom Landry dubbed the Cowboys’ “Full House” backfield. He left the game with 3,192 combined rushing and receiving yards and 30 touchdowns.

The son of a former world heavyweight champion boxer, Norton was a second-round pick by Dallas in 1988 out of UCLA, where he took the Bruins to four straight bowl wins and still sits sixth on the school’s all-time tackles list. He was a key member of the first two Super Bowl wins of the Cowboys’ dynasty days, leading the defense in tackles both years. After six seasons in the silver and blue, Norton played seven more (and won another Super Bowl) for the 49ers. He transitioned to coaching in both the college and pro ranks, and in 2024 will be in his first year as the Commanders’ linebackers coach.

Smith was a two-time All-American who played on a pair of national championship teams with Miami and never once lost a conference game. A second-round pick by Dallas in 1993, he was named to the All-Rookie Team and hoisted a Lombardi Trophy in his first year, for Super Bowl XXVIII. He helped the Cowboys win another title in Super Bowl XXX before moving on to stints with Philadelphia, Seattle, and New Orleans.

The Mexican-born Zendejas ended his tenure at Arizona State as the NCAA’s all-time points leader and still maintains the top spot in Sun Devils career PAT percentage. He played briefly in the USFL and in camp with the Vikings before signing with Dallas in 1987 to replace Rafael Septién. He was on the Cowboys’ replacement team during that season’s strike, then released and brought back, and then released again. After a rough stint with Philadelphia, he returned to Dallas one more time in 1989 and was the central figure in the infamous “Bounty Bowl” between the Cowboys and Eagles on Thanksgiving Day of that year. (Click that link for the full story; it’s still a doozy, nearly 35 years later.)