Nine Former Cowboys Nominated for Legendary Honor
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Respect the star. That's the rule. Everyone learns it from the time they walk through the door to the time they travel through the exit. Ask Terrell Owens. He has drawn the adoration and disdain of the Dallas Cowboys faithful.
He was once knocked off the star by George Teague after some questionable decision-making. He was forgiven and returned years later to serve America's Team proudly, as he wore that same star for three seasons.
There's an old saying, 'Once a Raider, always a Raider.' There has never been a Dallas parallel, but the rules work similarly. Fans, media members, coaches, and players all take a gander from time to time to see what former Cowboys are doing.
They'll be pleased to see that nine former players are one step closer to the NCAA's version of immortality.
Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys.
Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys.Nine Former Dallas Cowboys Nominated for Induction Into the College Football Hall of Fame
Jot the names down if you haven't already. Wide receivers Dez Bryant and Randall Cobb were mentioned alongside some of the best football players to ever put in work at the NCAA level. They join seven other Cowboys who have recently been informed of another honor.
Per the National Football Foundation, former quarterback and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, quarterback Ryan Leaf, offensive lineman Flozell Adams, cornerback Terence Newman, defensive lineman Greg Ellis, and linebackers Ken Norton Jr. and Kevin Hardy have been nominated to potentially join the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class.
All are deserving, but it's likely that not all won't be named as finalists. While each resume speaks for itself, depending on who you are listening to or talking to, the most deserving members of the bunch may vary.
Moore was a two-time Quarterback of the Year and two-time First-Team All-American. Leaf was a First-team All-American and Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year who won the Sammy Baugh Trophy.
Adams, another First-team All-American (1997), won Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and First-team All-Big Ten honors in 1997. Terence Newman is a member of the Kansas State Wildcats Hall of Fame. He also earned the Jim Thorpe Award, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors, and a Unanimous All-American nod in 2002.
Greg Ellis was a Consensus All-American in 1997, a Third-Team All-American in 1996, and a three-time First-Team All-ACC from 1995–97. Norton, who sadly is the linebackers coach for the hated Washington Commanders now, won an AP National Championship as a coach and First-team All-American honors and a First-team All-Pac-10 nod during his final season in 1987.
That brings us to Kevin Hardy. He twice earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors (1994-95). He was also a Dick Butkus Award winner and Consensus All-American in 1995.
Dez Bryant and Randall Cobb both played one of the glamour positions, wide receiver. The former is a member of the 88 club along with Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin, and CeeDee Lamb.
Bryant cleaned up in 2008 by earning a Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year nod. He was also named First-Team All-Big 12 and a Consensus All-American. Cobb played one season in Dallas, but that was nine years after he won 2010 First-Team All-American honors and the second of two First-Team All-SEC nods.
As mentioned earlier, arguments can be made for adding each of these extraordinary talents to the list of college football's immortals. Voting ends on Monday, July 1. The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be announced in January 2026.
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