Terence Newman changed K-State forever. Now he’s up for the game’s ultimate honor

Terence Newman, one of Kansas State’s most decorated defensive backs, has taken a major step toward immortality — earning a spot on the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

Newman, one of the most electrifying defensive backs in Big 12 history, is the lone K-State representative up for induction this year. Voting runs through July 1.

A Salina, Kansas native, Newman was a unanimous AP All-American in 2002 and took home both the Jim Thorpe Award and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Known for his elite speed, shutdown coverage, and playmaking ability, he was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and a game-breaker on special teams. That same season, he led the conference in kickoff return average (28.5 yards) and became just the second player in school history to return both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns.

At 5-foot-10 and 189 pounds, Newman finished his senior year with 54 tackles, five interceptions, and 14 pass breakups. He was just as explosive on the track, winning the Big 12 Indoor title in the 60-meter dash with a 6.65 in the finals after clocking a school-record 6.62 in the prelims. He also finished second in the 200 meters with an NCAA provisional time of 21.42.

Newman helped guide the Wildcats to three 11-win seasons during his time in Manhattan and was inducted into the Kansas State Hall of Fame in 2018.

In 2003, the Dallas Cowboys made Newman the No. 5 overall pick in the NFL Draft — the highest selection in school history. He went on to play 15 seasons in the league with the Cowboys, Bengals, and Vikings, earning two Pro Bowl nods and reportedly making over $61 million in career earnings, according to The Sporting News.

If elected, Newman would join an elite group of K-State legends already enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame — a list that includes names like Michael Bishop, Darren Sproles, and coaching icon Bill Snyder.