Perhaps the greatest defensive back in Kansas State history may be headed for enshrinement.
Terence Newman, a K-State star cornerback with a 15-year NFL career, was named as one of 79 players on the 2026 ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame on Monday.
The announcement of the 2026 National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future.
A product of Salina, Newman was a four-year letter winner for K-State football and a three-time letter winner for K-State track and field from 1999 to 2002. Newman earned All-Big 12 honors in football twice (first team in 2002 and second team in 2001).
Newman was named a consensus All-American in 2002, winning the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top collegiate defensive back and also captured the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award.
On the track, Newman was a three-time All-American, the 2002 Big 12 Indoor Performer of the Year and three-time Big 12 Conference champion.
Newman was taken fifth overall in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
He played 15 years in the NFL, spending time with Dallas, Cincinnati and Minnesota.
Newman tallied 42 interceptions, 183 passes defended, 11 fumble recoveries and 879 combined tackles during his NFL career. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
Newman was inducted into the K-State Ring of Honor in 2008, the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, the Salina Central Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
During his time at Salina Central High School, Newman excelled in four sports: football, basketball, track and baseball.
He was an all-state selection in football in 1997 and a three-time state champion in track in 1998 in 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter.
There are seven current members of the College Football Hall of Fame with K-State ties, including Michael Bishop, Darren Sproles, Bill Snyder, Mark Simoneau, Gary Spani, Charles Bachman and Lynn Waldorf.
