The College Football Hall of Fame has revealed its Class of 2025, and two former Cowboys are set to be enshrined among the game’s elite.
Linebacker Darrin Smith and defensive back Dennis Thurman will be inducted later this year at an event in Las Vegas alongside fellow selections that include Michael Vick, Michael Strahan, Nick Saban, and Urban Meyer.
Both were among the most dominant Cowboys defenders of their respective eras, but both left an indelible impression on the college gridiron before ever donning the star.
A Miami native who stayed at home to play his college ball for the Hurricanes. Smith helped anchor the defense of two national title teams, the first coming as a redshirt freshman under head coach Jimmy Johnson. He went on to finish his career as the fourth-leading tackler in program history.
Smith was a second-round draft pick of Johnson’s Cowboys in 1993 and stayed for four seasons, winning two Super Bowl rings in the process. He went on to stints with the Eagles, Seahawks, and Saints before his 12-year NFL career ended after the 2004 season. He is believed to be the only player ever to have won two college championships and two Super Bowls.
Jan 30, 1994; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Buffalo Bills Running Back #34 THURMAN THOMAS is stopped by Dallas Cowboys Linebacker #59 DARRIN SMITH during Super Bowl XXVIII at the Georgia Dome. The Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports © Copyright 1994 USA TODAY Sports
Thurman played collegiately at Southern California and was part of the Trojans’ national championship squad of 1974 under head coach John Robinson. A prolific award-winner, Thurman was a four-time bowl winner while at USC.
Thurman was selected by the Cowboys in the 11th round of the 1978 draft. Originally thought to be too small to play professionally, Thurman went on to eight years in Dallas (and one final season for the Cardinals) and never missed a single game. He logged 35 interceptions over his Cowboys career and was the namesake member of “Thurman’s Thieves,” the nickname given to the opportunistic Dallas secondary of 1985.
Jan 16, 1983; Irving, TX, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys defensive back Dennis Thurman (32) scores a touchdown after an interception against the Green Bay Packers during the 1982 NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Texas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY NETWORK
When DaRon Bland set the pick-six record in 2023 with his fifth, Thurman was one of two men- along with Dexter Coakley- who had held the previous franchise career mark of four. But Thurman’s shining moment, arguably, came when he recovered an onside kick as a rookie in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XIII, helping the Cowboys put up two touchdowns in the final 2:27 of play in a furious rally against the Steelers that ultimately fell short.
After his pro career ended, Thurman went into coaching and spent time at both the NFL and college levels. He recently coached under Deion Sanders at both Jackson State and Colorado.
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Only 0.02% of college football players and coaches end up being enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, which is located in downtown Atlanta.
Among the notables with Cowboys connections who were on the Hall of Fame ballot but did not make it this time around were Flozell Adams, Kellen Moore, and Terence Newman.
