FRISCO, Texas – Former Cowboys Dennis Thurman and Darrin Smith were named to the 2025 National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame Class.
Thurman played multiple spots in the secondary for Dallas from 1978 to 1985, where he recorded 36 career interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries over the course of his career. Thurman is tied for the franchise record in interceptions in a single game with three in a regular season game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. His 187 interception return yards that season are the second most in franchise history. With the dynamic play in the secondary led by Thurman, quarterback Danny White coined the nickname "Thurman's Thieves" for the Cowboys secondary, which combined for 33 interceptions in 1985.
Smith played linebacker for the Cowboys for the first four seasons of his NFL career from 1993-96, recording 287 tackles and two interceptions in that time span. Smith won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys in 1993 and 1995.
In his collegiate days, Thurman was recruited as a safety at the University of Southern California, where he played from 1974-77. Thurman was a consensus All-American in 1976 and a unanimous All American in 1977 capping off a legendary career for the Trojans, where he finished sixth in school history with 13 career interceptions. The Cowboys would go on to draft Thurman with the 306th overall pick in the 11th round of the 1978 NFL draft.
Championship pedigree was already a part of Smith's career, winning two national championships at the University of Miami in 1989 and 1991. He would go to finish with 401 career tackles, fourth in school history, and earned second-team All-American honors twice along with being a Butkus award semifinalist. In 2006, he was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
Following the conclusion of Thurman's playing career, he decided to get into coaching. From 1993-2000, he returned to his alma mater as defensive backs coach, aiding the development of several future NFL players, most notably Troy Polamalu. Since, he's coached for the Baltimore Ravens, served as the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator, and currently is the DC/cornerbacks coach at the University of Hawaii.
The full 2025 National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame Class is as follows:
Players:
- Montee Ball, RB (2009-12) – University of Wisconsin
- Gregg Carr, LB (1981-84) – Auburn University
- Blake Elliott, WR (2000-03) – Saint John's University (MN)
- Greg Eslinger, C (2002-05) – University of Minnesota
- Terry Hanratty, QB (1966-68) – University of Notre Dame
- Graham Harrell, QB (2005-08) – Texas Tech University
- John Henderson, DT (1999-2001) – University of Tennessee
- Michael Huff, DB (2002-05) – University of Texas
- Jim Kleinsasser, TE (1995-98) – University of North Dakota
- Alex Mack, OL (2005-08) – University of California
- Terrence Metcalf, OL (1997, 1999-2001) – University of Mississippi
- Haloti Ngata, DT (2002, 2004-05) – University of Oregon
- Steve Slaton, RB (2005-07) – West Virginia University
- Darrin Smith, LB (1989-92) – University of Miami
- Michael Strahan, DL (1989-92) – Texas Southern University
- Dennis Thurman, DB (1974-77) – University of Southern California
- Michael Vick, QB (1999-2000) – Virginia Tech
- Ryan Yarborough, WR (1990-93) – University of Wyoming
Coaches:
- Larry Blakeney – 178-113-1 (61.1%): Troy University (1991-2014)
- Larry Korver – 212-77-6 (72.9%): Northwestern College [IA] (1967-94)
- Urban Meyer – 187-32-0 (85.4%): Bowling Green State University (2001-02): University of Utah (2003-04); University of Florida (2005-10); Ohio State University (2012-18)
- Nick Saban – 292-71-1 (80.4%): University of Toledo (1990); Michigan State University (1995-99); LSU (2000-04); University of Alabama (2007-23)
