Photo Gallery: Sweet 16 Cowboys Style 

Alabama – One of the greatest defensive players in team history – Lee Roy Jordan – was a star linebacker at Alabama and became a Ring of Honor member for the Cowboys. In recent years, Amari Cooper and Trevon Diggs have both had stellar seasons, including Diggs, who had 11 interceptions in 2021, tying a franchise record.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Alabama is the No. 2 seed in the East Region and plays No. 6 BYU on Thursday.

Arizona – The Cowboys haven't made a habit of drafting many kickers, but they found a good one in Nick Folk, picked in the sixth round in 2007. Folk was one of 13 Pro Bowlers for that Cowboys that year. He's now played 17 seasons in the league for five different teams.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Arizona is the No. 4 seed in the East Region and plays No. 1 Duke on Thursday.

Arkansas – The obvious tie here is Jerry Jones, the team owner/GM who was an All-conference guard for Arkansas on their 1964 national championship team. But this list is for the best players, and their hasn't been an abundance of Hogs that starred for the Cowboys. Lance Alworth (center) is in the Hall of Fame and spent two years in Dallas in the 70s. Ken Hamlin (26) was a Pro Bowl safety in 2007 and Darren McFadden, arguably one of the best college players ever at Arkansas, rushed for 1,089 yards in 2015 for the Cowboys despite starting just 10 games.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Arkansas is the No. 10 seed in the West Region and plays No. 3 Texas Tech on Thursday.

Auburn – Drafted in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Jay Ratliff nearly got moved to tight end by Bill Parcells, who was looking for the best place to utilize this undersized, yet strong and tenacious defender. Ratliff ended up as a nose tackle for the Cowboys and made four Pro Bowls.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Auburn is the No. 1 seed in the South Region and plays No. 5 Michigan on Friday.

BYU – Just a few of the Cougars have lined up for the Cowboys over the years. Lineman Glen Titensor was arguably the best, playing seven years in the NFL – all with the Cowboys from 1981-88 with 46 career starts.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, BYU is the No. 6 seed in the East Region and plays No. 2 Alabama on Thursday.

Duke – Long before his broadcasting career took off which includes his popular social media clips "Baldy's Breakdowns," Baldinger played 11 years in the NFL – his first five with the Cowboys (1982-87).

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Duke is the No. 1 seed in the East Region and plays No. 4 Arizona on Thursday.

Florida – Who else? Emmitt Smith went to Florida. He's one of the greatest players in NFL history and the all-time leading rusher.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Florida is the No. 1 seed in the West Region and plays No. 4 Maryland on Thursday.

Houston – Two players who did the dirty work on both sides of the field were former Houston Cougars. Robert Newhouse played 12 seasons as a fullback but had various roles. He also threw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl XII. Eugene Lockhart has the Cowboys' single-season record for tackles with 222 in 1989.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Houston is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and plays No. 4 Purdue on Friday.

Kentucky – While he played just one of his 13 pro seasons in Dallas, Cobb had a productive year in 2019 with 828 receiving yards – the fourth-most of his career.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Kentucky is the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region and plays No. 2 Tennessee on Friday.

Maryland – Randy White – the Manster. The No. 2 overall pick in 1975, White was initially a linebacker and didn't have an immediate impact for the Doomsday Defense. But once he found a home at defensive tackle, he became a Hall of Fame player and one of the greatest players in Cowboys history.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Maryland is the No. 4 seed in the West Region and plays No. 1 Florida on Thursday.

Michigan State – Whether it's great NFL players who had a short stint with the Cowboys, or long-time veterans who were Pro Bowl-caliber starters, Michigan State has provided the franchise with some great ones. Flozell Adams and Billy Joe DuPree might be considered the best "Cowboys" from Michigan State, although Herb Adderley is a Hall of Famer, but spent most of his career with the Packers. Dave Manders was a center for the Cowboys for nearly a decade in the 60s and 70s.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Michigan State is the No. 2 seed in the South Region and plays No. 6 Ole Miss on Friday.

Michigan – The Cowboys have had a few Wolverines over the years, but the best one is arguably one that just left the team. Jourdan Lewis had a stellar career in Dallas, which ended last month when he signed with the Jaguars in free agency. Lewis, drafted in 2017 in the third round, became one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Michigan is the No. 5 seed in the South Region and plays No. 1 Auburn on Friday.

Ole Miss – The Cowboys haven't had many players from the University of Mississippi, but current pass-rusher Sam Williams (54) is the highest Ole Miss player drafted by Dallas. The second-round pick in 2022 is looking to have a big year coming off a season-ending injury last season. Jeremy Parnell (78) was actually a basketball player at Ole Miss and developed into a starting offensive tackle.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Ole Miss is the No. 6 seed in the South Region and plays No. 2 Michigan State on Friday.

Purdue – Anthony Spencer was a first-round pick in 2007 and developed into a Pro Bowl player that also received the franchise tag twice (2012, 2013). Anthony Brown was a sixth-round pick in 2016 and became a starter over the years, getting great value for his draft position.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Purude is the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region and plays No. 1 Houston on Friday.

Tennessee – Jason Witten is one of the greatest Cowboys ever, holding team records for catches (1,215), receiving yards (12,977) and games played (155). But we can't forget some other fan favorites in Bill Bates – one of the best special teams players of all time, and Alvin Harper, who had critical plays during the Cowboys' first two Super Bowl wins of the 1990's.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Tennessee is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region and plays No. 3 Kentucky on Friday.

Texas Tech – Terence Steele has been a fixture in the Cowboys' offense since 2020. He was an undrafted free agent who managed to make the roster and start in Week 1, despite not playing any preseason games due to COVID-19. Steele has the most starts for the Cowboys among all Red Raiders, but Zach Thomas did recently make the Hall of Fame, although he played just one of his pro seasons (2008) in Dallas, starring mostly for the Dolphins.

*** In the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Texas Tech is the No. 3 seed in the West Region and plays No. 10 Arkansas on Thursday.