Player Profile

College: In selecting Terence Newman with the fifth overall choice in the 2003 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys snagged the Jim Thorpe Award winner for the second consecutive year and are assembling one of the most promising and talented young secondaries in professional football. Newman joins last year's Thorpe winner, Roy Williams, as cornerstones of a defensive backfield that should provide playmaking ability and production for the Cowboys for years to come. The most decorated defensive player in Kansas State history, Newman became the first Wildcat to win the prestigious Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back. As a senior, Newman was also a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award (given annually to college football's top defensive player), while garnering All-America honors as a cornerback and return specialist. He not only dominated on defense and special teams, but proved to be a valuable performer on offense for the Wildcats as well. An explosive return specialist, Newman became only the second player in school history to score a touchdown on a kickoff and punt return in the same season. In 48 collegiate games, he recorded 133 tackles with six stops behind the line of scrimmage, 10 interceptions, 32 pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles. His 10 interceptions tied for sixth on the school's career list. He also gained 834 yards with one touchdown on 32 kickoff returns (26.1 avg.) and another 417 yards with three touchdowns on 27 punt returns (15.4 avg.). Blessed with tremendous athletic ability, Newman has outstanding speed (4.37 40-yard dash), that translated into three varsity letters with the Wildcats' track team and two Big 12 Conference titles in the 100 meters (junior and senior seasons). Newman was also the Big 12 indoor champion in the 60 meters and finished fifth in that event at the NCAA Championships. Newman possesses exceptional quickness, explosiveness and balance that compliment his speed. He has tremendous ability to change directions and make-up ground with a superb burst to the ball. His above average leaping ability makes him a very solid man-to-man coverage player, but he has experience in working in zone coverages.

2002: A consensus All-America selection as a senior cornerback, Newman was also an honorable mention All-America kickoff returner. He became the first player in school history to win the Thorpe Award while also finishing as a finalist for the Nagurski Award. An All-Big 12 Conference first-team choice and Defensive Player of the Year, Newman started every game at strongside cornerback and registered 54 tackles with three stops for losses of five yards. He also intercepted five passes and deflected 14 others. He returned 13 kickoffs for 370 yards and a touchdown, and his 28.5-yard average ranked fourth on the school's single-season kickoff return list. He added 388 yards and a pair of scores on 26 punt returns. His 14.9-yard average ranks third on KSU's single-season list. When he wasn't shutting down opposing receivers or providing field position with his return skills, Newman posed a threat on offense as a wide receiver, catching four passes for 98 yards (24.5 average) and a touchdown, while adding 26 yards on a pair of rushing attempts. Newman opened his final campaign with four tackles and an interception against Western Kentucky. The following week against Louisiana-Monroe, he scored twice, returning a punt 40-yards for a touchdown and hauling in a 51-yard scoring pass. He also added an interception. One week later against Eastern Illinois, Newman returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, while also recording six tackles on defense. Newman had five tackles and forced a fumble against Southern Cal, and then set up a score with a 53-yard kickoff return at Colorado. He registered an interception against Texas, while returning two kickoffs for 55 yards. At Baylor, Newman picked off his fourth pass of the season and followed that with an eight tackle performance against Nebraska. He deflected four passes against Missouri, to go along with an interception and a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown. Newman closed out his collegiate career in the Holiday Bowl against Arizona State with a season-high 10 tackles and added three pass receptions for 47 yards on offense.

2001: A consensus All-Big 12 Conference second-team selection, Newman closed his junior season as a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. As one of eight Wildcats to start every game, he shared the team's Most Improved Defensive Player honors with Terry Pierce. Newman ranked fifth in the Big 12 and 16th in the nation in passes defensed with 19, and he ranked fifth on the team with 51 tackles. Newman earned Player of the Game honors against Southern California, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Louisiana Tech. He intercepted three passes and blocked two kicks while also recovering a fumble and causing another. He also averaged 23.4 yards on nine kickoff returns. Newman posted seven tackles against Southern Cal and had an even more impressive all-around day against Oklahoma, picking off two passes and defending a school-record seven more to go with six tackles. He blocked his first kick of the season at Texas Tech and tied a season-high with seven tackles and another blocked kick against Nebraska. He recorded his third interception of the season to go along with three passes defensed and five tackles against Missouri. On the track in the spring, Newman defended his Big 12 outdoor title in the 100 meters with a win at Missouri (10.34). He reached the NCAA semifinals in the 100, but did not make the finals. Along the way, he broke his own outdoor school record in the 100 meters with a clocking of 10.20 at the Jim Click Shootout. He also finished second in the 200 meters at the Big 12 meet with a time of 21.42. Newman collected his first All-America honor by finishing fifth in the 60 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championship with a time of 6.67 and was the Big 12 indoor champ at 60 meters, clocking a 6.65 in the finals after posting a school-record 6.62 in the prelims.

2000: As a sophomore, Newman played in every game with one start - against Louisiana Tech - as a nickel back. For the year, he recorded 20 tackles with a four-yard interception return and three pass deflections. He also returned three kickoffs for 44 yards. Newman intercepted his only pass of the year against Ball State while also batting away two others. Against Oklahoma, he returned a blocked punt 16 yards for a touchdown. On the track, Newman captured his first Big 12 outdoor title in the 100-meters, setting a school record with a 10.22 mark in qualifying. He represented the Wildcats at the 2001 NCAA Outdoor Nationals, reaching the semifinals in the 100 meters. During the indoor season, Newman set a pair of school records at the 2001 Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championships, clocking a 6.67 in the 60-meter semifinals and a 21.20 in the 200. He placed third in both the 60 and 200 for a Wildcats team that finished fourth. He finished 15th in the 60 meters at the NCAA Indoor Nationals.

1999: As a resdshirt freshman, Newman played in every game, recording eight tackles and one interception. He also returned seven kickoffs for 209 yards (29.9 average). His first career interception came against Missouri. In the spring, he finished third in the 60-meter dash (6.76) at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. He was also a member of the Wildcats' 4x100 relay team that placed fifth at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

1998: Newman redshirted during his true freshman season.

PERSONAL: Newman attended Central High School in Salina, Kan., where he was an All-Class 5A selection. Coming out of high school, he was listed as one of the top 20 recruits in the state of Kansas by First Down Recruiting. He lettered twice in football, three times in track, three times in basketball and once in baseball. As a senior, he had 10 receptions for 251 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver while recording 45 tackles, five interceptions and five deflected passes on the defensive side of the ball. He also returned 13 punts for 271 yards (20.9 avg.), including two for touchdowns. An outstanding track performer, Newman turned in times of 10.36 in the 100 meters and 21.6 in the 200 entering his senior season. The business major was involved with the "Breakfast Buddy" program in his hometown of Salina, which is similar to the nationwide Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.