Does Terence Newman Earn A Spot On Kansas State Mount Rushmore?

Former Kansas State Wildcats All-American is set to receive honor for his legendary football-playing career. 

This weekend, he is set to enter the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place during Saturday's game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. 

Newman, who played at Salina Central (Kan.) High School, starred for the Wildcats from 1998-2002. During his time at K-State, he won the Jim Thorpe Award, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and All-American. 

The question is this: where does he rank on the K-State all-time great list? Is he a member of the prestigious Mount Rushmore in Manhattan? 

Let's get this out of the way right now. The other three presumed locks are running back Darren Sproles, quarterback Michael Bishop and quarterback/current coach Collin Klein. 

That leaves only one spot left for Newman to claim. 

Here's the case for Newman: Not only did he have a standout career with the Wildcats, he also excelled in the NFL. He was drafted No. 5 by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2003 draft. That was the start of a decorated 15-year career that included stops with the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings before his playing days ended in 2017. 

He finished with 876 tackles, 42 interceptions and five touchdowns despite being on the defensive side of the ball. He was also named All-Pro twice in his career. That should be enough to earn Newman the final nod, right? 

There are a few more players who are deserving of that spot as well. Here's a look at some of them: 

Linebacker Mark Simoneau -- From 1996-99, he was among the most dominant players in all of college football. He, too, was a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

Receiver Tyler Lockett -- He is one of the most electrifying players in school history. From 2011-14, he set the K-State record for receptions and yards. He was a key member of the 2012 team that lost to the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl. 

There are plenty of others deserving of the honor, including quarterback Lynn Dickey, linebacker Gary Spani and receiver Jordy Nelson. 

Still, it's going to be tough to knock Newman off this list because of what he accomplished in college and the NFL. 

What are your thoughts? Join the discussion by dropping a comment below.