Patrick Surtain II was the second Defensive Back taken in the 2021 Draft (9th Overall and the second DB behind Jaycee Horn), and the Denver Broncos grabbed the exact stud they needed for their secondary.

An All-Rookie in 2022, Surtain’s star rose as expected as a sophomore, where his physical stature, high gridiron IQ, and lockdown style made him a First Team All-Pro.  A Pro Bowl Selection that year, Surtain II repeated the feat in 2023. The following season, he was not only the top Defensive Back in the game but also regarded as the best defensive player in football, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Entering his fifth NFL season, Surtain should again rise on this list and help the Broncos reach the Playoffs.

Regular visitors to Notinhalloffame.com are aware that we are gradually compiling the top 50 lists for every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Once that is done, we will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives.   Eventually, this will extend to the college ranks.  As such, it is important to us that the University of Illinois has announced 11 new members to their Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on October 10, and the class will be honored the following day during the Fighting Illini’s home game against Ohio State.

The new inductees are:

Aspen Burkett Miles, Women’s Track & Field, 1995-98.  Burkett was a seven-time All-American (four relays and three individual), won seven Big Ten Championships, and played a big part in Illinois’ Big Ten 1995 Indoor and 1995 & 1996 Outdoor Championships. 

Mike Durkin, Men’s Track & Field, 1972-75.  A five-time All-American and nine-time Big Ten Champion, Durkin excelled in middle distances, winning most of his titles in the Mile or 1,000m distances.

Jane Fauntz Manske, Women’s Swimming and Diving 1930-34.  In 1928, Fauntz Manske set World Records in the 100-yard and 100-meter breaststroke, and the year after won the National 100-meter breaststroke and 100-meter springboard Championship.  She also competed for the United States in the 1928 and 1932 Olympics.

Kiwane Garris, Men’s Basketball, 1994-97.  Garris was a two-time First Team All-Big-10 Selection whose 1,948 Points are second all-time in Illini history.  He played pro for Orlando and Denver. 

Theresa Grentz, Women’s Basketball Coach, 1996-2007.  Grentz had a record of 210-156 and brought the Illini their only Women’s Big 10 Title.  She also took the Illini to two Sweet Sixteens.  Grentz is already a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Meredith Hackett Kindt, Softball, 2009-12.  During Hackett’s time in Illinois, the school had a 45-8 record, while she boasted a stellar .616 Slugging Percentage. 

Benita Kelly Babridge, Women’s Track & Field, 1995-98.  Kelly earned eight All-America honors and the Big 10 100m and 200m titles in 1998.

Kurt Kittner, Football, 1998-2001.  Kittner took the Illini to the Sugar Bowl in 2001, and threw 8,722 Yards and 70 Touchdowns for the school.  He later played three years in the NFL.

Joe Rutgens, Football, 1958-60.  Playing at Defensive Tackle, Rutgens was a First Team All-American in 1960.  He later played a decade for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection.

Scott Spezio, Baseball, 1991-93.  An All-American in 1993, Spezio holds the school record for Home Runs (48).  Spezio later played 12 years in the Majors, winning two World Series rings: one with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the other with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gene Vance, Men’s Basketball/Athletic Director, 1942-43, 1947 & 1967-72.  Vance helped Illinois win the 1942 and 1943 Big Ten Titles while securing First Team All-American honors in both of those years.  He would play professionally for five years, first with the Chicago Stags and then with the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the incoming members of the University of Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually.  As such, we are delighted to present our post-2024 revision of our top 50 Dallas Cowboys.

As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Cowboys dealt with injuries to major players and slumped to a 7-10 record.  Nevertheless, there was a new entrant, and a few elevations on the Top 50.

As always, we present our top five, which remain unchanged.

1. Emmitt Smith
2. Bob Lilly
3. Roger Staubach
4. Randy White
5. Mel Renfro

You can find the entire list here.

Of note, Offensive Guard Zack Martin, who retired after the season, was unable to move up beyond #10.

Quarterback Dak Prescott remained at #29.

Wide Receiver CeeDee Lamb makes his debut on the list at #41.

DeMarcus Lawrence moved up one spot to #47.

Micah Parsons moved up two spots to #50.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

A consensus All-American at the University of Oklahoma, Lamb was a First Round pick in 2020 (19th Overall) by the Dallas Cowboys, where, as of this writing, he has been the primary weapon of Quarterback Dak Prescott.

Lamb had a good rookie year with 935 Yards, but ascended the WR ladder with four consecutive Pro Bowls, which included a league-leading 135 Receptions in 2023, where he was also a First Team All-Pro and third-place finisher in Offensive Player of the Year voting.

Moving into 2025, Lamb’s complete game as one of the game’s top Wide Receivers is in his prime.  Could we see a potential top-ten Cowboy?