He set NCAA, Boise State records. Did Kellen Moore make College Football Hall of Fame?
One of the most successful quarterbacks in the history of college football did not make it into the sport’s Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was not announced as a member of the 2022 class on Monday. Moore, who has been the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator since 2019, made it on the ballot in his first year of eligibility, but he didn’t make the final cut despite a record-setting playing career.
Moore still holds program records at Boise State for career touchdown passes (142), passing yards (14,667), completions (1,157) and attempts (1,658), and his 50 career victories are the most by any quarterback in NCAA history. He ranks No. 2 in NCAA history in career touchdown passes, behind former Houston quarterback Case Keenum.
The native of Prosser, Washington, lost just three games as Boise State’s starting quarterback from 2008 to 2011. He’s the only player in school history to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and earn three conference player of the year awards.
He would have been the third former Boise State player enshrined in a national hall of fame. Defensive lineman Randy Trautman became the first Bronco to make the College Football Hall of Fame, getting elected in 1999. Dave Wilcox, who played offensive and defensive line at Boise State in 1960-61, when it was still a junior college, is the only former Bronco in the NFL Hall of Fame.
Moore, 33, checked all the boxes in terms of eligibility for the hall. He was named an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, which is one of five teams used to determine consensus All-American status eligibility. His final college season was 10 years ago, and he has no known character issues.
Off the field, Moore was a second-team academic All-American in 2010 and a four-time conference all-academic selection. He earned a degree from Boise State in communication.
He wasn’t selected in the 2012 NFL Draft, but Moore signed with the Detroit Lions and went on to spend a couple of years as a backup for the Dallas Cowboys.
As soon as his playing career ended in 2018, he caught on with the coaching staff in Dallas, spending one year as quarterbacks coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019. He was mentioned as a candidate to take over at Boise State after Bryan Harsin left for Auburn in December, but Moore signed a three-year contract extension with the Cowboys in January.
Moore is a hot commodity in the NFL coaching market again this year. He interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguars vacancy on Friday, according to multiple reports, and the Denver Broncos requested permission Monday to interview him.
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 3:08 PM.
