[If you haven't figured this out, I am a Cowboys history headcase, and so I will periodically have some posts focusing on the Cowboys history. This is part of a series looking back on the drafts of the past.]
1965 Draft Grade: C-
The Cowboys made two notable selections in the 1965, including first round pick Craig Morton at quarterback and eleventh round pick Jethro Pugh. That draft otherwise offered very little.
Morton backed up Don Meredith for four seasons before taking over the starting job in 1969. He led the Cowboys to Super Bowl V against the Colts, and then engaged in the major quarterback controversy that marred the first part of the 1971 season. He lost his job to Roger Staubach that season, but saw considerable action in 1972 after Staubach was injured. Morton rarely played during the 1973 season and was traded to the Giants. He joined the Denver Broncos in 1977 and became the only quarterback in NFL history to lead two teams to the Super Bowl when he led the Broncos to the AFC Championship.
Noteworthy Fact: Morton and Staubach share the same birthday (February 5), though Morton is a year younger.
Not-Really-Noteworthy Fact: I share the same birthday (and was born, in all places, in Charleston, Illinois).
Pugh joined the Cowboys from Elizabeth City State in North Carolina. This historically black school is also the alma mater of former NFL receiver Reggie Langhorne.
The Cowboys drafted two players from Rice University, including lineman Malcolm Walker and linebacker Russell Wayt. Walker played with the Cowboys from 1965 to 1969, while Wayt lasted only one season. Walker is one of several notable former Cowboys who are alumni from South Oak Cliff, including Harvey Martin and Michael Downs. The list from that school also includes Dennis Rodman.
Two other players– Garry Porterfield (14th round, DE, Tulsa) and Mitch Johnson (17th round, T, UCLA)– played for one season each with Dallas, but the others never played a down with Dallas. Two other players– Bob Svihus (4th round, T, USC) and Gene Foster (15th round, RB, Arizona State)– played for the AFL.
1963 to 1967 was there a player named Johnny Hugh Rogers who played for the cowboys from Western North Carolina??? States he wore number 23.