[1] Tolbert was light for a defensive end (6 feet 2 inches and 175 pounds as a freshman), but developed into a pass rusher.
Against Colorado State University, he tallied five tackles and one sack, helping the school win its first football road game in seven years.
Tolbert was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (85th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft,[3] after falling because he was considered a tweener (slow to play linebacker and light for a defensive end at 230 pounds).
Despite playing in pain, Tolbert started all 16 games in 1997, compiled five sacks and led all Cowboys defensive linemen in tackles for the seventh consecutive season, with 60.
Although Tolbert came into the league as a pass rush specialist, he developed into an effective run stopper, making him the leading tackler among Cowboy defensive linemen for seven straight years.
During Tolbert's career, he recorded 59 quarterback sacks in 128 games played over the course of nine seasons, plus he returned his only interception 54 yards for a touchdown.