Best football players in UT History

[bbdude]

It's a tough, tough question to ponder. Depending on your age, what you witnessed, the time in history... the culture of college football at the time..... I'd like to hear what everyone has to say. Guys like Bobby Layne, Johnnie Johnson, Bud McFadin cannot be forgotten. So many great Longhorn football players over the course of history. Give us your top 5. It can be subjective, objective or a combo.

My top 5:

1. Vince Young

2. Earl Campbell

3. Bobby Layne

4. Tommy Nobis

5. Ricky Williams

 

[Sirhornsalot]

It's a tough, tough question to ponder. Depending on your age, what you witnessed, the time in history... the culture of college football at the time..... I'd like to hear what everyone has to say. Guys like Bobby Layne, Johnnie Johnson, Bud McFadin cannot be forgotten. So many great Longhorn football players over the course of history. Give us your top 5. It can be subjective, objective or a combo.
My top 5:

1. Vince Young

2. Earl Campbell

3. Bobby Lane

4. Tommy Nobis

5. Ricky Williams

I would flip VY and Earl. Earl was something football had not seen before, like VY. But the brute force and punishment that Earl dealt to the unfortunate defenders that found themselves in his path is stuff for legends. Earl was also very versatile. Probably could have started at LB for Texas, he played it at John Tyler and was a man amongst boys in HS ball. He left hurt people in his wake, even in HS. One of his first big plays was a blocked punt against Arkansas.

Defenses hated having to play against Earl. They dreaded it. And they were happy once the game was over because Earl was behind them.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Ya know, I think there's a case to be made for Bill Bradley - at least in the top 10. Was a stud QB at Palestine but did not translate at Texas. Started over at safety and the rest is history - AA and NFL All Pro. I'd imagine there were several other positions he could have played, and starred at, he was such a good athlete.

 

[POCKEY]

Exactly my top 10 as well. But I gotta agree with Sir and put Earl at the top.

ALSO!!!! It spelled L A Y N E!!! Bobby Layne.

Gotta get it right, I'm sensitive about it. After all, I named my daughter Jennifer Layne Lawrence because Jennifer Earl Lawrence wouldn't get past my wife. I floated up Jennifer Nobis Lawrence but we Layne it was.

 

[Etex Horn]

When I saw the thread topic I immediately thought of Nobis and Campbell, without reviewing your top 5. Your list is great but I vote for a combo: Tommy Nobis and Earl Campbell, Co-No. Ones. The Best Ever to don the Orange and White IMO. Maybe not the best players, but definitely the two toughest.

 

[tshirtfan12]

It took VY 3 years to show his talent... The pearl showed it from day one

 

[doc longhorn]

How do you leave James Street out - UT's only undefeated QB?

 

[doc longhorn]

It took VY 3 years to show his talent... The pearl showed it from day one

DKR said he only had two players that could have gone from HS straight to the NFL - Earl Campbell and Tommy Nobis.

 

[reneg_2]

dkr said he only had two players that could have gone from hs straight to the nfl - earl campbell and tommy nobis.

fact.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

The great Roosevelt Leaks!

http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/1973-baylor-vs.-texas/DYk_8apDAiyeNUHvoM-VSg

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Woo Woo Worster!

 

[JimR]

My parents' generation would tell you that you forgot Jack Crain. He belongs in any all-time list if it is not limited to players the person saw play.

Street was an all-time winner but not a great player, IMO, if we are talking about individual skills. One has to be careful not to have the list top heavy with backs.

Campbell

Young

Williams

Crain

McFadin

Nobis

Appleton

Johnson (Derrick)

Bradley

Clayborn

Worster

Leaks

Erxleben

No doubt I left off great players I did not see or do not remember.

Top 5(in no particular order):

Campbell

Crain

Williams

Nobis

Appleton

Crap, I left Layne off.

 

[Topstarr]

a few of them: Earl, Young, Ricky and David Balew (do you remember him)

 

[Cjacksits]

Jerry Sizemore period

 

[Juan]

I was at this game below \/ and saw this hit in person. From our vantage point, it looked liked the head of the Rams' player popped up and off. And that is not just anyone he uprooted but LB Isiah Robertson (6'3, 225) who was a 6-time All Pro (4x 1st team/2x 2nd team).

I was living in Austin at the time but had tickets to this game which was Earl's second home game ever as a pro. But we went out to a party the night before, drank way too much beer, and I was passed out on our sofa in my underwear -- no pillow, no blanket -- when my buddy came to get me. Luckily for me he was determined go to see Earl. He roused me, threw me and some clothes in his car and sped all the way from my Riverside apt to the Dome. I remember brushing my teeth with my head out the window. We just made it to our seats early in the 1Q. Epic game and epic crowd. UT fans already knew Earl was the real deal. But there were some pro fans who were not so sure he could do the same things at this level. After this game, there were no more doubters.

Here is a youtube clip of the same. The announcers get pretty animated. It's worth the time if you have a moment.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/F9y_KZwOq9g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[echeese]

It took VY 3 years to show his talent... The pearl showed it from day one

I'd argue he showed his talent pretty well vs KSU in 2003 (an emotional game for me as my son was only 12 hours old as we enjoyed his 1st TEXAS game in the delivery room)

Ricky certainly did explode year one either. . .

Outside of OU in 2004, I'd say VY's last two years were amazing. . .and spare the blame on GD. . .Vince was AWFUL vs OU in '04 after being good in '03 (not great). . .

Keep in mind he only played 3. . .

I think the Top 5 are pretty obvious. . .and sorry. . .Bill Bradley doesn't make Top 30 at TEXAS . .. he starred in teh NFL not here. ..Priest Holmes like that wya. .

The real question is 6-20. . .now that is a discussion we can have some fun with. . .

Slot these guys how you wish:

Colt

Charles

Roy Williams

Kenneth Sims

Tony Brackens

Jerry Siezmore

Casey Hampton

Steve Worster

Ted Koy

Jim Bertelson

Marty Akins (1st wishbone AA QB)

Cotton Speyer (AA WR on a wish bone team)

Justin Blaylock

Derrick Johnson (arguably the #2 LB in TEXAS history)

etc etc etc

 

[pringlelake]

Jimmy Saxton belongs somewhere.

 

[bcherry168]

There have been so many, I would not know where to start. Most of you younger guys never heard of Jack Crain, Hub Bechtol, Mal Kutner, and I have seen Bud mentioned, but not Harley Sewell. Then there would be Bobby Dillon, whose punt return beat Baylor for us one year, and guys like Gib Dawson, who along with T Jones won a couple of conference titles for us.

Of course, you have all heard about Layne and Landry, but they had linemen like Dick Harris and Vic Vasicek, both of whom were great players. Vic, at around 200 lbs. played for Los Angeles for a few years. In the line. Tough guy.

We have had a lot of fabulous athletes over the years. It is just real difficult to pick out a "best."

 

[Juan]

Hornbowlers this season