Greatest college football player born in each state
It’s nearly impossible to designate one college football player as the best ever born in Texas, so we decided to choose between the two Texans voted to the First Team of the FWAA 75th Anniversary All-American Team: former Baylor linebacker Mike Singletary and Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis.
Because he won the Maxwell Award (given to the nation’s best overall player), the Outland Trophy, and finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1965, and helped the Longhorns win the national championship in 1963, Nobis gets the edge.
In three seasons in Austin, Nobis was recognized on the All-Southwest Conference twice three times and was named an All-American twice – including a consensus All-America selection in 1965. He also started at guard on the Texas offensive line.
After his college career was over, Nobis became the first draft pick for the NFL’s expansion Atlanta Falcons in 1966. Nobis spent 11 seasons in Atlanta, was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the NFL’s All Decade Team of the 1960s, but has yet to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is a member of the College Hall of Fame, and is widely recognized as one of the greatest linebackers ever. His No. 60 jersey is retired at Texas and Atlanta.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in Texas:
- Tim Brown, WR, Notre Dame
- Earl Campbell, RB, Texas
- Eric Dickerson, RB, SMU
- Jerry Gray, DB, Texas
- John Kimbrough, QB, Texas A&M
- Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
- Davey O’Brien, QB, TCU
- Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
- Jerry Sisemore, OL, Texas
- Bubba Smith, DL, Michigan State
- Jim Swink, HB, TCU
- Doak Walker, RB, SMU
- Vince Young, QB, Texas
Next: Utah