College Football: The Mount Rushmore for the 30 best programs of all time
By Brad Weiss
Texas Longhorns: Vince Young, Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell, Tommy Nobis
The Texas Longhorns football program has been around since 1893. Since then, they are one of the few schools to win more than 900 games in their existence. With legendary players in each decade, the Longhorns have won four national titles, to go along with 32 conference championships, while producing two Heisman winners.
Vince Young
In the history of Texas football, Vince Young stands alone as being the most electrifying quarterback the program has ever seen. No example is bigger than his epic performance against USC in the Rose Bowl, where he accounted for 467 total yards of offense, leading the Longhorns to the national title. Young took home numerous awards that season, including All-American honors. He ended up being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Ricky Williams
There are not many running backs who accomplished more at the college level than Ricky Williams did during his time at Texas. Williams won the 1998 Heisman Trophy, two Doak Walker Awards, and still holds 20 NCAA records. Williams set the NCAA rushing record at Texas, rushing for 6,279 yards. When it came time for him to be drafted, the New Orleans Saints mortgaged the farm to go get him in a deal with the Washington Redskins.
Earl Campbell
Arguably the most powerful running back in the history of college football, Earl Campbell was an all-time player during his time at Texas. Many consider him to be the best overall back in football history. Campbell was the first Texas Longhorns player to win the Heisman Trophy, taking the honors in 1977, and was twice named an All-American. He finished his career with over 4,400 rushing yards.
Tommy Nobis
Tommy Nobis was the only sophomore to start for the Texas Longhorns during the 1963 NCAA season, where they took home a national title. Nobis was twice named an All-American during his time with the Longhorns, winning the 1965 Outland and Lombardi Trophies, and the school would eventually retire his No. 60 jersey. Nobis was the No. 1 overall pick and first-ever draft pick for the then-expansion Atlanta Falcons in 1966.