Big 12 Football: Top 20 quarterbacks since 2000

Career Stats: 6,040 passing yards, 44 passing touchdowns, 28 interceptions, 3,127 rushing yards, 37 rushing touchdowns.

Regardless of the stats and career touchdowns, no quarterback has taken his team to the level that Vince Young did with Texas in 2005. He led the Longhorns to the conference’s lone national championship

With Michael Vick creating the mold of playing quarterback with elite speed, Young would flash that consistently, while in Austin.

His first two seasons, Young’s efficiency was on the ground. His 25 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons, alongside 1,000-yard effort both years immediately caught the attention of college football.

Texas finished the 2003 season 10-3 and a loss in the Holiday Bowl. Young was far from over, as he combined for a 24-1 record over the next two seasons.

Although Young’s passing numbers weren’t astronomical his sophomore season, they didn’t need to be. Clutch after clutch performance continued from Young. He rushed for at least 50 yards in 11 of 12 games and had two performances with four rushing touchdowns.

It was clear the rushing ability and top-end speed was elite. However, the consistent emphasis to throw the football made Young the clear Heisman frontrunner, alongside USC’s Reggie Bush.

After throwing below 100 yards in half of his games a year ago, Young stayed above 100 yards his entire time, including three performances of 250-plus passing yards.

After falling to the Sooners the year prior, Texas blew out the Sooners and it was aided by Young’s 285 total yards and three touchdowns.

Young saved the best for last, with his legendary 267 passing yards, to go with 200 rushing yards. None of those yards were as important as the final eight to beat USC to the pylon for a late Texas lead in the Rose Bowl, to capture the 2005 National Championship.

Young became an inspiration and part of the mold that is dual-threat quarterbacks today. Young is the best Texas football player to go through the program.