The Southeastern Conference announced on October 12, 2023, that former Texas A&M defensive lineman Ray Childress will be named to the 2023 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions” in Atlanta later this year.
The two-time All-American was one of the bright stars in the dark days of Hall of Fame coach Jackie Sherrill’s first few years at Texas A&M. While in Aggieland, Childress amassed 360 tackles and 25 sacks, ranking in the top ten in Texas A&M football history.
Childress was selected third overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1985 NFL Draft. His NFL career was just as impressive, making the All-Rookie team, then five All-pro selections and five Pro Bowls over the course of his ten-year tenure in the pro league.
Below is the excerpt from the SEC release on the 2023 honorees.
Ray Childress, Defensive Lineman, 1981-84
“One of college football’s most feared defensive linemen, Ray Childress earned All-America honors for Texas A&M in 1983 and 1984 and remains A&M’s defensive line tackle leader with 360 career stops. A team captain in 1984, then-head coach Jackie Sherrill credited him with changing the trajectory of Aggie football: After a loss at Arkansas, Childress challenged his teammates, and they responded by posting a winning record, then winning the conference title in ’85. A&M would go on to win six of the next nine conference titles. Childress was the third pick in the 1985 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. He played 12 years in the NFL, 11 with the Oilers and one with the Dallas Cowboys. He made five Pro Bowl appearances, was named to the All-Pro team five times, helping the Oilers make the NFL playoffs seven straight seasons. He is a member of the Texas A&M Athletics, Texas Sports and College Football Halls of Fame.”
Congratulations to Ray Childress on earning another well-deserved acknowledgement, and if there are any remaining honors left to be given, then I’m sure he will make the final cut.
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