Tag: Earl Campbell

Texas Alumni: The Longhorns most famous graduates and attendees

Who are the most famous UT Alumni and how many can you name?

When it comes to the Texas Longhorns and the Burnt Orange, there have been plenty of high-profile athletes such as Cat Osterman, Vince Young, Ricky Williams, and Huston Street.

However, it isn’t only the athletes as far as the most notable alumni and attendees at UT. The list of famous graduates includes a pair of First Lady’s, actors, singers, and astronauts.

There might not be a bigger name when it comes to the Longhorns than the Minister of Culture, Matthew McConaughey. He can be seen at sporting events, on the set of College Gameday, and even in his film class on the Forty Acres.

We comprised a list of the 15 most famous attendees and graduates of the University of Texas.

Two Longhorns named semifinalists for Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award

Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy named Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award semifinalists.

The Longhorns have not lived up to expectations this season, but sophomore running back Bijan Robinson and freshman wide receiver Xavier Worthy have been bright spots.

Robinson and Worthy’s seasons are not going unrecognized as they were named semifinalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award on Thursday.

On their website, the Earl Campbell Award explains their mission:

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community, and tenacity; specifically, tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals.

The award is reserved for players that played high school or college football in the state of Texas.

Robinson and Worthy join a strong list of Longhorns previously named semifinalists:

  • QB Sam Ehlinger (2018, 2019, 2020)
  • WR Devin Duvernay (2019)
  • WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (2018)
  • RB D’Onta Foreman (2016)
  • RB Johnathan Gray (2013)

The finalists will be announced on Dec. 14, 2021.

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Oklahoma Sooners land Two on Earl Campbell Tyler Rose watch list

Two Sooners with Texas ties land on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.

The Oklahoma Sooners have announced wide receiver Marvin Mims and running back Kennedy Brooks have been named to the 2021 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.

Despite the Sooners’ deep-seated rivalry with the Lone Star State, over 40 members of the Crimson and Cream have ties to Texas – an important qualification for Earl Campbell Tyler Rose consideration. Both Brooks and Mims rise above the rest, as they’re expected to build upon their already impressive resumes.

Mims led OU with 610 yards off 37 receptions in 2020. The 5-foot-11 receiver also made Big XII history as the first-ever freshman with nine touchdown receptions. A product of Frisco High School, Mims is forecasted to terrorize defenses from the slot in 2021.

Kennedy Brooks, who opted out of the 2020 campaign, will look to pick up where he left off in 2019 when he averaged 77 yards per game. In total, the Mansfield native has stockpiled 18 touchdowns and 2,067 rushing yards in his two seasons for the Sooners. Now, in a tandem with Eric Gray, Oklahoma expects to have as dynamic a backfield as anyone in the country.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding Division I offensive player who meets one or more of the following criteria: 1. Is born in Texas; 2. Graduated from a Texas high school; or 3. Played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year college.

Texas Football: A look at the six retired jersey numbers

Taking a look at the Longhorn legends who had their numbers retired after a stellar collegiate career at the University of Texas.

If you’re blessed to have your jersey number retired, it’s an honor that immortalizes a player in the record books of their team or school.

It’s something that only legends of a program are able to achieve. Oftentimes, great players are even left out. It has to be an indescribable feeling to know that the number can longer be worn by anyone else that follows in your footsteps. For example, in Major League Baseball, the No. 42 is retired to honor Jackie Robinson.

The Longhorns have retired a total of six numbers in their football programs history. There have been other great players that have graced the Forty Acres, but did not have the impact that these six had.

Let’s take a look at who the Texas football program has immortalized:

Texas Football: A look at the six retired jersey numbers

Taking a look at the Longhorn legends who had their numbers retired after a stellar collegiate career at the University of Texas.

If you’re blessed to have your jersey number retired, it’s an honor that immortalizes a player in the record books of their team or school.

It’s something that only legends of a program are able to achieve. Oftentimes, great players are even left out. It has to be an indescribable feeling to know that the number can longer be worn by anyone else that follows in your footsteps. For example, in Major League Baseball, the No. 42 is retired to honor Jackie Robinson.

The Longhorns have retired a total of six numbers in their football programs history. There have been other great players that have graced the Forty Acres, but did not have the impact that these six had.

Let’s take a look at who the Texas football program has immortalized:

Texas brought in several former players for big recruiting weekend

Texas pulled out all the stops for the biggest recruiting weekend in program history.

This weekend has been full of pageantry and big names on the Forty Acres.

First-year head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff have made sure to pull out all the stops in order to host a group of what could be program-changing recruits.

The Texas football name is hot on the recruiting trail again, and this weekend the program looked to impress some of the biggest names in high school football.

Five-star quarterback Arch Manning headlined the group as he and his family toured the campus, along with some other five-star players such as 2022 linebacker Harold Perkins, 2023 wide receiver Jalen Hale, and 2023 running back Rueben Owens. One of the top 2023 wide receivers, Johntay Cook II, was seen catching passes from Manning on Saturday.

Here is a video of Manning’s 70+ yard pass to a streaking Cook.

Along with some gummy bears for Perkins, Texas made sure that some of the most elite alumni that walked through the Forty Acres were on sight in order to help showcase what being a Longhorn is about.

Some of those on sight included “Minister of Culture” and famous actor Matthew McConaughey, former players Vince Young, Jamaal Charles, Michael Huff and Earl Campbell. Take a look below to see the elite group.

This type of effort will likely impress recruits and possibly make them reconsider if they are already committed elsewhere, or it can put Texas in position to be the favorite of their recruitment.

For Texas to get a few commitments out of this weekend, it would be astronomical for the program and allow for them to build off this preseason success, with some in season success as well. Their 2022 recruiting class now sits at No. 8 in the nation according to 247Sports rankings, while the 2023 class is No. 2 in the nation with Owens as the lone commit.

The Longhorns are hoping this weekend changes that, and gives both classes a boost to the top.

Texas running back Bijan Robinson discusses Heisman Trophy hopes

The Heisman Trophy has not called Austin, Texas, home since the 1998 season. RB Bijan Robinson will have the opportunity to change that.

College football’s most prestigious award has not called Austin, Texas, home since the 1998 season. Running back Ricky Williams won the Heisman Trophy after rushing for 2,124 yards and 27 touchdowns, joining Earl Campbell as the only two Longhorns to win the trophy.

Former quarterback Vince Young was the runner-up to Reggie Bush’s eventual stripped award in 2005, while Colt McCoy finished second in 2008 and third in 2009.

Since then, Texas has not come close to sniffing a potential Heisman candidate. A decade of mediocre football may have caused this, but even the special talent being recruited never lived up to expectations.

That’s until running back Bijan Robinson stepped foot on campus. From his high school tape and numbers alone, figuring out he is special was not difficult. After his first full season for the Longhorns, it’s clear that the next great Texas running back is ready to break out to the rest of the country.

After seeing how Steve Sarkisian used Najee Harris last season at Alabama, Robinson has the chance to have a historic season. History was already broken during his freshman season, as Robinson holds the record for the most yards per carry in Texas football during a season at 8.2.

Here is what Robinson had to say about Heisman hopes:

“I know there’s a lot of hype around the Heisman Trophy and all that stuff, but I don’t pay attention to that stuff. If you start paying attention, you start getting a big head and wont work as hard.”

Wide receiver has been a position of concern for Texas throughout spring practice. Even if one of the quarterbacks emerges as a starter and can elevate his receivers, Robinson is going to be heavily relied on. The opportunity to put up gaudy numbers will be there.

“I feel like he’s utilizing us in every single way that he can, and it’s been a good look ever since he’s been here,” Robinson said of Sarkisian.

Even if Robinson will not say it out loud, getting to New York has to be one of the few dreams he brought with him to Texas. He’ll have two, possibly three, seasons to see his dreams come true.

Top 11 Texas Longhorns NFL draft picks in Super Bowl era

Earl Campbell, Tommy Nobis and Derrick Johnson are among the elite Longhorns who went on to star in the NFL after being chosen in the draft.

Texas has a rich history in college football. The Longhorns are no slouch on the pro level, either. Continue reading “Top 11 Texas Longhorns NFL draft picks in Super Bowl era”

Fab Four: Selecting Texas football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits

On the eve of early signing day, Longhorns Wire recalls the most hyped commits in school history.

The Texas Longhorns and head coach Tom Herman are preparing for the early period signing day on Dec. 16. This comes just four days after their 2020 college football season finale. The Longhorns have finished with three top-10 classes in as many seasons according to 247Sports composite rankings. Continue reading “Fab Four: Selecting Texas football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits”

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Former Longhorns head coach Fred Akers passed away at age 82

News broke on Monday that former Texas Longhorns head coach Fred Akers passed away at the age of 82. He is the 3rd winningest coach at UT.

On Monday former Texas Longhorns head football coach Fred Akers passed away at the age of 82. Akers was the first head coach to follow in the footsteps of legendary coach Darrell K. Royal in 1977. His first year he helped lead the team that led to Earl Campbell winning the Heisman Trophy. The Longhorns finished 11-0 in the regular season that year and were the No. 1 ranked team but fell to No. 5 Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl.

He would lead the team to another 11-0 regular season in 1983 where once again they entered the Cotton Bowl. This time as the No. 2 ranked team in the country but would lose to Georgia by one point. Overall, Akers is the third-winningest coach in school history behind Royal and Mack Brown. He was never able to win that National Championship like the other two top coaches.

Akers played at Arkansas in 1958-59 along with a coach he would face every season in Barry Switzer. After coaching a year at Lubbock High School, Akers joined the Longhorns staff as the co-offensive coordinator and would take the head coaching job at Wyoming before returning as the head coach in 1977. At Texas, Akers record finished at 86-31-2.

Under his watch, Akers produced a record 18 NFL Draft selections from that 1983 team. He was inducted into the Hall of Honor in 2015, as well as the Texas Sports and Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2016.

“It’s a very sad day with the news of the passing of one of our Longhorn Legends in Coach Akers,” head coach Tom Herman said. “In the opportunities I had to spend time with Coach, he was always so warm and gracious. The many, many great players he had at Texas have always shared such fond memories, too. He had tremendous success here and was a highly respected, all-time great in our coaching fraternity and beyond. On behalf of the Texas Football program, we send our sincere condolences to his family, friends, the numerous Longhorns he coached and worked with, as well as the many people whose lives he impacted.” – Herman on Akers

It is a sad time for all of the Texas Longhorns family and fan base. Rest in peace coach Fred Akers.