Texas has produced 100 first team All-Americans, and 63 of them were consensus selections, named to the first team by a majority of the major selectors. Twenty seven were unanimous. The list runs from Bobby Layne in 1947 to the 2024 secondary that sent two players to the first round, and it is heaviest at running back, defensive back and on the offensive line.
The Two Time Consensus All-Americans
| Player | Position | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Hub Bechtol | End | 1945, 1946 |
| Jerry Sisemore | Offensive tackle | 1971, 1972 |
| Johnnie Johnson | Defensive back | 1978, 1979 |
| Kenneth Sims | Defensive tackle | 1980, 1981 |
| Jerry Gray | Defensive back | 1983, 1984 |
| Ricky Williams | Running back | 1997, 1998 |
| Derrick Johnson | Linebacker | 2003, 2004 |
| Colt McCoy | Quarterback | 2008, 2009 |
Every Consensus All-American by Era
1940s and 1950s
Hub Bechtol, end, 1945 and 1946. Bobby Layne, quarterback, 1947. Bud McFadin, guard, 1950. Carlton Massey, end, 1953.
1960s
James Saxton, running back, 1961. Johnny Treadwell, guard, 1962. Scott Appleton, tackle, 1963. Tommy Nobis, linebacker, 1965. Chris Gilbert, running back, 1968. Bob McKay, offensive tackle, 1969.
1970s
Bill Atessis, defensive end, 1970. Steve Worster, fullback, 1970. Bob Wuensch, offensive tackle, 1970. Jerry Sisemore, offensive tackle, 1971 and 1972. Roosevelt Leaks, running back, 1973. Bill Wyman, centre, 1973. Bob Simmons, offensive tackle, 1975. Earl Campbell, running back, 1977. Brad Shearer, defensive tackle, 1977. Johnnie Johnson, defensive back, 1978 and 1979. Steve McMichael, defensive tackle, 1979.
1980s
Kenneth Sims, defensive tackle, 1980 and 1981. Terry Tausch, offensive tackle, 1981. Doug Dawson, guard, 1983. Jerry Gray, defensive back, 1983 and 1984. Jeff Leiding, linebacker, 1983. Tony Degrate, defensive tackle, 1984.
1990s
Tony Brackens, defensive end, 1995. Dan Neil, guard, 1996. Ricky Williams, running back, 1997 and 1998.
2000s
Leonard Davis, offensive tackle, 2000. Casey Hampton, defensive tackle, 2000. Quentin Jammer, cornerback, 2001. Derrick Dockery, guard, 2002. Derrick Johnson, linebacker, 2003 and 2004. Michael Huff, safety, 2005. Jonathan Scott, offensive tackle, 2005. Rodrique Wright, defensive tackle, 2005. Vince Young, quarterback, 2005. Justin Blalock, offensive tackle, 2006. Colt McCoy, quarterback, 2008 and 2009. Brian Orakpo, defensive end, 2008. Jordan Shipley, receiver, 2009. Earl Thomas, safety, 2009.
2010s
Anthony Fera, kicker, 2013. Jackson Jeffcoat, defensive end, 2013. Malcom Brown, defensive tackle, 2014. D’Onta Foreman, running back, 2016. Michael Dickson, punter, 2017. DeShon Elliott, safety, 2017.
2020s
T’Vondre Sweat, defensive tackle, 2023. Kelvin Banks, offensive tackle, 2024. Jahdae Barron, cornerback, 2024.
The 2005 Team
The national championship team produced four consensus All-Americans in a single season: Vince Young, Michael Huff, Jonathan Scott and Rodrique Wright. No other Texas team has had more than two. Huff won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back and Young the Davey O’Brien as its best quarterback.
DBU
Texas calls itself Defensive Back University and the All-America list supports the claim. Johnnie Johnson, Jerry Gray, Quentin Jammer, Michael Huff, Earl Thomas, DeShon Elliott and Jahdae Barron were all consensus selections, and Johnson and Gray were each honoured twice. Twenty one Texas defensive backs have been drafted since 2006. Our NFL draft page covers that pipeline.
The Unanimous Selections
Twenty seven Texas players were named first team by every major selector in a given year. The group includes Scott Appleton in 1963, Tommy Nobis in 1965, Earl Campbell in 1977, Jerry Gray in 1984, Ricky Williams in both 1997 and 1998, Vince Young in 2005, Justin Blalock in 2006, DeShon Elliott in 2017, T’Vondre Sweat in 2023 and both Kelvin Banks and Jahdae Barron in 2024.
The Award Winners
Beyond the Heisman, Texas players have won the Maxwell Award twice, Nobis in 1965 and Williams in 1998, and the Outland Trophy twice, Appleton in 1963 and Brad Shearer in 1977. Williams won the Doak Walker Award in consecutive years, Sweat took the Outland in 2023 and Barron the Thorpe in 2024. Our Heisman winners page covers Campbell and Williams.
The Bottom Line
Texas has 100 first team All-Americans, 63 of them consensus and 27 unanimous. Eight players earned consensus honours twice, including both Heisman winners. The 2005 championship team produced four in one season, and the program’s reputation at defensive back is backed by seven consensus selections at the position. The most recent additions, Kelvin Banks and Jahdae Barron in 2024, were both unanimous.