Jul 305 min read

Best Player From Each Texas FBS School Since 2014

FBS schools in Texas have produced many great players over the years. Some have reached the highest levels of success, while others have petered out.

Here are the best players from each FBS school in Texas since 2014.

Baylor Bears Best Player

Wide Receiver Corey Coleman (2013-2015)

Coleman put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2014 and 2015 at Baylor, accounting for 32 touchdowns.

His 20 touchdown receptions in 2015 led all of college football, and his 33 career touchdowns are the ninth-most in Big 12 Conference history.

Coleman finished his career in Waco as the Bears' fifth-leading receiver with 3,009 yards on 173 receptions. The Cleveland Browns selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Houston Cougars

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver (2016-2018)

Oliver was a star from the moment he stepped onto the field for Houston. He burst onto the scene with 22.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks as a freshman. Oliver followed it with nearly identical production the next season. Those numbers were not often seen from a defensive tackle, and his performance earned him back-to-back All-American selections. Oliver also was recognized as the American Athletic Conference's 2017 Defensive Player of the Year.

He was selected ninth overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2019 NFL Draft.

North Texas Mean Green

Quarterback Mason Fine (2016-2019)

Jeff Wilson and Deandre Torrey could have also been selected here as two of North Texas' all-time leading rushers. But the program's all-time leading passer deserves recognition. Fine played in 49 games for the Mean Green and threw for 12,505 yards and 93 touchdowns—more than 5,000 yards and 24 touchdowns than the next best.

Fine was a two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year.

He had 3 seasons with at least 27 touchdown passes and finished his career among the top 10 in C-USA history in most passing statistics.

Rice Owls

Wide Receiver Jordan Taylor (2011-2014)

There aren't many options to look at for Rice.

Taylor is the program's second-leading receiver and consistently placed among the top 10 in receptions and yards in Conference USA throughout his career.

SMU Mustangs

Wide Receiver Courtland Sutton (2014-2017)

It should come as no surprise that SMU is represented by a wide receiver. The Mustangs have sent 9 wideouts to the NFL since 2010 and have become known for their prolific passing game. While another player of the last decade (James Proche) leads in receiving yards and touchdowns, Sutton gets the nod because of the volume of his work.

Proche had over 300 receptions during his time in Dallas, while Sutton caught less than 200 passes and still became SMU's fourth-leading receiver of all time. Sutton was eventually a second-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos and is entering his seventh season with the team.

TCU Horned Frogs

Quarterback Trevone Boykin (2012-2015)

Boykin has had his share of off-the-field issues, but he was dynamic on it. The dual-threat quarterback started for 3 seasons in Fort Worth and became the Horned Frogs' all-time leading passer. He finished his collegiate career among the Big 12's all-time best in passing yards (12th), completion percentage (13th), passing touchdowns (12th), touchdowns responsible for (seventh) and total yards (10th).

Boykin played 5 games for the Seattle Seahawks but multiple legal issues have derailed his career.

Texas Longhorns

Running Back Bijan Robinson (2020-2022)

Recent performances saved Texas from being represented by a punter as its best player, but Robinson is the clear choice. The running back was dominant during his time in Austin. He gained most of his yardage over the course of 2 seasons. Robinson led the Big 12 in every rushing category as a junior in 2022.

He scored 41 touchdowns during his career and became Texas' fourth-leading rusher behind Earl Campbell, Cedric Benson and Ricky Williams. The Atlanta Falcons selected him eighth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Texas A&M Aggies

Defensive End Myles Garrett (2014-2016)

It's difficult to ignore a No. 1 overall draft pick, especially when one becomes as successful at the pro level as Garrett has.

The defensive end played 3 years in College Station, finishing his career with 32.5 sacks and becoming a 2016 consensus All-American. The 32.5 sacks rank 17th in NCAA history, and his 49 tackles for loss were the third-most ever in the SEC. Garrett was the only Texas A&M player to be drafted first overall in the NFL Draft.

Texas State Bobcats

Linebacker Bryan London (2015-2019)

Texas State doesn't get much attention because of its lack of success on the field, but London was a defensive star.

During his time with the Bobcats, he had 3 seasons with more than 100 tackles—leading the Sun Belt Conference in 2018. His 459 career tackles remain a program record and the 14th most in NCAA history.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (2014-2016)

Texas Tech was not a juggernaut during Mahomes' days in Lubbock, Texas only reaching 1 bowl game with him as the starter. Still, his talent level was clear. As a 3-year starter for the Red Raiders, the Whitehouse, Texas native threw for 11,252 yards—trailing only his former head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, and BJ Symons on the school's all-time passing list. His 93 career touchdown passes are also the third most in program history.

That career led to him being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs at 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Mahomes has blossomed into the face of the NFL with 3 Super Bowl titles, 6 Pro Bowls and 2 MVPs in 6 pro seasons.

UTEP Miners

Running Back Aaron Jones (2013-2016)

Jones left UTEP as the Miners' all-time leading rusher with 4,114 yards. He saved his best season for last with 1,773 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior in 2016. Jones finished his college days with the ninth-most rushing yards and yards from scrimmage in Conference USA history.

The Green Bay Packers selected Jones in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He eventually became Green Bay's starting running back. Jones made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and enters the 2024 season as 1 of the leading career rushers among current NFL players.

UTSA Roadrunners

Quarterback Frank Harris (2019-2023)

There is certainly an argument for running back Sincere McCormick here, but Harris is the selection. The quarterback finished his UTSA career as the program's leading passer. Harris has more than double the amount of passing yards as the next-best quarterback and the most touchdown passes by far.

That was enough to get him in the conversation, but his dual-threat ability put him over the top. Harris was the 2022 C-USA MVP and also finished as UTSA's third all-time leading rusher, quite the feat for a quarterback.