Texas has rostered so many beastly players in its history, that’s it’s very possible your top five looks awfully different than our list of the five greatest to ever play defense for the Longhorns.
This particular list is heavy with men who played in the front seven. But one defensive back cracked the list. We considered about five different from the back four along. That’s how deep the Texas defense has been with stars over the years.
And while he we don’t think you’ll argue with No. 1 and No. 2 here - though you might quibble with switching them - take a look at who we call the five best Texas defenders in history.
Honorable Mentions
- DE Bill Atessis (1968-1970)
- DT Brad Shearer (1974-1977)
- DB Johnnie Johnson (1976-1979)
- DT Kenneth Sims (1978-1981)
- DE Kiki DeAyala (1979-1982)
- DB Jerry Gray (1981-1984)
- LB Britt Hager (1984-1988)
- DB Quentin Jammer (1997-2001)
- DB Earl Thomas (2007-2009)
5. DB Michael Huff (2001-2005)
Matthew Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
The leader of Texas’ defense in its only national championship since 1969, Huff doesn’t always make these kinds of lists. We couldn’t ignore him.
He earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors in the 2006 Rose Bowl as the Longhorns shocked Southern California for the national title. And it wasn’t just the one game. Huff won the Jim Thorpe Award that season after registering 87 tackles, including nine for-loss, with two interceptions.
He was the leader of Texas’ defense. He was also a two-time All-Big 12 selection and a unanimous All-American by the time he was finished.
4. DT Steve McMichael (1975-1980)
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Had cable been more widespread when McMichael played at Texas, the world would have known him well before his time as the anchor of the Chicago Bears’ defensive lines of the 1980s.
The man they called :Mongo" was an animal. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 after earning three All-Southwest Conference selections and unanimous All-American honors in his final season of 1979.
To this day, McMichael’s 28.5 sacks rank sixth in team history.
3. DE/LB Brian Orakpo (2004-2008)
Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Orakpo earned Freshman All-American honors and won a national championship his first year, serving as an edge rusher on the Huff-led defense of 2005.
As a senior, he practically swept the awards for his position, winning the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, the Ted Hendricks Award, the Bill Willis Trophy, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and unanimous All-American.
For his career, Orakpo racked up 132 tackles, including 38 for-loss, with 62 quarterback hurries, 22 sacks, six pass break-ups, and six forced fumbles.
It was four years of terror for opposing offenses.
2. LB Tommy Nobis (1963-1965)
Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports
National champion. Maxwell Award winner. Outland Trophy winner. You could put Nobis at No. 1 on this list and we would not argue.
Legendary Texas coach Darrell Royal said Nobis was “without a doubt, the best football player I ever coached.” Not only did Nobis show out on defense, he also started at guard for the Longhorns during their national championship season of 1963.
All the honors allowed Nobis to be the No. 1 overall selection in the 1966 NFL draft, and he went on to be a five-time Pro Bowler.
1. LB Derrick Johnson (2001-2004)
Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
If it weren’t for a pair of running backs who played at Texas, Johnson very well might rank as the No. 1 player in school history regardless of position.
As it stands, Johnson is the greatest defender to ever play for the Longhorns.
He’s a College Football Hall of Famer who earned two consensus All-American nods and a final unanimous selection as a senior in 2004. That year he won the Nagurski Award - basically, the defensive Heisman - and the Butkus Award as the best linebacker.
Johnson’s 458 tackles rank fourth in school history and Texas defenses finished in the top 20 in all four of his years as he started from his freshman season to his senior year.
More Texas Longhorns Rankings
- 10 Greatest Football Players in Texas Longhorns History
- 5 Greatest Quarterbacks in Texas Longhorns History
- 5 Greatest Running Backs in Texas Longhorns History
- 5 Greatest Wide Receivers in Texas Longhorns History
