Best Texas A&M football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Texas A&M Aggies rolls out and looks downfield to pass during the the Chick-fil-A Bowl game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

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Texas A&M football (Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport) /

Though more casual football fans, particularly NFL fans, will recognize the other three names on the Texas A&M football Mount Rushmore than this one, linebacker Dat Nguyen is every bit as important in the history of the program.

One of Nguyen’s crowning achievements in his college career was leading the Aggies in tackles for all four seasons he was with the program, which speaks to his ability and play-style. And he was rewarded for that type of performance as well, earning First-Team All-Big 12 honors in three of his four seasons playing in College Station. However, it was Nguyen’s 1998 season that really cemented his legacy.

As the leader and centerpiece of a dominant defensive unit that buoyed the Aggies in winning the 1998 Big 12 Championship, Nguyen submitted a season for the ages. The linebacker put up 147 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions, which was good enough to make him a unanimous All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

While Nguyen was only a third-round NFL Draft pick who had just a modest pro career, he’s Texas A&M’s all-time leader in tackles with 517 and one of their most impactful and productive defensive players in school history. Considering the legacy of the Aggies on that side of the ball, that counts for quite a bit.

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