Best Texas football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore

BERKELEY, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Former player Ricky Williams of the Texas Longhorns stands on the sideline before a game against the California Golden Bears on September 17, 2016 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. Cal won 50-43. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Vince Young

There’s a reason George Washington comes first on the real Mount Rushmore. That’s because you have to start with the obvious. Young is Texas’ George Washington. He led the Longhorns to their only National Championship in the 2000s. It wasn’t like he was just okay, and let the rest of the team while he was a game manager. Young put the Longhorns on his back and carried them all the way to a title.

Young’s career spans so much more than just that 2005 National Championship season. During his redshirt freshman season, he eventually took playing time away from starter Chance Mock. In his first game replacing Mock, he rushed for 127 yards against Oklahoma. The Longhorns still lost but we were seeing the beginning of greatness.

His sophomore season, Young took over the starter position outright, and he put together a magical season where Texas did everything short of beat the rival Sooners. They ended the season 11-1. Coaches were finally building a scheme around Young, and he was quickly becoming one of the best dual-threats in the country.

He even brought the Longhorns to their first Rose Bowl, beating the Michigan Wolverines. That game was insane, with Young going toe to toe with Chad Henne and Braylon Edwards. Young rushed for four touchdowns, including this 60-yard run, and Texas won on a last-second field goal after a three-minute drive by Young.

Then, there’s the Championship season. Young finally overcame Oklahoma, destroying them 45-12. It was the first time Texas beat Oklahoma in six seasons. Fast forward to the National Championship. Analysts were calling USC, then led by Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, one of the greatest teams in college football history. They weren’t even wrong in hindsight, but Young was just on another level that season.

There’s so much to talk about with this game, but all you need to know for the Mount Rushmore argument is Young was down two scores with around six minutes to play, Young drove down the field and scored rushing touchdowns twice. Everyone from Pete Carroll to Mack Brown to every fan watching at home knew it was going to be a run, and he still scored. Twice. This is the greatest player in Texas football history.

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