Discussion: 30-T20
Richmond Webb
Texas A&M Football
Aggie Football Top 100: Nos. 30-21
There was the Haskell Hurricane. There were the Blitz Brothers. There was Tank. Actually, there were two tanks.
There was DaMonster, Stonewall, Johnny Football and an array of Junction Boys.
In more than a century of college football, Texas A&M has produced hundreds of great — sometimes legendary — football players.
But who are the 100 best?
A TexAgs panel that includes coaches, former players, A&M football historians and media members were tasked with compiling the list of A&M’s 100 greatest players and ranking them in order. The Top 100 will be revealed in groups of 10 over the next two weeks.
30. Joel Hunt, 1925-27, RB/QB (739): Former Rice coach John Heisman — yes, that Heisman — once said Hunt was “the greatest all-around player I ever saw.” Hunt was named All-Southwest Conference at running back in ’25 and ’26 and at quarterback in ’27. In 27 games he scored 30 touchdowns and kicked five field goals and 29 extra points. He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He later played Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals and was the head football coach at Georgia in 1938 and Wyoming in 1939.
TexAgs
Richardson is another who has long been in the Pantheon of Aggie quarterbacks, known for his toughness and furthering A&M's run of '80s success.
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29. Bucky Richardson, 1987-91, QB (747): Another great import from Louisiana, the Baton Rouge native scored on an 82-yard touchdown run in his first game as a freshman and never really slowed down. He led the Aggies to a 24-6-1 record and two Southwest Conference championships as a starting quarterback. He rushed for 2,095 yards in his career (then a school record for quarterbacks) and threw for 3,039.
Richardson was named All-SWC in 1991. He was selected in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and played five professional seasons with the Oilers, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs.
28. Joe Boyd, 1937-39, OT/DT (753): An All-Southwest Conference selection on offense and defense, Boyd was named All-American and team MVP in 1939 — A&M’s last national championship year. He was a captain on that team. Boyd was selected in the fourth round of the 1940 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He’s a member of the A&M athletic Hall of Fame.
27. Richmond Webb, 1986-89, OT (791): A dominant left tackle, Webb was named All-Southwest Conference in 1989. He’s a member of the A&M athletic Hall of fame. He was the ninth player selected in the 1990 NFL Draft as the first round pick of the Miami Dolphins. Webb played 13 NFL seasons with the Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals. He appeared in seven Pro Bowls, was named All-Pro four times and was placed on the NFL All-Decade team of the ‘90s.
26. Aaron Wallace, 1986-89, LB (794): An All-Southwest Conference selection in ’88 and ’89, Wallace is the most productive pass rusher in A&M history. He holds school record records with 42 sacks and 48 pressures. He also shares the A&M record with six forced fumbles. He’s a member of the A&M athletic Hall of Fame. Wallace was selected in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders. He played nine NFL seasons.
25. Dave Elmendorf, 1968-70, S (825): A member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Elmendorf was named All-Southwest Conference in 1969 and ’70. He was named All-American in ’70 when he grabbed six interceptions. He completed his A&M career with 12 interceptions. He led the Aggies with five interceptions in ’69 and six in ’70. Also a member of the A&M athletic Hall of Fame, Elmendorf was selected in the third round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He played nine seasons with the Rams. Twice he was named the team’s outstanding defensive back. He was All-NFC in ’74 and All-Pro in ’75.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Matthews' illustrious career in Aggieland included more than 40 starts and a place on the line that blocked for a Heisman winner.
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24. Jake Matthews, 2010-13, OT (831) : Matthews was named All-SEC in 2012 at right tackle. The next year he switched to left tackle and again earned All-SEC honors. He started seven games as a freshman and never left the lineup and was obviously an integral part of the 2012 offensive line that’s arguably the best in A&M history. Matthews was also an Outland Trophy finalist as a senior in 2013. He was taken sixth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2014 NFL Draft.
23. Kevin Murray, 1983-86, QB (833): Perhaps the primary figure in A&M’s return to prominence in the ‘80s, Murray was named All-Southwest Conference in 1985 and ’86 and was selected to some All-America teams. He left A&M as the leader in career passing yards with 6,506 (a mark since broken).
Murray threw 48 career touchdown passes and completed almost 58 percent of his attempts in an era when that was considered excellent. He was the Offensive MVP in the 1986 Cotton Bowl and also led the Aggies to a legendary 31-30, come-from-behind victory over Baylor in ’86. He signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers and with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, but chronic ankle injuries prevented him from having a successful career in professional football.
22. Robert Jackson, 1975-76, LB (835): “Stonewall” Jackson only lettered two seasons for the Aggies, but he earned All-Southwest Conference accolades in both of them. He was a star on A&M’s ’75 defense that was ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense and on the ’76 unit that was ranked fourth. He was named All-American in ’76 when he led the Aggies with 143 tackles. He’s a member of A&M’s athletic Hall of Fame. Jackson was selected in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft (17th overall) by the Cleveland Browns. Though slowed by knee injuries that forced him to sit out his rookie year, he was in the NFL for six seasons.
T-20. Joe Routt, 1935-37, G (841): Named All-American in 1936 and 1937 as well as All-Southwest Conference in ’36 and ’37, Routt was A&M’s first All-American. He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and A&M’s athletic Hall of Fame. Opposing coaches often assigned three linemen to contain him, and still he cracked through the line to make the tackle. Famed sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote of Routt: "He was a glutton for hard, all-afternoon play and was at his best when the going was toughest. Routt used a system of stacking up a whole side of the opposing line, thereby breaking up a play and allowing a teammate to make a tackle." Routt was a third-round selection of the Cleveland Rams in the 1938 NFL Draft. He was killed during the “Battle of the Bulge” in World War II.
T-20. Pat Thomas, 1972-75, CB (841): Thomas intercepted three passes in ’73 and followed up with six in ’74. He eventually finished with 13 career interceptions, which is the third most in school history. He was named All-American in 1974 and ’75 as well as All-Southwest Conference both seasons. He was selected in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, was named All-Pro once and appeared in two Pro Bowls. He’s a member of the A&M athletic Hall of Fame.
Rankings were compiled by a points list in which 100 points were awarded first place, 99 for second place, etc. After a 13-vote total was accumulated, the point values of the highest and lowest votes were eliminated to determine a final point score. Each individual’s final point score is in parentheses.
There was DaMonster, Stonewall, Johnny Football and an array of Junction Boys.
In more than a century of college football, Texas A&M has produced hundreds of great — sometimes legendary — football players.
But who are the 100 best?
A TexAgs panel that includes coaches, former players, A&M football historians and media members were tasked with compiling the list of A&M’s 100 greatest players and ranking them in order. The Top 100 will be revealed in groups of 10 over the next two weeks.
Today we reveal Nos. 30 to 21.
30. Joel Hunt, 1925-27, RB/QB (739): Former Rice coach John Heisman — yes, that Heisman — once said Hunt was “the greatest all-around player I ever saw.” Hunt was named All-Southwest Conference at running back in ’25 and ’26 and at quarterback in ’27. In 27 games he scored 30 touchdowns and kicked five field goals and 29 extra points. He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He later played Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals and was the head football coach at Georgia in 1938 and Wyoming in 1939.
TexAgs
Richardson is another who has long been in the Pantheon of Aggie quarterbacks, known for his toughness and furthering A&M's run of '80s success.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Richardson is another who has long been in the Pantheon of Aggie quarterbacks, known for his toughness and furthering A\u0026M\u0027s run of \u002780s success.","MediaItemID":16299}
Richardson was named All-SWC in 1991. He was selected in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and played five professional seasons with the Oilers, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs.
28. Joe Boyd, 1937-39, OT/DT (753): An All-Southwest Conference selection on offense and defense, Boyd was named All-American and team MVP in 1939 — A&M’s last national championship year. He was a captain on that team. Boyd was selected in the fourth round of the 1940 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He’s a member of the A&M athletic Hall of Fame.
27. Richmond Webb, 1986-89, OT (791): A dominant left tackle, Webb was named All-Southwest Conference in 1989. He’s a member of the A&M athletic Hall of fame. He was the ninth player selected in the 1990 NFL Draft as the first round pick of the Miami Dolphins. Webb played 13 NFL seasons with the Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals. He appeared in seven Pro Bowls, was named All-Pro four times and was placed on the NFL All-Decade team of the ‘90s.
26. Aaron Wallace, 1986-89, LB (794): An All-Southwest Conference selection in ’88 and ’89, Wallace is the most productive pass rusher in A&M history. He holds school record records with 42 sacks and 48 pressures. He also shares the A&M record with six forced fumbles. He’s a member of the A&M athletic Hall of Fame. Wallace was selected in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders. He played nine NFL seasons.
25. Dave Elmendorf, 1968-70, S (825): A member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Elmendorf was named All-Southwest Conference in 1969 and ’70. He was named All-American in ’70 when he grabbed six interceptions. He completed his A&M career with 12 interceptions. He led the Aggies with five interceptions in ’69 and six in ’70. Also a member of the A&M athletic Hall of Fame, Elmendorf was selected in the third round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He played nine seasons with the Rams. Twice he was named the team’s outstanding defensive back. He was All-NFC in ’74 and All-Pro in ’75.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Matthews' illustrious career in Aggieland included more than 40 starts and a place on the line that blocked for a Heisman winner.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Matthews\u0027 illustrious career in Aggieland included more than 40 starts and a place on the line that blocked for a Heisman winner.","MediaItemID":36752}
23. Kevin Murray, 1983-86, QB (833): Perhaps the primary figure in A&M’s return to prominence in the ‘80s, Murray was named All-Southwest Conference in 1985 and ’86 and was selected to some All-America teams. He left A&M as the leader in career passing yards with 6,506 (a mark since broken).
Murray threw 48 career touchdown passes and completed almost 58 percent of his attempts in an era when that was considered excellent. He was the Offensive MVP in the 1986 Cotton Bowl and also led the Aggies to a legendary 31-30, come-from-behind victory over Baylor in ’86. He signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers and with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, but chronic ankle injuries prevented him from having a successful career in professional football.
22. Robert Jackson, 1975-76, LB (835): “Stonewall” Jackson only lettered two seasons for the Aggies, but he earned All-Southwest Conference accolades in both of them. He was a star on A&M’s ’75 defense that was ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense and on the ’76 unit that was ranked fourth. He was named All-American in ’76 when he led the Aggies with 143 tackles. He’s a member of A&M’s athletic Hall of Fame. Jackson was selected in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft (17th overall) by the Cleveland Browns. Though slowed by knee injuries that forced him to sit out his rookie year, he was in the NFL for six seasons.
T-20. Joe Routt, 1935-37, G (841): Named All-American in 1936 and 1937 as well as All-Southwest Conference in ’36 and ’37, Routt was A&M’s first All-American. He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and A&M’s athletic Hall of Fame. Opposing coaches often assigned three linemen to contain him, and still he cracked through the line to make the tackle. Famed sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote of Routt: "He was a glutton for hard, all-afternoon play and was at his best when the going was toughest. Routt used a system of stacking up a whole side of the opposing line, thereby breaking up a play and allowing a teammate to make a tackle." Routt was a third-round selection of the Cleveland Rams in the 1938 NFL Draft. He was killed during the “Battle of the Bulge” in World War II.
T-20. Pat Thomas, 1972-75, CB (841): Thomas intercepted three passes in ’73 and followed up with six in ’74. He eventually finished with 13 career interceptions, which is the third most in school history. He was named All-American in 1974 and ’75 as well as All-Southwest Conference both seasons. He was selected in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, was named All-Pro once and appeared in two Pro Bowls. He’s a member of the A&M athletic Hall of Fame.
The Aggie Football Top 100
About the rankings
Panelists include: Jackie Sherrill, Jimmy Wright, Dave Elmendorf, Dennis Goehring, Hugh McElroy, Rusty Burson, Mike Henderson, Tom Turbiville, Brad Marquardt, Bob Spoede, Chip Howard, David Sandhop, Gabe Bock and Olin Buchanan.Rankings were compiled by a points list in which 100 points were awarded first place, 99 for second place, etc. After a 13-vote total was accumulated, the point values of the highest and lowest votes were eliminated to determine a final point score. Each individual’s final point score is in parentheses.
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