Ranking Texas A&M’s 25 Greatest Players of All Time

Texas A&M has been fielding a football team since 1894. As you might imagine, hundreds of great players have come through the program. But for this particular project, we’re going to attempt to narrow that large field down to the top 25 Aggies of all time.

It’s a tall order, ripe for debate, which we welcome and encourage. Sifting through a program that started as an independent before moving into the Southwest Conference, then to the Big 12, and finally landing in the SEC was certainly time-consuming. Judging the athletes who helped Texas A&M win 18 conference championships, 2 national championships and earn 43 bowl appearances wasn’t easy.

There are probably at least 100 Aggies who qualify for the list. Sixteen former players are in the College Football Hall of Fame, after all. More will be.

But these are the 25 greatest players in program history.

No. 25 Warrick Holdman, LB (1995-98)

An All-American honorable mention his senior season and First-Team All-Big 12, Holdman recorded 294 tackles over his four-year career, including 16.5 sacks and a total of 46 TFLs. As a member of the famed “Wrecking Crew” defense, Holdman helped lead the Aggies to their only Big 12 championship in 1998. He racked up 95 total tackles that season, including 7 sacks.

No. 24 Richmond Webb, OL (1986-89)

A team captain and All-Southwest Conference selection as a senior, Webb also received the Aggie Heart Award, which is the highest honor given for a football player at Texas A&M. He was inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame in 2007 after helping the Aggies to back-to-back SWC championships in 1986-87.

No. 23 Quentin Coryatt, LB (1990-91)

The Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1991, Coryatt was also named Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-SWC that year. In two seasons at Texas A&M, Coryatt compiled 184 total tackles, including 7.5 sacks and 16 TFLs as well as recovering 3 fumbles. As a member of the Wrecking Crew defense, Coryatt was named SWC Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 1990 after piling up 92 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 18 QB pressures.

No. 22 Shane Lechler, P (1996-99)

A two-time All-American and three-time consensus All-Big 12 punter, Lechler set the program record, averaging 44.7 yards per punt over his career. He set the program’s single-season record as a sophomore, averaging 47.0 yards per punt. In his senior season, he averaged 46.5 yards on 60 punts and also converted 6-of-8 PAT kick attempts and made a field goal. As holder on field goals, Lechler also threw a touchdown pass on a fake field-goal play.

No. 21 Marcus Buckley, LB (1989-92)

A consensus All-American (1992) and 2-time All-SWC, Buckley earned the SWC Defensive Player of the Year honor that year as well. During that season, Buckley helped the Aggies go 12-0 in the regular season only to lose to Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. His 29 career sacks rank 7th all-time on the Texas A&M list. He recorded 13 of those in 1991, which ranks 8th all-time for a single season.

No. 20 Jack Pardee, RB (1954-56)

An All-American, Pardee was an outstanding running back — who made his living as a linebacker in the NFL. He was All-SWC fullback two consecutive years and was a member of the famed “Junction Boys” under head coach Bear Bryant. As tri-captain, he led the Aggies to the 1956 SWC championship, rushing for 463 yards and 5 TDs. For his career, Pardee ran for 1,007 yards and 8 TDs.

No. 19 Charlie Krueger, OT (1955-57)

A 2-time All-American, Krueger was co-captain of the 1957 team along with Heisman Trophy winner John David Crow as a member of the famed “Junction Boys.” The Texas Hall of Fame inductee played for coach Bear Bryant and helped the Aggies capture the 1956 SWC championship and top-10 finishes in 1956 and 1957. He was named Sophomore Lineman of the Year in 1955, and after his senior year (1958) was captain of the college all-star team that defeated the Detroit Lions, 35-19.

In 1983, Krueger entered the College Football Hall of Fame.

No. 18 Seth McKinney, C (1998-2001)

A 2-time All-American and 3-time First Team All-Big 12 pick, McKinney started 50 consecutive games anchoring the Aggies’ offensive line at center. He was a Rimington Award finalist in 2001, given to the nation’s top center, and helped lead the Aggies to the Big 12 championship in 1998.

No. 17 Leeland McElroy, RB (1993-96)

A 3-time All-American kick returner and all-purpose back, McElroy was Sports Illustrated’s National Special Teams Player of the Year in 1993. He returned 2 kicks for TDs in a game against Rice, still a single-game NCAA record. He also set the career NCAA record for average kick return yardage (36.3). In addition, he has a program record longest kick return (100 yards). The 3-time All SWC selection rushed for 1,122 yards in 1995.

No. 16 Aaron Glenn, DB (1992-93)

A consensus First-Team All-American in his senior season, Glenn played an instrumental role in leading the Aggies to back-to-back SWC championships where they won 14 consecutive league games and 12 straight at Kyle Field. A 2-time All-SWC selection, Glenn set a school record with 20 passes broken up in 1992 and finished his 2-year career with 33. The multi-talented athlete returned 2 punts for touchdowns in 1993 and led the nation with a 19.9 punt return average.

No. 15 Lester Hayes, DB (1973-76)

The 2-time All-SWC selection was named First-Team All-America by the Sporting News in 1975. That year, the Aggies led the nation in defense allowing just 183.8 yards per game. He led the team in interceptions in 1975 (6) and 1976 (8) seasons. Those 14 picks, at the time, were most in program history and still rank No. 2 all-time.

No. 14 Myles Garrett, DL (2014-16)

It didn’t take long for Garrett to put his stamp on the program. The No. 2 recruit in the nation set numerous records as a true freshman en route to earning Freshman All-America honors. He broke the school’s freshman record for sacks (5.5) after just 6 games and set the freshman SEC record (8) after just 9 games. He finished his initial season at Texas A&M with 11.5 sacks, which ranked No. 2 in the conference. He had 53 total tackles, including 14 for loss, and 10 QB hurries. In addition, he blocked a kick which a teammate returned for a touchdown. The following year he led the SEC in sacks (12.5), tackles for loss (20) and fumbles forced (5). He became a 2-time All-American. For his three-year career, Garrett compiled 32.5 sacks, 38.5 TFLs and a total of 145 tackles.

Garrett should be a lock to enter the College Football Hall of Fame as soon as he becomes eligible.

No. 13 Kevin Smith, CB (1988-91)

Texas A&M’s all-time leader in interceptions by a wide margin, Smith earned All-American status in 1991. His 20 career interceptions are 6 more than second-place Lester Hayes (14). Smith also ranked 2nd all-time in the Southwest Conference behind Texas Tech’s Tracy Saul (25). Smith returned 3 of those picks for touchdowns and also returned 2 punts for scores as well. He helped the Aggies win the SWC championship in 1991.

No. 12 Sam Adams, DL (1991-93)

A consensus All-American in 1993 as a junior, Adams was named Sports Illustrated Defensive Player of the Year, Southwest Conference Player of the Year, and was runner-up for the Lombardi Award. He followed that up in his senior year with 78 total tackles, including 10.5 sacks and 13 total tackles for loss. He forced 5 fumbles and recovered 3 while breaking up 4 passes.

No. 11 Mike Evans, WR (2012-13)

The All-American packed a lot of football in 2 seasons at Texas A&M. As a redshirt freshman, he teamed up with QB Johnny Manziel to set the program’s frosh record for receiving yards (1,105) and TDs (12). He followed with an All-American season in which Evans set the school record in receiving yards (1,394) and recorded the single-game mark with 279 against Alabama that included a 95-yard scoring play. Later that season he broke his own record with 287 receiving yards against Auburn.

For his career, Evans totaled 2,499 receiving yards, a school record for two seasons. He finished with 151 receptions and 17 TDs before declaring for the NFL draft after his sophomore season. He is the only Aggie in program history with multiple 200-yard receiving games.

Following his NFL career and mandatory wait period, Evans will be eligible to appear on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot and has a strong case to be inducted.

No. 10 Ray Childress, DL (1981-84)

A 2-time All-American, Childress was a force on the Aggies’ defensive line. He recorded more than 100 tackles in each of his junior and senior seasons and finished his career with 360 tackles, including 26 sacks. He also recovered 9 fumbles over his illustrious career, which resulted in being inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2010, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

No. 9 Jake Matthews, OL (2010-13)

A 4-year starter on the Aggies’ offensive line, Matthews twice earned First-Team All-American honors and started 46 consecutive games for Texas A&M. He led the way for the 2012 offense that was the first-ever in the SEC to surpass 7,000 total yards (7,261). That year, the Aggies set school records for average passing yardage per game (316.5) scoring (44.5 points), and total offense (558.5) behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Like Evans and Garrett, Matthews eventually will be eligible to appear on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot and has an equally strong chance to be inducted.

No. 8 Johnny Holland, LB (1983-86)

A 2-time All-American and Texas A&M Hall of Fame inductee, Holland came to A&M as a quarterback but quickly adapted to his new position on the defensive side. The 4-year letterman accumulated 455 total tackles, which ranks 2nd all-time at Texas A&M behind only Dat Nguyen (517). He piled up 155 of those in 1984 alone, which also ranks 2nd all-time for a single season at Texas A&M behind only Doug Carr’s 157 in 1978. He recorded 22 tackles in a 1995 game against Alabama and 20 tackles in 1986 game against Southern Miss, which rank 3rd and 5th respectively all-time at Texas A&M for a single game.

No. 7 John David Crow, RB (1955-57)

Recruited by Texas A&M head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, Crow became the only player in the legendary coach’s career to win the Heisman Trophy. The All-American from Springhill, Louisiana, led the 1956 team to the program’s first victory over the University of Texas at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, and also led the Southwest Conference in touchdowns that same year with 9.

He won the Heisman the following year, his senior season, becoming the first Aggie to capture college football’s most coveted award. He led the Aggies to a No. 1 ranking after eight games and finished an injury-plagued season with 562 rushing yards and 6 TDs. He also caught 2 passes for touchdowns and threw 5 more TD passes. A 2-way player, Crow also intercepted 5 passes.

In 1976, Crow was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

No. 6 John Kimbrough, RB (1938-40)

A 2-time All-American and runner-up in the 1940 Heisman Trophy voting, Kimbrough was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. He was a top 5 vote-getter for the Heisman Trophy in back-to-back seasons (1939-40) and led Texas A&M to a national championship (1939). He rushed for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Sugar Bowl that season in a victory over Tulane to complete an undefeated season and national title. The 2-way player intercepted 6 passes during the 1940 campaign.

No. 5 Darren Lewis, RB (1987-90)

A 2-time All-American running back and the all-time leading rusher in Texas A&M and Southwest Conference history, Lewis passed away in June 2024 after a battle with cancer. Lewis made a profound impact on the A&M program. His 5,012 yards rushing and 909 rushing attempts are all-time school records while his 44 rushing TDs ranks 2nd all-time to Jorvorskie Lane (49).

He ran wild in 1988, leading the SWC with 1,692 rushing yards and rushing attempts (306) before topping the nation in 1990 with 1,691 yards and 19 TDs, and leading the conference again in attempts (291). Those rushing yardage totals rank 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the Aggies’ all-time record book for a single season, behind only Trayveon Williams (1,760). His 232 rushing yards against Texas Tech in 1990 ranks 4th all-time in program history for a single game. Lewis was named Offensive Player of the Year in the Southwest Conference in 1988 and 1990.

No. 4 Von Miller, LB (2007-10)

A 2-time All-American, Miller earned the 2010 Dick Butkus Award given to the nation’s most outstanding linebacker. The Aggies’ big-play artist recorded a nation-best 17 sacks in 2009, 2nd-most in a single season at Texas A&M behind Jacob Green’s 20 (1979), and 21 TFLs. He led the Big 12 the following year (2010) with 10.5 sacks. Miller finished his career with 33 sacks, which ranks 5th all-time in program history. A 4-year letterman, Miller began his career at DE where he earned Freshman All-Big 12 honors before moving to linebacker to finish out one of the most outstanding careers in program history.

He’ll be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame once his NFL career ends and the mandatory wait period expires.

No. 3 Jacob Green, DE (1975-79)

A First-Team All-American (1979), Green set the program’s single-season record with 20 sacks. The 2-time All-SWC nominee finished with 33 career sacks, which ranks 5th all-time at Texas A&M, behind only Aaron Wallace (42), Jacob Green (37), John Roper (36) and Keith Mitchell (34) — some of the greatest sack masters ever in Aggieland. Green is the program’s career leader in forced fumbles (12) and his 22 tackles in a 1979 game against Baylor ranks 3rd all-time in program history for a single game. Green finished his career at Texas A&M with 283 tackles.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

No. 2 Johnny Manziel, QB (2012-13)

The most prolific quarterback to ever wear an Aggies uniform, Manziel became the 2nd Aggie – after John David Crow – to win the Heisman Trophy. He accomplished the feat in 2012 as the only freshman in college football history to do so. That same year he won the Davey O’Brien Award for top QB in the nation, was a consensus All-American in addition to being named the AP Player of the Year. He was the first freshman in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for another 1,000 in the same season. He threw for 2 TDs and accounted for 345 yards of offense in the Aggies 29-24 victory over No. 1 Alabama. That year, he accounted for 5,116 yards, a single-season record in the SEC.

Over 2 seasons, Manziel rushed and passed for 9,989 total yards. He holds the Aggies single-season passing record with 4,114 yards and ranks 3rd all-time in program history with 7,820 total passing yards. He had 5 400-yard passing games, most in school history, including his personal best a 464-yard performance against Alabama (49-42 loss) in 2013 which ranks 3rd all-time at Texas A&M behind Nick Starkel (499) and Kenny Hill (511).

Manziel is eligible to appear on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

No. 1 Dat Nguyen, LB (1995-98)

A unanimous First-Team All-American (1998), Nguyen holds the program record for career tackles (517) and double-digit tackle games (30). The only player in program history to lead the team in tackles 4 consecutive seasons, Nguyen captured both the Bednarik and Lombardi Awards in 1998. That same year, he also earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and recorded a Cotton Bowl record 15 solo tackles to earn the game’s Defensive MVP award.

He started all 51 games of his career and turned in a Big 12 Conference best 149 tackles in 1998 as Texas A&M captured the league championship with an upset of No. 1 Kansas State in the Big 12 title game. As a freshman he recorded a Texas A&M single-season record 65 solo tackles.

Nguyen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Glenn Sattell

Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.