Texas A&M football: Top 25 players of the decade

For Texas A&M, it was a decade of offense. A program previously known for its strong defense, The Wrecking Crew was feared not only in the Big 12 but nationally as well. But in this decade, it was the Texas A&M offense that came of age with a number of outstanding skilled athletes passing through the program, highlighted of course by the Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel.

Coming up with the very best of the best over the past 10 years was a difficult task, but here is our list of the Top 25 players at Texas A&M from this decade.

25. Josh Lambo: The Aggies’ placekicker from 2012-14 holds the program’s all-time field goal percentage record at 84 percent for his career.

24. Ricky Seals-Jones: He’s 9th all-time in program history with 123 career pass receptions.

23. Malcome Kennedy: He’s 8th all-time at Texas A&M with 130 career receptions.

22. Kenny Hill: “Trill” holds the program’s single-game record with 511 yards passing in a 2014 game against South Carolina.

21. Daeshon Hall: He was 2nd on the team in sacks 3 consecutive seasons (2014-16).

20. Uzoma Nwachuku: Ranks 7th all-time in program history with 2,239 receiving yards, just behind Mike Evans.

19. Mike Evans: Holds the program’s single-season record with 1,394 receiving yards and single-game record of 287 yards (vs. Auburn).

18. Kellen Mond: In 3 seasons, has now thrown for 51 TDs and nearly 7,000 yards.

17. Josh Reynolds: He is 2nd all-time in program history with 30 TD catches, and 3rd all-time with 2,856 career receiving yards.

16. Erik McCoy: An outstanding offensive lineman, he was selected in the 2nd round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

15. Christine Michael: Ranks 10th all-time in program history with 2,791 career rushing yards.

14. Jeff Fuller: The Aggies’ all-time leader in TD receptions (34) and 2nd all-time with 3,092 career receiving yards.

13. Damontre Moore: His 26.5 sacks ranks 8th all-time on the Aggies’ list.

12. Christian Kirk: Ranks 2nd all-time in program history with 234 career pass receptions and 3rd in career TD receptions (26).

11. Ryan Swope: The Aggies’ career record-holder with 252 receptions and 3,117 yards. He’s 4th in career TD receptions (24).

10. Ryan Tannehill: Ranks 8th all-time in program history with 5,450 career passing yards. He was drafted before the Aggies joined the SEC.

9. Cyrus Gray: He’s 4th all-time on the Aggies’ list with 3,298 career rushing yards.

8. Trayveon Williams: Holds the program’s single-season rushing record with 1,760 (2018) and ranks 3rd all-time with 3,379 career rushing yards.

7. Germain Ifedi: One of the best on the offensive line, Ifedi was the 31st player overall player selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

6. Cedric Ogbuehi: A 1st-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Ogbuehi started all 4 years on the offensive line.

Now for the top 5 Aggies of the 2010s …

5. Jake Matthews

A 1st-round draft pick and No. 6 player overall from the 2014 NFL Draft, Matthews exuded the tough hard-nosed play of Texas A&M’s offensive line during that period. He was a 2013 Consensus 1st-Team All-American.

4. Luke Joeckel

Another in the long list of stellar offensive linemen of the era, Joeckel started every game all three years at Texas A&M and won the 2013 Outland Trophy Award. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

3. Myles Garrett

A 2-time 1st-Team All-American and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Garrett recorded 141 tackles, 47 for loss and 31 sacks, ranking 6th all-time at Texas A&M during his 3 years there (2014-16). He led the SEC in tackles for loss (19.5) and sacks (12.5) in 2015.

2. Von Miller

Miller’s final season at Texas A&M was in 2010, so he surely makes the list. A 2-time 1st-Team All-American and No. 2 overall player selected in the 2011 NFL Draft, Miller led the nation with 17 sacks and finished his college career with 181 tackles, 50.5 for loss, and his 33 sacks rank fifth all-time at Texas A&M.

1. Johnny “Football” Manziel

Was there any doubt? The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, the first redshirt freshman to win the award, threw for 7,820 career passing yards from 2012-13 with 63 TDs and rushed for another 2,169 yards and 30 TDs. He accounted for 345 combined yards to shock No. 1 Alabama, 29-24, in the 2012 game in Tuscaloosa. He holds the program’s single-season record with 4,114 yards and 37 TDs in 2013, after setting the single-season school record with 21 rushing TDs the year before.