90 Days Until Kickoff: Who Was The Best No. 90?

[Blake Munroe]

We’re down to 90 days until Texas football, which means today we’re looking at the best Longhorns to ever wear No. 90.

This is one of the better numbers in the countdown, especially if you love defensive linemen.

Rodrique Wright was a massive piece of the 2005 national championship team and finished his Texas career with 227 tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. Add in a consensus All-American honor, a Lombardi Award finalist nod and three All-Big 12 selections, and his résumé is hard to beat.

Malcom Brown's 2014 season was one of the best by a Texas defensive tackle. He finished his career with 165 tackles, 29 TFL and 8.5 sacks, was a consensus first-team All-American, an Outland Trophy finalist, a Nagurski Trophy finalist and eventually became a first-round NFL Draft pick.

Byron Murphy II's peak was ridiculous. In 2023, he was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 selection. He finished his Texas career with 70 tackles, 15 TFL and eight sacks, then went No. 16 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The current No. 90 is DL Josaiah Sharma.

[Joe Zura]

Great graphic producer Matthew 

[.45s]

Some really good 90s from the past.

[Connor Vaughn]

That’s two number 90s drafted in the 1st round. Will Sharma be the third? 

[TTaylor2135]

Hell of a list, thanks Blake. 

[nineliveslost]

Rodrique Wright . National champ ring gives him major bonus points 

[Jedi Master Bevo]

Rod Wright's scoop and score is still one of my all time Red River moments 

[Jeff Howe]

29 minutes ago, Jedi Master Bevo said:

Rod Wright's scoop and score is still one of my all time Red River moments 

As Kasey Studdard called it on our Longhorn Blitz 2005 retrospective: “Rod Wright: All Torso!”

[Jeff Howe]

Rod Wright would’ve had a longer career after Texas it wasn’t for a bad shoulder.

Malcom Brown was a freak athlete at his size. IIRC, @Gerry Hamilton watched Brown beat everybody in a mile run on the first day Brenham started practice Brown’s senior year.

The best part about Brown’s recruitment was that A&M, who thought they had him, actually finished third. Brown strongly considered Oklahoma, something that didn’t go public until he put pen to paper.

Byron Murphy was another great evaluation by Tom Herman’s recruiting staff. Between Murphy, Jonathon Brooks, Gunnar Helm, Hayden Conner and Barryn Sorrell, that staff identified some future NFL players who weren’t no-brainer takes as recruits.

[Jedi Master Bevo]

23 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

As Kasey Studdard called it on our Longhorn Blitz 2005 retrospective: “Rod Wright: All Torso!”

😆 yeah he is!! But he was putting what he had up and down 

[Burnt Orange Horn]

15 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

 

Byron Murphy was another great evaluation by Tom Herman’s recruiting staff. Between Murphy, Jonathon Brooks, Gunnar Helm, Hayden Conner and Barryn Sorrell, that staff identified some future NFL players who weren’t no-brainer takes as recruits.

 

Oscar Giles on DL and Stan Drayton on RB!!!

🤘🏻🤘🏼🤘🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿

[PaulieD]

Gotta love me some Malcom Brown - and Byron Murphy - I can't choose.

[Jeff Howe]

1 minute ago, Burnt Orange Horn said:

Oscar Giles on DL and Stan Drayton on RB!!!

🤘🏻🤘🏼🤘🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿

Not necessarily.

With Brooks specifically, the staff didn’t know about him until the recruiting department brought his name to the table.

Giles didn’t recruit interior defensive linemen. Mark Hagen was the defensive tackles coach Herman’s last year.

[Rocky P]

@Matthew Hutcheson always putting in the hard work to make blake look good.  

[Burnt Orange Horn]

Drayton was on Brooks early when no one else was. Everyone including initially Texas was looking at Earl's grandson and everyone else. Drayton made the call on Brooks. Then there was this guy from Tuscon, Robinson.

Shermar Stewart was the 5 ⭐ DL prize everyone wanted. Byron Murphy was considered the consolation prize that fell to Texas. Oscar Giles was the primary DL Coach for all the DL who went to the NFL since Dark took over.

All from my not in the know fan perspective.

[Jeff Howe]

49 minutes ago, Burnt Orange Horn said:

Drayton was on Brooks early when no one else was. Everyone including initially Texas was looking at Earl's grandson and everyone else. Drayton made the call on Brooks. Then there was this guy from Tuscon, Robinson.

Shermar Stewart was the 5 ⭐ DL prize everyone wanted. Byron Murphy was considered the consolation prize that fell to Texas. Oscar Giles was the primary DL Coach for all the DL who went to the NFL since Dark took over.

All from my not in the know fan perspective.

I’m just relaying what folks in the building at the time told me on Brooks and Murphy specifically.