Conversation: 2005 Texas Longhorns National Championship Two-Deep

[Gerry Hamilton]

Conversation: 2005 Texas Longhorns National Championship Two-Deep

This was the Texas Longhorns official two-deep from the 2005 Big 12 Championship team. So the discussion is this ... where is that team better than the 2026 Texas team on paper. I know the 2026 team is yet to play, but it's a fun look back and comparison a few days out from SEC Media Days.

OFFENSE FLANKER (Z)

6 Quan Cosby Fr.

9 Nate Jones So. 

2 Brian Carter Sr.  

TIGHT END (Y) 

16 David Thomas Sr.

87 Neale Tweedie Jr. 

RIGHT TACKLE 

63 Justin Blalock Jr.

78 William Winston Sr. 

RIGHT GUARD 

72 Will Allen Sr. 

55 Cedrick Dockery Fr.-RS

CENTER 

62 Lyle Sendlein  Jr. 

67 Dallas Griffin So.

LEFT GUARD 

64 Kasey Studdard Jr.  

51 Mike Garcia Sr.  

LEFT TACKLE 

73 Jonathan Scott Sr. 

79 Tony Hills So. 

SPLIT END (X) 

4 Limas Sweed So. 

1 Tyrell Gatewood  So. 

TAILBACK 

11 Ramonce Taylor So. 

25 Jamaal Charles Fr.

22 Selvin Young Jr. 

FULLBACK 

46 Ahmard Hall Sr. 

33 Michael Houston Fr.

QUARTERBACK 

10 Vince Young Jr. 

7 Matt Nordgren Sr. 

SUB B (replaces TE or FB in three receiver set) 

5 Billy Pittman So. 

6 Quan Cosby Fr.

[Gerry Hamilton]

(QUICK) DEFENSIVE END 

80 Tim Crowder Jr.

49 Eric Hall Sr. 

DEFENSIVE (NOSE) TACKLE 

97 Frank Okam So. 

92 Larry Dibbles Sr. 

75 Roy Miller Fr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 

90 Rodrique Wright Sr. 

96 Derek Lokey So.

(POWER) DEFENSIVE END 

39 Brian Robison Jr.

98 Brian Orakpo Fr.-RS

STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER 

40 Robert Killebrew So. 

21 Eric Foreman So. 

MIDDLE LINEBACKER 

2 Aaron Harris Sr. 

40 Robert Killebrew So. 

WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER 

44 Rashad Bobino Fr.-RS 

4 Drew Kelson So.

RIGHT CORNERBACK 

8 Cedric Griffin Sr. 

28 Brandon Foster So.

29 Ryan Palmer Fr.-RS 

FREE SAFETY 

27 Michael Griffin Jr. 

26 Marcus Griffin So.

STRONG SAFETY 

7 Michael Huff Sr.

18 Matt Melton Jr.

LEFT CORNERBACK 

5 Tarell Brown Jr. 

31 Aaron Ross Jr. 

13 Erick Jackson So. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

20 NFL Draft picks that appeared on that team (guys like Jermichael Finley, Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley etc... red shirted)

5 first rounders

4 second rounders

3 third rounders

[Hookem1012]

I’d take this and probably many other years over the 2005 receivers. Outside of sweed there just wasn’t anything there that stands out(Shipley being hurt and Quan being a freshman is it). I’d probably also take the current crop of linebackers.

[Paul Jespersen]

Man, that 2005 defensive backfield.... wow.
What a team and year that was.
A lot of similarities to this team in terms of depth - if anything, feels like we are deeper now. As said above - WR seems like a stronger room now, but overall a lot of either/ors for me.
Of course, we know how that year played out and still have to see this year, but the pieces are there. Let's go!

🤘

[TexasMDcoach]

That team was so stacked.  Lt's do a head-to-head comparison after the season.

[MarkInAustin]

Cosby played quite a bit in the season and in the USC game, in my recall.  David Thomas was so good as a receiver and Ramonce was often a slot as a practical matter so there were no shortage of targets for Vince.

If you don't remember how that was the best OL ever at Texas just watch the two point conversion at the end of the USC game.

Robison and Crowder were the best pair of Edges Texas ever had.  Robison was a Pro Bowler.

The FB had a decent NFL career, one of the RBs led the NFL in rushing, another had a good career, and a third one played DE in the League.  And then there was the tragedy of Ramonce.

That team was astonishing.  70-3 in the Big 12 Champ game.  Ask Joel Klatt.  And I didn't mention the QB.

If this team goes 16-0 and floods the NFL with the ROY and several Pro Bowlers over time let me know.

[CageRader]

Eric Foreman is a name that I didn't realize was on that team.  Had huge talent at LB, but wanted to play offense so he transferred.  I think he is in prison (or was) now for some reason.  Sadly I wish he had stayed at UT and fulfilled his potential.

[Alex Butler]

2 hours ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

(QUICK) DEFENSIVE END 

80 Tim Crowder Jr.

49 Eric Hall Sr. 

DEFENSIVE (NOSE) TACKLE 

97 Frank Okam So. 

92 Larry Dibbles Sr. 

75 Roy Miller Fr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 

90 Rodrique Wright Sr. 

96 Derek Lokey So.

(POWER) DEFENSIVE END 

39 Brian Robison Jr.

98 Brian Orakpo Fr.-RS

STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER 

40 Robert Killebrew So. 

21 Eric Foreman So. 

MIDDLE LINEBACKER 

2 Aaron Harris Sr. 

40 Robert Killebrew So. 

WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER 

44 Rashad Bobino Fr.-RS 

4 Drew Kelson So.

RIGHT CORNERBACK 

8 Cedric Griffin Sr. 

28 Brandon Foster So.

29 Ryan Palmer Fr.-RS 

FREE SAFETY 

27 Michael Griffin Jr. 

26 Marcus Griffin So.

STRONG SAFETY 

7 Michael Huff Sr.

18 Matt Melton Jr.

LEFT CORNERBACK 

5 Tarell Brown Jr. 

31 Aaron Ross Jr. 

13 Erick Jackson So. 

That D Line!! Phew, there were some DUDES o-line too. The secondary you got Aaron Ross second team! Man they were fierce. That backfield was legit! Selvin was your 3rd back! I will say we have more depth a receiver this year by far and TE. Should be interesting to see what that d line looks like when the dust settles I think we may have as good or better depth and talent there than we did in 2005. QB depth is definitely better this season. Hypothetical, if Arch takes us to the promised land this season how close does he come to over taking VY as the greatest/most favorite QB in Texas history? VY is still my guy but Arch would be close if he does what we think he can this year!