31 Days Until Kickoff: Who Was The Best No. 31?

[Blake Munroe]

Few defensive players in Texas history were as dominant as Kiki DeAyala. He still owns the school record with 40.5 career sacks and set the single-season mark with 22.5 in 1982, earning Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors before being inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor.

Aaron Ross followed with one of the greatest seasons ever by a Longhorn defensive back. The 2006 Jim Thorpe Award winner was a consensus All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a key member of Texas' 2005 national championship team. His lockdown coverage helped anchor one of the best defenses in school history before becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick.

Current Longhorns carrying No. 31 into the 2026 season are James Simon and Yaheim Riley.

[akhookem]

Demarvion Overshown the DB wore 31 too lol

[Alex Butler]

Man great choices!! Gonna go with my guy A. Ross, never got to see Kiki play but what a stud!

Edited 4 hours ago by Alex Butler

[Huskie1]

A. Ross gets my vote. Mainly because he got Sonya to marry him! Now that’s a great catch!

[Roysterr]

Kiki coached my oldest son in youth football (2000) , we won it all that year. Tully Bowl those in Houston that know what the SBMSA is.