When you think of No. 12 at Texas, it starts and ends with Colt McCoy and Earl Thomas.

McCoy finished his Texas career with a 45-8 record as a starter, 13,253 passing yards, 112 passing touchdowns and 14,824 yards of total offense. He was a two-time consensus All-American, won the Walter Camp Award twice, and took home the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Manning Awards in 2009. Texas eventually retired his No. 12.

Thomas was just as dominant on the other side of the ball. In only two seasons, he piled up 149 tackles, 10 interceptions and 33 pass breakups. His eight interceptions in 2009 set a Texas single-season record, and he earned consensus All-American honors while helping lead the Longhorns to the national championship game.

12 days until kickoff, yall. 

Colt and Earl were 2 of the absolute best to ever do it at Texas!!!!

College football returns this week. We’ve just about made it folks.

🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

Neither nationally recruited … both were absolutely talent maximizers 

11 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Neither nationally recruited … both were absolutely talent maximizers 

I wish we can interview Earl Thomas on OTF

Wish we could’ve had a shot at Florida in the 2008 season. I think we would’ve beaten them and might not have been too close. Same with Bama in 2009 I’d Colt doesn’t get hurt we realistically could’ve won back to back Nattys. 

3 minutes ago, Alex Butler said:

Wish we could’ve had a shot at Florida in the 2008 season. I think we would’ve beaten them and might not have been too close. Same with Bama in 2009 I’d Colt doesn’t get hurt we realistically could’ve won back to back Nattys. 

This has been my longstanding head-canon

Ted Constanzo, anyone?😏

4 hours ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Neither nationally recruited … both were absolutely talent maximizers 

ET wasn't the highest rated recruit coming out of West Orange Stark that year. ET was an absolute diamond in the rough.

I’m doing my sworn duty to remind everyone that Eric Berry is in possession of a Thorpe Award that belongs to Earl Thomas.

Earl Thomas is on my DBU Mount Rushmore with Jerry Gray, Johnnie Johnson and Nathan Vasher.

His ‘09 season is one of the best a Texas defensive player has ever had. Earl was only on the field for two years, but he might’ve had the best two-year run of any Longhorn DB ever.

19 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

Earl Thomas is on my DBU Mount Rushmore with Jerry Gray, Johnnie Johnson and Nathan Vasher.

His ‘09 season is one of the best a Texas defensive player has ever had. Earl was only on the field for two years, but he might’ve had the best two-year run of any Longhorn DB ever.

Jeff, you are too young to have seen the amazing Raymond Clayborn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Clayborn

In 1976, on a team that included juniors Earl Campbell and Brad Shearer, he was the team's MVP and a unanimous All American.

Although he thrilled us with his TD KO and punt returns at Texas the only film of him I can find is from his rookie year in the NFL when he returned one over a hundred yards on national TV - his third KO return TD of the year.  He and his teammate Lam Jones ran on the 440 relay together and he was an All American as a track star on the 1600M relay.

I will add this: watching Jonah Williams play baseball as a freshman his fluidity reminded me immediately of Clayborn, which for me was high praise.  Jonah is bigger than Raymond was, but he moved with that same gliding grace,  as if his feet weren't actually touching the ground.  That perception has had me wanting to see Jonah play DB and return man ever since.