Which Texas player did you think would have a great NFL career but ultimately didn’t?

[Austalgia]

Achieved more than expected I would say Quandre Diggs and Adrian Phillips.  Great college players, but I wasn’t sure with measurables they would make it in the league. 

[Hashtag]

7 hours ago, Austalgia said:

Achieved more than expected I would say Quandre Diggs and Adrian Phillips.  Great college players, but I wasn’t sure with measurables they would make it in the league. 

I'd throw PJ Locke in that category as well!

[goattalk100]

Nathan Vasher is one that’s like a could have been for me. If he didn’t deal with those injuries in the league he could’ve been a borderline HOF level player.

[HornsUpThumbsDown]

Colt 

 

[817 Boxing B]

19 hours ago, Ace Recruiter said:

In today's game, that is totally back up bread. Starters are getting 20M+ minimum

Do you truly believe that front office is going to let him play through his mistakes, like Josh Allen got to... or does signing a young QB, who was drafted highly, signal that they will move on to something more "traditional" sooner, rather than later? 

I'm thinking you wanna push the kid... not have someone beat him out, or be somebody the fan base will readily be looking for to get some clock. They knew when they drafted him he'd only started 10 games. They also put him out there too quick instead of letting Sam rock. Just my opinions...

[817 Boxing B]

19 hours ago, NothinButDaHorns34 said:

Wasn’t developed? He was a second team all american, big 12 co-defensive, freshman of the year and two time all big 12 team so “not developed” is very debatable. 

When he made it to the NFL, he couldn't do one thing well. The Cowboys took a flyer on him, and I had family, by marriage, in the building. They watched him all camp. 🤷🏿‍♂️. It was the argument for many players from our program at the time. Either they played out of position at Texas, relative to what the NFL needed from them, or they just weren't NFL ready. Jackson Jeffcoat was another guy... got accolades in college, but the NFL is different. That's why it's amazing what Sark is doing, and has done, since being here. Pretty decent success rate on the talent going to the NFL and being productive in the short time he's been here.. but if you loom at his recruits throughout his coaching career..... lot more success than failures.

[Bobby Burton]

I thought Lovell Pinkney, when he first arrived on campus, would eventually be an elite NFL player. But he never really progressed after year one in Austin.

I don't know if I misjudged his overall ability or he perhaps he just didn't love football, I really don't know what happened. But I thought he would make it big and he just never did.

[harveycmd]

Clearly, it's Huff.

[bierce]

Jermichael Finley.  Monster talent whose pro career was derailed by injuries. 

[817 Boxing B]

On 3/13/2025 at 7:51 PM, John Moore said:

Roy

Yep... damn! I thought he was going to destroy the NFL.

[817 Boxing B]

7 hours ago, Bobby Burton said:

I thought Lovell Pinkney, when he first arrived on campus, would eventually be an elite NFL player. But he never really progressed after year one in Austin.

I don't know if I misjudged his overall ability or he perhaps he just didn't love football, I really don't know what happened. But I thought he would make it big and he just never did.

Foot quickness... never seemed explosive but he had a helluva frame.

[817 Boxing B]

On 3/13/2025 at 1:01 PM, Roysterr said:

Not fast enough

Too many carries too early between Midland Lee and Texas.

[dentonhorn]

On 3/12/2025 at 7:11 PM, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Sims.

Kenneth Sims.

Most dominate DT we ever had but not professionally so much.

[ArizonaLonghorn]

4 hours ago, dentonhorn said:

Most dominate DT we ever [Kenneth Sims] had but not professionally so much.

He was the # 1 overall pick in the 1982 draft after winning the Lombardi Award and receiving more votes for the Heisman than any other defensive player his senior year ... lot of awards.

But in the pros he first had a lot of injuries, then failed various drug tests and was arrested for cocaine possession.  Couple years later described himself as a 'recovering alcoholic'.  One of those guys who couldn't handle the demons once he had success.  He could have been a great pro.

[Austalgia]

14 hours ago, Bobby Burton said:

I thought Lovell Pinkney, when he first arrived on campus, would eventually be an elite NFL player. But he never really progressed after year one in Austin.

I don't know if I misjudged his overall ability or he perhaps he just didn't love football, I really don't know what happened. But I thought he would make it big and he just never did.

I think the “just didn’t like football” is definitely overlooked sometimes.  Kids can come up and have elite testing and measurables and just not be a football player.  There aptitude or drive is not bent to the sport. 

[Thorn007]

hadnot

[MarkInAustin]

Played out of position at Texas at shot put.  Ryan Crouser.  Rattlesnake quick at 6-7 and 310#.  Great hops and foot speed.  Three Olympic Gold medals. World Record.

Never played a down.  Or Power Forward, either.

[chennups]

Roy Williams. 

[Jc Dobbs]

On 3/15/2025 at 10:36 AM, Bobby Burton said:

I thought Lovell Pinkney, when he first arrived on campus, would eventually be an elite NFL player. But he never really progressed after year one in Austin.

I don't know if I misjudged his overall ability or he perhaps he just didn't love football, I really don't know what happened. But I thought he would make it big and he just never did.

Pinckney would be a Captain on my Longhorns "First player off the team bus" group. My goodness he sure looked the part of Intimidator.

I seem to recall that Lovell forfeited his last NFL chance with the Rams when he went to the Million Man March instead of making his deadline for reporting to the team.