Texas A&M's jersey legacies: The 50s

For some, the 50s are a time for a mid-life crisis.

But the 50s were never crises for Texas A&M. In fact, some of the best players in school history have worn jersey numbers in the 50s. Actually, the NFL could compile an impressive list of its players who wore that series of numbers at Texas A&M.

Here’s our list of the best A&M representatives to wears Nos. 50-59.

The 50s

50. Lloyd Hale (1955-57): An All-SWC center on the Aggies’ ’56 Southwest Conference championship team that finished 9-0-1. One of the famed “Junction Boys,” he volunteered to play center after all the other centers quit the team.

51. Taylor Whitley (1999-2002): Whitley was an often overlooked, but overachieving guard on coach R.C. Slocum’s last teams. He was named to the 2002 All-Big 12 team. After completing his A&M career, he was a third-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in ’03. Whitley played in three NFL seasons.
• Also considered: John Elisor

52. Mike Arthur (1987-90): Named All-Southwest Conference and All-American in 1990. Arthur was a fixture on an offensive line that paved the way for Darren Lewis to set A&M rushing records. Arthur was taken in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played six seasons in the NFL.

53. Ray Childress (1981-84): A two-time All-America selection, Childress could be dominant at defensive tackle or defensive end. He posted four sacks in a game against Arkansas in 1993 and totaled 15 that year. A College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Childress finished his stellar A&M career with 25 sacks and 360 tackles. He was taken by the Houston Oilers as the third overall selection in the 1985 NFL Draft.

54. Calvin Collins (1993-96): A two-time All-Southwest Conference selection and an All-Big 12 pick, Collins played guard and center for the Aggies. He was a sixth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1997 NFL Draft and played professionally for seven seasons.

55. Robert Jackson (1975, 76): Trying to run on Jackson was like trying to fun through a stone wall — it wasn’t successful. Jackson only played two seasons at A&M and was named All-Southwest Conference both years. He earned All-American recognition in ’76 when he posted 143 tackles. He was a first round selection of the Cleveland Browns.
• Also considered: Bill Hobbs, Joe Wellborn

56. Richmond Webb (1986-89): An excellent pass blocker, Webb was an All-Southwest Conference selection in 1989. He went to have one of the best NFL careers ever posted by an Aggie. He was the ninth overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro during his 11-year professional career.

57. Kenneth Reeves (1981-84): Though Reeves never made any all-conference teams, he was a very good offensive lineman that never got much recognition primarily because he played on mediocre teams. However, Reeves proved his talent on the next level. He was sixth-round choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1985 NFL Draft and played six seasons in the NFL.

58. Lance Teichelman (1990-93): Texas did not offer the Austin native. So if he couldn’t join them, Teichelman would beat them. A gruff nose guard, he was part of three Southwest Conference championship teams and was named all-conference in ’93. He was taken by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the ’94 NFL Draft.

59. Jason Rockhold (1989-90): A 6-foot-8 junior college transfer, Rockhold teamed with 6-foot-8 Matt McCall to form perhaps the nation’s tallest pair of offensive tackles. Rockhold started at left tackle every game of his senior year, including the Holiday Bowl victory over BYU.