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Texas A&M Football

Aggie Football Top 100: Nos. 70-61

May 7, 2015
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There was the Haskell Hurricane. There were the Blitz Brothers. There was Tank. Actually, there were two tanks.

There was DaMonster, Stonewall, Johnny Football and an array of Junction Boys.

In more than a century of college football, Texas A&M has produced hundreds of great — sometimes legendary — football players.

But who are the 100 best?

A TexAgs panel that includes coaches, former players, A&M football historians and media members were tasked with compiling the list of A&M’s 100 greatest players and ranking them in order. The Top 100 will be revealed in groups of 10 over the next two weeks.

Today we reveal Nos. 70-61.


Lindsay Crouch, TexAgs Hall, who later returned to A&M to volunteer coach, was so electric on returns that he was famously known as 'The Human Joystick.' {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Hall, who later returned to A\u0026M to volunteer coach, was so electric on returns that he was famously known as \u0027The Human Joystick.\u0027 ","MediaItemID":41881}
70. Dante Hall, 1996-98, RB/KR (291): Hall was such a big-play threat that he probably deserved to have his own parking space. Oh, but that’s another story.

He rushed for 2,818 yards in his three-year A&M career, but was even more dangerous on kick returns. He averaged 22.4 yards on kickoff returns and 12.1 yards on punt returns in his career. Hall accumulated 4,706 all-purpose yards in his career, which is tied for third in A&M history. He was named All-Big 12 in 1997. Hall was a fifth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2000 NFL Draft and played nine professional seasons and twice was named All-Pro.

69. Mike Arthur, 1987-90, C (292): An All-Southwest Conference and All-American pick in 1990, Arthur was a fixture on an offensive line that paved the way for Darren Lewis to set A&M rushing records. He was also an Outland Trophy semifinalist in ‘90. He was a fifth-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1991 NFL Draft. He played six professional seasons with three teams and was on a Super Bowl championship team with the New England Patriots. Arthur is a member of A&M’s athletic Hall of Fame.

68. Domingo Bryant, 1982-85, S (296): Coming out of tiny Garrison High School in East Texas, Bryant was named All-Southwest Conference in 1982 and 1985. He recorded nine interceptions and recovered five fumbles in his career, but his most memorable play was a blocked field goal attempt against Texas in 1984 that led to a key touchdown in an Aggie victory. Bryant was selected by the Houston Oilers in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He played two seasons with the Oilers.

67. Rodney Thomas, 1991-94, RB (317): Thomas was well-known for his honesty and integrity and putting money into a malfunctioning vending machine. Yet, he was a tremendous running back, too. A product of Groveton, he earned All-Southwest Conference recognition in 1993 and 1994. He never rushed for 1,000 yards because A&M was so talented and deep at running back then, but he still rushed for 3,014 yards in his career and averaged just under 5.0 yards per carry. He’s one of only five A&M backs to exceed the 3,000-yard mark. He also scored 41 career touchdowns. Thomas was selected in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and played seven professional seasons. He died of a heart attack last year. He was 41. He is in the A&M athletic Hall of Fame.

66. Calvin Collins, 1993-96, C/G (338): Arguably A&M’s best offensive linemen of the ‘90s, Collins was named All-Southwest Conference at guard in 1994 and All-Big 12 at center in ’96. He was selected in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Collins played eight professional seasons.

Stegent rushed for 1,736 yards in his career and led team with 27 receptions in ‘67. He was an integral part of A&M’s Cotton Bowl-winning team of 1968. {"Module":"quote","Alignment":"right","Quote":"Stegent rushed for 1,736 yards in his career and led team with 27 receptions in ‘67. He was an integral part of A\u0026M’s Cotton Bowl-winning team of 1968.","Author":""}
65. Larry Stegent, 1967-69, RB (345): An All-Southwest Conference selection in 1967 and ’69, Stegent led the Aggies in rushing each of his three seasons. He rushed for 1,736 yards in his career and led team with 27 receptions in ‘67. He was an integral part of A&M’s Cotton Bowl-winning team of 1968. Stegent accumulated 3,780 all-purpose yards and was a first round selection of the St. Louis Cardinals, but sustained a knee injury in the old college All-Star game and played just two professional seasons. He is in the A&M athletic Hall of Fame.

64. Brandon Mitchell, 1993-96, DE (349): Coming to A&M out of tiny Abbeville, La., Mitchell moved into the starting lineup in 1994 and promptly earned All-Southwest Conference acclaim. He was also named All-SWC in ’95 and All-Big 12 in ’96. He didn’t produce gaudy statistics, but is perhaps most remembered for a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown against Texas in 1994. Mitchell was selected in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He played eight professional seasons and was part of a Super Bowl championship team.

63. George Woodard, 1975-79, FB (353): Going from Van Vleck High School to become a star fullback in Emory Bellard’s Wishbone offense, the 280-pound Woodard set a freshman school rushing record with 604 yards in ’71. He then led the Aggies with 1,153 rushing yards in ’76 and 1,107 in ’77. He’s one of just four A&M players to have rushed for 1,000 yards in two seasons. He completed his career with 2,911 rushing yards, which remains A&M’s sixth-highest total. He scored 35 touchdowns, which is A&M’s fourth-highest rushing total. An injury thwarted his pursuit of a professional career although he was selected in the 11th round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.

Texas A&M Media Relations Over the course of his career McKinney set the standard for all Aggie centers to live up to and had a decorated list of honors to show for it. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Over the course of his career McKinney set the standard for all Aggie centers to live up to and had a decorated list of honors to show for it.","MediaItemID":1153}
62. Seth McKinney, 1998-2001, C (355): A four-year starter for the Aggies, McKinney is credited as being only the fifth center in NCAA Division I history to start every game in a career. He started 50 consecutive games, which is the second most in A&M history. Twice he was named All-Big 12 and he was selected to some All-American teams. McKinney was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy in 2001 when he was also named A&M’s offensive MVP and team captain. McKinney was a third-round pick of the 2002 NFL Draft and played eight seasons.

61. Roger Vick, 1983-86, RB (362): The Tomball product led the Aggies in rushing in ’83 and ’86 and posted 11 100-yard rushing performances in his career. He rushed for 2,471 yards and scored 23 touchdowns in his career and earned All-Southwest Conference honors in ’86. Vick was selected in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He played four seasons in the NFL.

The Aggie Football Top 100

About the rankings

Panelists include: Jackie Sherrill, Jimmy Wright, Dave Elmendorf, Dennis Goehring, Hugh McElroy, Rusty Burson, Mike Henderson, Tom Turbiville, Brad Marquardt, Bob Spoede, Chip Howard, David Sandhop, Gabe Bock and Olin Buchanan.

Rankings were compiled by a points list in which 100 points were awarded first place, 99 for second place, etc. After a 13-vote total was accumulated, the point values of the highest and lowest votes were eliminated to determine a final point score. Each individual’s final point score is in parentheses.
Discussion from...

Aggie Football Top 100: Nos. 70-61

17,153 Views | 6 Replies | Last: 9 yr ago by aglaes
Olin Buchanan
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Staff
S
Aggie Football Top 100: Nos. 70-61
Reno Hightower
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Tad low for Rodney ....
Atreides Ornithopter
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AG
Domingo Bryant played in 1882 WOW
okieAg94
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AG
What I want to know is how Domingo Bryant played from 1882 all the way to 1985! How did the NCAA allow that to happen?!?! Plus blocking a field goal at the ripe age of 120 years!! And how did George Woodard set a freshman record in 1971 and still compete in 1979?
ccatag
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AG
So in 1971 George Woodard set a freshman rushing record, then 5 years and 6 years later (1976-77) he led the Aggies in rushing yards. Did he go on a mission of some sort?

There are a lot of Great Aggies on these lists! Keep it going!
wtr1975
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AG
It's beginning to get interesting:

1. If Roger Vick is 61, I cannot wait to see where they put Anthony Toney - Vick and Toney had to be the absolute best tandem backs the Ag's have had. The offense was the most evenly balanced during the era with approximately 250 rushing (on the backs of Vick and Toney) and 250 passing (behind the great Kevin Murray);

2. I remember my days as a student when we used to say that "when George Woodard got on the team bus it rolled forward 4 yards ...." He was an incredible fullback and a dominant player in the Coach Bellard era!!!;

3. Domingo Bryant - talk about a "diamond in the rough" - he was not the most highly recruited guy -- but he gave it his all and was a dominating player in the defensive backfield. I will never forget sitting in the endzone of Memorial Stadium when he blocked the field goal that Scott Polk picked up and carried to the opposite two yard line (to gut the 'Sips failed comeback attempt) ... and (as I watched from the 3rd deck) the acrobatic interception as the Cotton Bowl wound down in January 1, 1986 (after which 'Mushberger' proclaims "all of those years of frustration by Aggie fans come to an end on this New Year's day in the Cotton Bowl...") -- incredible memories --- a true Ag!!!; and

4. Say what you want --- and despite the lack of starts --- Leeland McElroy and Greg Hill would not have enjoyed their success without Rodney Thomas and his blocking ability. The most selfless Aggie player --- he was one of the most gifted and incredible backs that the Ag's to ever play on Kyle Field - Hands Down!!

Good job guys - keep it going!!!
aglaes
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AG
Dante has always been one of my all time favorite players to watch. If he had come back for his senior season and added another 1,000 yds onto his rushing stats - where would that put him all time at A&M - 2nd, 3rd?
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