Texas football: Ranking the pros

Today, let’s talk the Longhorns’ top NFL careers. Using profootball-reference.com’s career rating method, here are the top 20 pro careers of University of Texas players. The number with each player is the career value total; for reference, Emmitt Smith’s number was 129.

1. Bobby Layne 128: Sooner killer in the ’40s became an epic quarterback for the Detroit Lions.

2. Steve McMichael 100: Fred Akers defensive tackle in the ’70s was a two-time first team all-pro.

3. Priest Holmes 83: Surprising, huh? The best NFL tailback from Texas U. is not Earl Campbell. But Holmes, who played at UT in the mid-’90s, spent 10 years in the NFL and three times was first team all-pro, same as Campbell.

4. Diron Talbert 81: I never knew Talbert went to Texas; I knew he was a superb defensive lineman for George Allen with both the Rams and the Redskins. Talbert made 157 starts from 1967-80.

5. Raymond Clayborn 77: Cornerback from the mid-’70s played 15 years in the NFL, starting 13 seasons and making 36 interceptions.

6. Ricky Williams 73: Hmm. Another UT tailback better than Earl Campbell. count me as skeptical.

7. Doug English 72: Defensive lineman from the early ’70s played 10 years with the Lions and made 98 career starts. He had 13 sacks for Detroit in 1983.

8. Earl Campbell 70: Campbell’s abbreviated career probably costs him. He had just five 1,000-yard seasons and was finished at 30.

9. Bobby Dillon 68: Packer defensive back from 1952-59 made first team all-pro four times.

10. Jerry Sisemore 68: Great offensive lineman played in the NFL from 1973-84, making 155 starts for the Eagles.

11. Casey Hampton 66: Still going strong as a Steeler nose guard, after 10 NFL seasons and five Pro Bowls.

12. Leonard Davis 64: Ten-year offensive tackle with the Cardinals and now the Cowboys; started all of his 155 NFL games.

13. Eric Metcalif 63: 14-year return man, receiver and scatback, Metcalf had 12 returns for touchdowns and some big years passcatching from 1989-2002.