60 days until Texas Football: One jersey number stands for Longhorn defensive excellence
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 60 days until kickoff. No. 60 is retired in honor of Tommy Nobis and has been worn on occasion by a standout Longhorn defensive player since Nobis’ senior season in 1965
No. 60
No. 60 became the stuff of Longhorn legend even before Nobis donned the digit. In 1962, All-American Johnny Treadwell wore the number during his standout season, and had it on during one of the most important plays in Longhorn history. Facing No. 7 Arkansas in Austin on October 20, Treadwell and Pat Culpepper teamed up for a goal line stop to preserve the 7-3 victory and keep Darrell Royal’s team undefeated and at the top of the AP poll (Rice would tie Texas one week later).
Nobis wore the legendary No. 60 from 1963 to 1965 as a member of Texas’ first claimed national championship team. He was picked No. 1 overall by the Atlanta Falcons following his legendary career which included the Outland Trophy and the Maxwell Award.
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Only a select few Horns wore No. 60 after Nobis. Brian Jones (1989-90), Britt Hager (1984-88), Jeff Leiding (1981-1983), and Robin Sendlein (1978-1980) had a chance to wear the number for full seasons.
Dusty Renfro wore it for the 1999 Cotton Bowl, and Derrick Johnson wore it on senior night versus Texas A&M in 2004. Breckyn Hager, the son of Britt, twice wore No. 60. In the weeks following Nobis’ death in 2017, Hager wore it for the Horns’ Texas Bowl win over Missouri. Months later versus Oklahoma, Hager wore it in Texas’ thrilling 48-45 win in the Cotton Bowl versus Kyler Murray and the Sooners.
Whether or not the number is re-issued for a one-time use has not been determined. Of all of Texas’ retired numbers, only No. 60 has been used on the field after being honored by the school.
No matter what, No. 60 stands as the number signifying defensive excellence for the University of Texas football program.
All-Americans to wear No. 60
Johnny Treadwell, 1962
Tommy Nobis, 1964-65
Jeff Leiding, 1983
Britt Hager, 1988
