The Longhorns That Never Were: A Mount Rushmore of Envy

One of the strongest emotions college football fans feel is envy. Even though it’s a sport built on family, tribalism, and pride, a large percentage of fans still leave every season wanting what some other fanbase has.

In the Texas Longhorns’ most recent walk through the desert, the decade was underscored by a feeling of what could’ve been. Was Miss Terry really looking at houses in Austin? Was Nick Saban really about to be the coach at Texas?

We’ll never know for certain, but Texas fans coveted what Crimson Tide fans had in Tuscaloosa. With the dominance of Alabama and Ohio State—then later the rise of LSU and Georgia, Longhorn fans endured recruiting misses aplenty. It forced Texas fans to watch players who seemed destined to wear burnt orange thrive in other uniforms.

So, let’s do another Mount Rushmore. This time: The Mount Rushmore of Players We Wish Had Been Longhorns (21st Century Only)

Like the real Mount Rushmore, this isn’t a ranking—just four faces of equal gravitas etched into stone for eternity, side by side.

Like the real Mount Rushmore, this isn’t a ranking, simply four faces of equal gravitas who are etched into stone for eternity, side by side. Find Rushmore Volume One, Two, Three and Four.

Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma RB (2004–2006)

Many have said Peterson was one of the rare players who could’ve jumped straight to the NFL from high school—and he showed it in his freshman year at OU.

It was painful watching a Texas native from Palestine lead the Sooners to victory in the 2004 Red River Shootout. It hurt even more watching Peterson put together one of the most prolific freshman seasons in college football history. He grew up a Texas fan. Yet he wore Crimson and Cream.

The recruitment of Peterson has been mythologized, as often happens with legends. Whether or not Mack Brown’s staff refused a visit to Peterson’s incarcerated father became internet lore. Years later, Peterson revealed he chose OU because Texas wouldn’t guarantee him the starting job with Cedric Benson returning.

Texas got the final say with the 2005 national title and Red River wins in Peterson’s final two seasons—but one can still dream of a backfield with Peterson, Jamaal Charles, and Vince Young.

(Also considered from Oklahoma: Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb. That 2019 Red River game, woof.)

Garrett Wilson, Ohio State WR (2019–2021)

The New York Jets star was one of the best high school players in Texas history while at Lake Travis. Early in the process, he seemed like a lock to stay home and choose the Horns. But as his stock rose, Texas faded with a whimper.

After choosing the Buckeyes, Wilson offered a damning quote about the Tom Herman and the previous era’s failure to develop top-tier talent:

“In the end, I’ve watched a lot of people go to Texas with a ton of ability and maybe not achieve what I thought they could. I didn’t want to be one of those guys.”

Thankfully, Steve Sarkisian has flipped that narrative during his tenure, but the loss of a local kid to Ohio will always sting.

(Also, maybe for The Girl Herd: Wilson appears to be dating Longhorn Women’s Basketball legend Shay Holle. Another reason he should’ve been on the Forty Acres.)

Tie: Von Miller and Myles Garrett, Texas A&M EDGE(s)

I’ve liked three Texas A&M football players ever: Dat Nguyen, Von Miller, and Myles Garrett. Since this is post-2000, we’ll focus on the latter two.

Miller, a future Hall of Famer from DeSoto, seemed destined for A&M since he was a Poultry Science major. (Last I checked, not offered in UT’s course catalogue). But Miller was unbelievable in College Station, then became one of the greatest pass-rushing game-wreckers in NFL history.

And he gave the Houston Chronicle a Hall of Fame quote about why he picked A&M:

“You know that girlfriend that’s really not that attractive but she’s going to do everything she can to keep you? That was A&M…That hot chick that just talks to you on Mondays? That was LSU.”

Surely Texas could’ve jumped in when he was talking like that about his alma mater?

As for Garrett, he didn’t even really consider Texas. He picked Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies during the glow of Johnny Football hysteria. For one of the best players in the country from Arlington to ghost Texas? That was a wake-up call.

Nick Saban, Head Coach (Alabama)

We already mentioned Miss Terry and the house-hunting rumors, but this belongs on the stone too.

Though Saban wasn’t a player, he represents a lost era. Think of all the players who would’ve followed him to Austin. 

Honorable Mention: Andrew Luck, QB Stanford. Hopefully late stage Mack Brown’s Texas wouldn’t have convinced him to retire even earlier.