We’re 60 days away from Texas football and this is one of the strongest groups in the entire countdown.

Tommy Nobis is clearly the headliner. National champion, Outland Trophy winner, Maxwell Award winner, two-time All-American, three-time First-Team All-SWC, No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick, College Football Hall of Famer and one of the few Longhorns to have his number retired. He’s not just the best No. 60… he’s one of the greatest players in Texas football history.

But the rest of the group is stacked too. Johnny Treadwell was a unanimous All-American and one of Texas’ great two-way players. Britt Hager is still the program’s career tackles leader with 499. Jeff Leiding was a consensus All-American and leader of that nasty 1983 defense. Robin Sendlein was a team captain and forced-fumble machine. Brian Jones helped lead the 1990 SWC title team and had a huge season at linebacker.

Nobis stands alone at the top, but No. 60 has a ridiculous amount of linebacker history behind it. 

All great players but Nobis was Coach Royal's yard stick of perfection.

I read an article many, many years ago that was mainly about Butkus but several NFL players chimed in and said the hardest hitter in the NFL was Nobis and not Butkus.  Truly a legend.

This is a tough one for sure. Nobis stands alone but as Blake said, many other REALLY good players.

I remember when Breckyn Hager wore 60 for a game 

Nobis played Guard too in one platoon football. Treadwell was no slouch, either.  Leiding and Sendlein were fundamental to their teams. Hager was a force.

So much greatness!!

Nobis paid the price in his kater years, though.  Tough on his family, sadly.

🤘🏻🤘🏼🤘🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿

I'm not sure there is any measure (other than physical size) that indicates Brian Jones was superior to Britt Hager. I didn't think that Jones should have been given the #60 at the time, but I was super fired up as a kid when Jones transferred to Texas from UCLA. He was a physical freak (6'3", 260# at 4.5) before they grew on trees. But Hager was indisputably a better LB.

Man, Hager was a tackling machine. Especially against A&M, Hager was an absolute beast in '87 and '88. Just gutting through it. I think he is still and probably always will be the all-time leader in tackles at the University.

I like players getting to use the #60 from time to time. I'm not a fan of retiring numbers when their names can be immortalized in the stadium.

*I should have my eyes checked. When I first looked at the graphic I saw Jones, but not Hager! Getting old is fun

Edited July 7Jul 7 by Caver60

I knew this number would have a good list of some great players, but, imho, I totally agree that Mr. Nobis “stands alone at the top”

Johnny Treadwell is the #60 in my avatar.  

I was in the end zone right in front of that tackle,  one of those memories you can't forget.  

Nobis