We’re now down to 46 days away from kickoff against Ohio State. Who’s your favorite No. 46 for the Horns? 

Some options today include:

Joseph Ossai

Roosevelt Leaks

 

Malik Jefferson

Smith Orogbo is your current No. 46. 

My favorite 46 will always be Leaks.  We were at UT at the same time.  In fact, we played pick-up basketball games at the Gregory Gym annex several times.  He was a great guy.

As a basketball player, let's just say he was a great football player.  LOL.  I used to guard him all the time. 

He was quiet but had a great sense of humor.  Since he was, obviously, powerfully built I one time told him, "If I was a DB and I was the only thing between you and scoring a touchdown, you were going to score.  Whether you faked or not, I would dive at it and you'd walk into the endzone. There was no way I would try to tackle you one-on-one."  He just chuckled.

I am a lifelong Roosevelt Leaks fan.

Earl Campbell once told me that if Roosevelt Leaks hadn't gone to Texas, there wouldn't have been an Earl Campbell.

I think that makes Leaks the winner by default.

Gerry mentions Dustry Renfro.

Jeff Howe chimes in with Ahmard Hall.

From who I’ve actually seen, Ossai. “You don’t make a race horse run backwards”. Still bugs me that he ever dropped into coverage. Yeah, I know he has an INT or two, but still. His game against Utah in the Alamo bowl and against Okie lite were just absolute demolitions of the opposition that I hadn’t seen since Okafor made the Oregon state RT cry because he couldn’t be blocked and had 4.5 sacks. Unreal.

All of these guys were/are great Texas players.  Leaks for me as I saw him and Earl in DKR's and Frank Broyles last Texas vs. Arkansas game at Texas Memorial Stadium.

I did not really like the steepness of the new upper deck that cost us the oak trees on the western side of the stadium.  Oh well.

43 minutes ago, Hookem1012 said:

From who I’ve actually seen, Ossai. “You don’t make a race horse run backwards”. Still bugs me that he ever dropped into coverage. Yeah, I know he has an INT or two, but still. His game against Utah in the Alamo bowl and against Okie lite were just absolute demolitions of the opposition that I hadn’t seen since Okafor made the Oregon state RT cry because he couldn’t be blocked and had 4.5 sacks. Unreal.

A third-and-long against TCU in 2019 when Todd Orlando had him roaming in the middle of the field, 30 yards away from the line of scrimmage, is burned in my brain.

Shoutout to Craig Naivar unleashing the dogs on Tyler Huntley in his interim DC role of the bowl game.

Roosevelt Leaks was a great player, # 3 in the Heisman voting his junior season and favored to win it his senior season before injuring his knee.

Another old timer here - I arrived at UT in 1973 (Leaks' junior year) as a grad student and watched him play a couple of times.  Ossai and Jefferson were excellent players for the Horns but Leaks was on a whole 'nother level of excellence.

3 minutes ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Roosevelt Leaks was a great player, # 3 in the Heisman voting his junior season and favored to win it his senior season before injuring his knee.

Another old timer here - I arrived at UT in 1973 (Leaks' junior year) as a grad student and watched him play a couple of times.  Ossai and Jefferson were excellent players for the Horns but Leaks was on a whole 'nother level of excellence.

My dad left this world standing firmly on the hill that Roosevelt Leaks was the most talented running back to ever play for the Longhorns.

IMO, Leaks is the best. Here is a game from 1973 in which he rushed for over 190 yards and two TDs. The quality is poor at times and there is only background music added since it is a coach’s film. 
 

 

 

Edited July 15, 20251 yr by Robert Gilbert

Leaks was a game changer on so many levels. 

I had forgotten Leaks was 46. He is one of the first Longhorns I remember as a young kid. 

Leaks wins our first Heisman if only that spring injury had not happened. Rosey was a man's man. 

Ahmard Hall's career is truly remarkable.

Served in the Marines, walked on at Texas, won a national championship and then played six years in the NFL. That's a heck of a life.

On 7/15/2025 at 6:21 AM, Burnt Orange Horn said:

All of these guys were/are great Texas players.  Leaks for me as I saw him and Earl in DKR's and Frank Broyles last Texas vs. Arkansas game at Texas Memorial Stadium.

I did not really like the steepness of the new upper deck that cost us the oak trees on the western side of the stadium.  Oh well.

I was at that game too.

Rosey Leaks 46.  Third in the Heisman voting in 73, but suffered a serious knee injury the following spring.