Texas Football: 10 best quarterbacks all-time for the Longhorns

8. Marty Akins (1972-1975)

Just two seasons after Phillips’ final year as Texas’ starting quarterback, there was another special player in line at the position for Royal. Marty Akins was a productive and reliable starting quarterback for the Longhorns from 1973-1975. He led the wishbone offense for three solid seasons for the Longhorns offense, which peaked in 1975.

Akins registered more than 1,000 total yards and nine total touchdowns en route to a 10-2 season where the Longhorns finished up sixth in the AP Poll. Akins and the Longhorns had some tough games in that season, including losses to No. 2 Oklahoma and the No. 2 Texas A&M Aggies.

Texas was likely one play away from directly competing for a national title in 1975, which was proved when they topped the No. 10 Colorado Buffaloes in a dominant double-digit win in the Cotton Bowl.

7. Major Applewhite (1998-2001)

The excellent quarterback play that former Texas head coach Mack Brown and his teams got throughout nearly his entire tenure up until the 2010s was continued on with Major Applewhite in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Applewhite was Texas’ starting quarterback from 1998-2000, until Simms would wind up taking the starting job for the 2001 campaign.

Applewhite was extremely productive and efficient for the Longhorns during his three seasons as the starting quarterback where he registered nearly 8,000 passing yards, 59 total touchdowns, and 27 interceptions.

Texas was also very consistent with Applewhite as the starting quarterback. They won nine games every single season from 1998-2000.

It is also worth noting that Applewhite ranks third in Texas program history in passing yards and passing touchdowns.