On Friday, September 12th of this year, ten former student-athletes from the University of Texas will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Honor. Among them are Longhorn football standout defensive tackle Rodrique Wright (2002-05) and prominent offensive guard Bobby Mitchell (1968-70), both of whom played significant roles in their respective championship teams throughout different eras of Longhorns history. Now, let’s explore their contributions to the legacy of the Longhorns.
DT Rodrique Wright (2002-05)
Rodrique Wright, a standout Defensive Tackle from Houston's Alief Hastings High, was a four-year starter for the Texas Longhorns and a key contributor to their 2005 National Championship team. As a freshman, he earned Freshman All-American honors and was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Over his college career, Wright was a three-time All-Big 12 selection, a First-Team All-American, and a Lombardi Award finalist in 2005. He played in 50 games with 45 starts, totaling 227 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 42 TFL, 67 QB pressures, eight pass breakups, and six forced fumbles. In the Longhorns’ 2005 title season, he posted 46 tackles, 14 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and a 67-yard fumble return touchdown against Oklahoma.
Wright was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2006 NFL Draft, but he but saw limited action due to injuries. He also spent time with the New York Jets, the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, and AFL’s Dallas Vigilantes before retiring and moving into coaching. He has since coached at Sam Houston State, ECU, UTSA, and Miami, earning a reputation as a top recruiter and developer of defensive linemen. In 2024, Wright joined the NFL ranks as a defensive line coach for his hometown Houston Texans.
OG Bobby Mitchell Guard (1968-70)
Mitchell was a two-sport letterman at Texas, excelling in both football and track & field. A standout from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, he helped lead Wheat Ridge High School to the 1966 state football title, earning all-state honors at fullback and winning two state championships in the shot put.
At Texas, he was converted to offensive guard to fit Coach Darrell K Royal’s Wishbone offense. He lettered from 1968–70, during which the Longhorns went 30-2-1, won three Southwest Conference titles, two National Championships, and played in three straight Cotton Bowls.
As a starter, he helped Texas lead the nation in rushing and scoring in 1969 and 1970. He earned first-team All-SWC honors as a senior and second-team honors as a junior. Mitchell also earned a letter in track in 1968. After college, he pursued dentistry, graduating from UT and dental school to become a highly respected dentist, earning multiple awards in his profession.