Dave Campbell’s Texas Football is counting down the 50 most important players in the state of Texas, and we’re now cruising through the top 10.

Most important doesn’t always mean the most talented. Talent is a factor, but we’re weighing it against depth at the position, production and how much losing this player would impact a team’s trajectory.

No. 5 didn’t start his career at a Power 5 school, but quickly proved he deserves to be a centerpiece on the state’s most consistent defense. TCU defensive end Ben Banogu takes on an expanded leadership role in 2018.

Check back over the next several days as we count down the rest of the top 10.

Previous: Nos. 50-11 | No. 10 SMU WR James Proche | No. 9 Texas OT Calvin Anderson | No. 8 TCU QB Shawn Robinson | No. 7 Sam Houston State WR Nathan Stewart | No. 6 Baylor QB Charlie Brewer

The History

TCU defensive end Ben Banogu wasn’t an especially notable prospect at Prosper High School. He was an honorable mention all-state pick, but 247Sports composite didn’t even rate him a top-3,000 prospect in the class.

But as a redshirt freshman at Louisiana-Monroe, Banogu posted 45 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss in 13 games. His success eventually allowed him to transfer to the Power 5 level. Right away, Banogu proved he was good enough to play.

Banogu earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year for his efforts in 2017. He posted 16.5 tackles for loss and 9 sacks for the Horned Frogs as a junior, but opted to return to school and increase his sample size. Now, Banogu is a consensus All-Big 12 talent.

The Skillset

Banogu is a versatile defensive lineman who really came into his skill set during his redshirt year at TCU. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, Banogu prefers using his length and athleticism to get to the right spot and get opposing linemen off balance.

While he came close to posting double-digit sacks, Banogu is also strong in the run game. The Horned Frogs ranked among the best defenses in college football last season, and Banogu’s lateral movement and natural instincts were a big reason why. If he can replicate his production and grow as a player, Banogu could easily be a first round pick.

Expert insight

“Ben Banogu surprised some people when he started creating buzz among NFL draft analysts last year, but anyone who watched him closely all season could understand why. The former ULM transfer harassed quarterbacks all season on his way to becoming Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He racked up 8.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles in a breakout campaign, and now he'll shoulder even more responsibility within the TCU defense.

With Mat Boesen off to the NFL and Ross Blacklock sidelined for the season by an Achilles injury, Banogu will face more double-teams and chip blocks this season, especially now that opposing coaches know what he can do. But if he can overcome that and put up similar numbers in 2018, there will be no questions about why he's getting draft hype this time.”

–Matt Jennings, TCU Rivals

The Impact

TCU always has a good defense, but Banogu will have to take a much bigger role in 2018. Mat Boesen was a talented foil on the other side of the line in 2017. He’s off to the next level. Ty Summers is projected to start opposite Banogu now, but he’ll split time between linebacker and defensive end.

Losing defensive tackle Ross Blacklock in camp makes Banogu’s role even more important. Corey Bethley and Terrell Cooper have plenty of potential, but the experience isn’t there.

The Horned Frog defense is built on getting pressure on the quarterback and stopping the run. Banogu has to be the tip of the spear. If opposing defensive coordinators don’t have to game plan around Banogu, the defense likely won’t be elite.