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. 4 on the list isn’t exactly a household name. In fact, plenty of fans might not even recognize him. But offensive lineman Erik McCoy will have an important role for the Aggies 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 | No. 5 TCU DE Ben Banogu

The History

McCoy was a largely overlooked recruit from Lufkin when he joined the Aggies in 2015. But after a redshirt year, McCoy quickly became a mainstay on the offensive line for Texas A&M.

The rising junior earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after his first start in an Aggie uniform against UCLA in 2016. Since then, McCoy has started all 26 of his games in a Texas A&M kit. Twenty-four of those starts have come at center, but he’s also shifted over to guard when necessary.

Now, McCoy is set to begin his third straight season as a full-time starter in College Station. His successes don’t end on the field; McCoy also earned the Top Academic Award in the spring.

The Skillset

Centers come in all shapes and sizes, and McCoy is on the larger end. He’s listed as a burly 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds. His size and weight allows him to seamlessly transition between center and guard.

McCoy has worked with several quarterbacks in his two years as a starter, including Trevor Knight, Jake Hubenak, Kellen Mond and Nick Starkel. Each brought their own skillset to the table, but McCoy is versatile enough to adjust.

Expert insight

“The Lufkin alum has been one of the few constant pieces on an ever-shifting A&M line the last two years. After flirting with playing guard for the second straight preseason, he'll likely start the year at center, where he's anchored the offensive line since 2016. His versatility is a testament to his skill set and why he's one of A&M's most important players this fall.”

–Ben Baby, The Dallas Morning News

The Impact

Texas A&M has several returning starters, but the production hasn’t necessarily been good. The Aggies averaged just 4.0 yards per carry last year and allowed 29 sacks against their freshman quarterbacks. Experienced offensive lineman Koda Martin also opted to grad transfer. His departure at left tackle could cause the entire unit to shift.

Perhaps more troubling, Texas A&M starts with Clemson and Alabama within the first four weeks of the season. There might not be a worse way for an inconsistent line to start, especially when both quarterbacks are sophomores.

McCoy has been a leader over the past two years. Even though he’s not the oldest on the line, he is the most versatile. His play will be essential in helping the line gel and handle a brutal onslaught of defensive linemen to start the year.