The Olympics, the antidote for the poisonous dog days of summer that rob sports fans of competition. The Paris Games open on July 26, where the United States will look to add to their world-leading medal lead. 

But what if we formed a team of only Texas college football players to compete under one banner - maybe the Dave Campbell's Republic? Texas Football Club? Still workshopping that name, of course, but these are the players we'd send to France to represent the great state of Texas. 

100M & 200M Dashes – Texas A&M WR Ernest Campbell

There's football speed and track speed - and Ernest Campbell has more than enough of both. The Refugio product won four-consecutive Class 2A 100m state titles and capped it with a wind-legal 10.22 as a senior, a state record. That mark would've tied for 12th in the 2024 SEC Outdoor Prelims with South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor, the No.1 player on The Athletic's Bruce Feldman's annual 'Freak's List.' Campbell also posted a 20.92 200m time, second-fastest in 2A history. 

110M High Hurdles – Baylor S Mason Dossett 

Dossett broke the Texas Relays record with a blistering 13.27, the seventh-fastest wind legal time ever, and won a gold medal at the Class 6A State Meet with a 13.44. The last Baylor signee to set state records in the 110m hurdles? Copperas Cove's Robert Griffin III. He turned out ok.

400M Hurdles – Stephen F. Austin CB Jarvis Anderson

Anderson, the Austin American-Statesman's 2023 Central Texas Athlete of the Year at Taylor, is the 4A record holder with a 35.96 mark in the 300M intermediate hurdles. Sure, the 400 is a different animal, but Anderson's made a smooth transition at SFA.  He earned a bronze medal at the WAC outdoor championships with a 50.10 in the 400M hurdles. 

Long Jump – Texas A&M RB Rueben Owens

Owens dubbed himself the 'Black Unicorn' at El Campo because his athleticism was so unique. He rushed for over 7,000 yards en route to five-star status and earned a bronze medal in the Class 4A State long jump with a 23'3.75". Talk about a different kind of animal. 

Triple Jump – Texas Tech DB Oliver Miles III

What's in that El Campo water? Miles continues the trend of former Ricebirds representing our state in these hypothetical Olympics. His 50-foot, 10-inch triple jump as a junior was the second-longest measurement in UIL 4A history and would've scored at the 2024 Big 12 Championships. His versatility extended to the gridiron, where he excelled at quarterback, defensive back and even punter.

Shot Put – TCU OT Creece Brister

The Stephenville star won the 4A Shot Put gold medal as a junior and then set a personal record last year with a 59-foot throw. He repeated as state champion despite rehabbing from a torn MCL. Imagine what he could do for the USA with a fully healthy season!

Discus – Texas A&M DT David Hicks

The former five-star from Katy Paetow opted not to enroll early at Texas A&M and instead chase history in the discus. Hicks threw 202 feet, 2 inches at the District 19-6A meet, the longest mark in the nation. For reference, that distance would've placed second at the 2024 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Decathalon – Texas AM DB Terry Bussey

The decathalon consists of ten track and field events, an absolute marathon we need our best athlete to take on. Enter Timpson superstar Terry Bussey. He's a 23'4.75" long jumper and10.66 100M sprinter. His stamina, built up from never leaving the field for Timpson, should serve him well in the 400M and 1500M races, and his basketball prowess gives him a boost on the high jump. Pole vault is really the only question mark here. But if anyone's going to do it, Bussey will.

Basketball Starting Five – Texas DB Jelani McDonald, Texas Tech TE Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech TE Mason Tharp, Houston TE Maliq Carr, Texas A&M OT Reuben Fatheree II

You've heard of the Dream Team and the Redeem Team, but how about the Protein Team? Jelani McDonald was the Waco Tribune-Herald's Super Centex boys basketball player of the year after averaging 20.5 points per game in the playoffs for Waco Connally. Jalin Conyers won the 2A State title game MVP at Stinnett West Texas as a sophomore and then led Gruver to back-to-back state title games. Mason Tharp, at 6-foot-9, gives us a stetch power forward who was First Team All-District his junior season at Klein. Maliq Carr, on the other hand, is our bruising forward at 6-foot-6, 265 pounds. He pulled the reverse Draymond Green and suited up for Michigan State's basketball team while playing football there. Reuben Fatheree II's father was his basketball coach at Foster, and he played AAU ball growing up.

Archery – Texas QB Quinn Ewers

Ewers doesn't just have pinpoint accuracy on the gridiron. His Instagram profile is chock-full of hunting pictures, which means he's Texas's best chance for a gold medal with a bow and arrow. 

Golf – SMU QB Preston Stone and WR Joey Bruszer

The inside sources on the Hilltop say Stone and Bruszer are the best golfers on the team. They have the QB-to-WR connection in the ultimate team sport, which could give them a leg up in the ultimate individual sport.

Surfing – Texas State WR Joey Hobert

He just looks like a guy who could catch some waves.

Artistic Swimming – Texas Offensive Line

Steve Sarkisian's strategy to recruit big humans has worked wonders on the football field. In three seasons, the Longhorns went from not having the offensive linemen to hold a true spring game to the College Football Playoff. Now, let's see if the team chemistry translates to the pool.  

Weightlifting – Baylor OL Coleton Price

As a senior at Bowie High School, Price squatted 805 pounds in the Texas High School Powerlifiting Association state meet, breaking a record. Sure, Olympic meets prioritize compound movements like power cleans and snatches. But give Price a summer to prepare, and he's got the strength to compete with Olympians. 

Javelin – Houston QB Donovan Smith

Donovan Smith can absolutely let the football fly. With that 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame, I'm betting he can torque his body to launch a javelin.