The 2024 college football season presents an entirely new landscape. Texas is in the SEC. SMU is back in a power conference as ACC members. The College Football Playoff now includes 12 teams and an automatic bid for the best G5 team in the land. For most, the start of the season is in Week 1 on August 30, though SMU starts in Week 0 and TCU plays its first game on Aug. 29. 

To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas as we inch closer to kickoffs. This list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best in terms of NFL draft stock. It ranks players in order of importance to their team's success. 

No. 10: RICE RB Dean Connors

The History: The native Hawaiian was absolutely flying to close the 2023 season, compiling 591 rushing yards on 80 carries in Rice's last seven games. Connors was one of two FBS running backs to have two carries of 50+ yards and one reception of 80+ yards. He was also one of the few bright spots in Rice's bowl game dud, scoring two rushing touchdowns in postseason play for the first time since Dicky Maegle's 1954 Cotton Bowl. 

The Skillset: Connors is just as dangerous in the pass game as he is in the running game. He posted 771 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in addition to 43 receptions for 403 yards. He is the offensive weapon every opposing defense will key on, but Connors should have enough room to run behind an offensive line that returns four of five starters. Transfer quarterback EJ Warner did rank fifth in the FBS at Temple last year with 307.6 passing yards per game, but the Owls don't have a receiver as dynamic as Luke McCaffrey, which means Conners should get a share of those targets out of the backfield.

The Impact: Juma Otoviano's graduation leaves Rice with three running backs on its roster, and Connors's versatility means he could lead the American Athletic Conference in total touches. Whereas last season felt like the JT Daniels and McCaffrey show, this year's offense could lean on a running back in both the run and pass game.