Spring football is peaking from around the corner as February dissolves into March. The state of Texas is primed for a memorable year of football at the FBS level with Baylor and UTSA coming off conference championships, Houston returning most of its key players from a 12-2 squad, and Texas A&M loading up on five-star recruits. 

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football will look at the 10 best players at each position on the football field continuing with running back. We began the series by examing the top 10 quarterbacks in the FBS ranks on Monday. 

Previous positions: QB | RB | WR |

1. Connor Galvin, OT, Baylor

2021 review: Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year 

2022 outlook: Baylor returns the best starting offensive line in the state, and maybe the country, starting with Galvin at left tackle. The Katy product led a resurrected offensive line in 2021 that helped Abram Smith set a Baylor record for rushing yards in a single season. Galvin is a stalwart at left tackle who elected to stay one more year in Waco before testing out his NFL value. 

2. Patrick Paul, OT, Houston 

2021 review: All-AAC first-team at left tackle; first-team All-Texas DCTF 

2022 outlook: Paul was a third-year freshman in 2021 thanks to a redshirt year in 2019 and the pandemic year of 2020. Still classified as a redshirt freshman in 2021, Paul anchored the Houston offensive line from his left tackle position. The big man from Jersey Village ended the year as a first-team All-AAC selection and a first-team All-State selection by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. He protects the blindside of quarterback Clayton Tune and helps open holes for running back Alton McCaskill. 

3. Alan Ali, C, TCU 

2021 review: Second team All-AAC 

2022 outlook: Ali started over 40 games for SMU and head coach Sonny Dykes. The center was named second team All-AAC after his senior season. Ali elected to use his pandemic year for an extra year of eligibility, following Dykes to TCU where he’ll instantly add an all-conference caliber skill set to the Horned Frogs offensive line. He’ll be closer to home in Fort Worth as a graduate of Timber Creek High School. 

4. Bryce Foster, C, Texas A&M

2021 review: Started 12 games as a true freshman; All-SEC Freshman Team 

2022 outlook: Foster started all 12 games for Texas A&M as a true freshman in the toughest conference in America. I’m not sure the average football fan understands how impressive that accomplishment is for Foster. I’d argue it is harder for an offensive lineman, specifically a center, to start as a true freshman than it would be for a quarterback. Foster became a dominant force by the end of the year and looks like a future first round NFL draft pick. 

5. Steve Avila, C, TCU

2021 review: Second team All-Big 12 

2022 outlook: Avila is a versatile offensive lineman who has started games at center, right guard, and right tackle. With Ali transferring in from SMU, it’ll be interesting who stays at center and who is moved to guard. My money is on Avila starting at guard and Ali slotting into the starting center position. That is fine with Avila. The 6-4, 334-pound product of South Grand Prairie might be better suited long term for the guard position.

6. Dalton Cooper, OT, Texas State

2021 review: Third-team All-Sun Belt 

2022 outlook: Cooper was a bright spot for the 4-8 Texas State Bobcats in 2021. He was the only offensive player to earn all-conference accolades when he landed on the third team of the All-Sun Belt team. He’d likely be higher if Texas State’s on-field results were better. Cooper, an Oklahoma native, has started the last 24 games at left tackle for Texas State and is easily the program’s most consistent performer. 

7. Jacob Gall, C, Baylor

2021 review: Started all 14 games at center 

2022 outlook: Gall transferred to Baylor from Buffalo prior to the 2021 season and helped transform a bad offensive line in 2020 to an elite unit in 2021. Gall will be among four starters on the offensive line returning to Waco to defend the Big 12 title in 2022. The 6-2, 305-pound anchor is a savvy and athletic player who excelled in Jeff Grimes’ wide zone blocking scheme.

8. Reuben Fatheree II, OT, Texas A&M

2021 review: 2021 Coaches’ All-SEC Freshman Team 

2022 outlook: Fatheree is a unit. The young man from Richmond Foster High School stands at a towering 6-8 and 325 pounds. The former basketball player is light on his feet for that size. He immediately upgraded the right tackle position where he started for the last nine games of the season. He might move to the left tackle spot as a sophomore or junior. Fatheree and Foster give Texas A&M two building blocks for at least two more seasons. 

9. Ahofitu Maka, C, UTSA

2021 review: Second team All-Conference USA 

2022 outlook: Maka can start at center or guard for the Roadrunners, and he’s been a massive (literally) reason that UTSA running back Sincere McCormick set records in the running game over the past two seasons. Maka is a bully in the most complimentary way. The Hawaii native is a hard-nosed, physical blocker who also possesses enough technique in pass pro. He’ll need to be a leader on the offensive line in 2022 with Spencer Burford off to the NFL. 

10. Manase Mose, C, North Texas

2021 review: Second team All-Conference USA

2022 outlook: North Texas rushed for more than 30 touchdowns in 2021, which was second-most in program history, and Mose was awarded second-team All-C-USA for his efforts as the lynchpin of that unit. Mose’s offensive line paved the way for running back DeAndre Torrey to register 1,215 rushing yards in 2021. Torrey won’t be back in Denton, but Mose and his offensive line group should help the next North Texas running back put up similar numbers.