The final position group ranking for the 2023 college football season is at secondary. The state of Texas is loaded with quality units at cornerback and safety thanks to the proliferation of 7-on-7 football in the state at the prep level. Much like wide receiver, the Lone Star State is a factory for producing high-end secondary players. 

Previous rankings: QB | RB | WR/TE | OL | DL | LB |

TOP FIVE 

1. TCU Horned Frogs 

The players: CB Josh Newton, FS Bud Clark, SS Mark Perry, NB Millard Bradford 

The Horned Frogs lose the Thorpe Award winner in Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson and still sport the best secondary in Texas thanks to a dynamic safety trio and a proven shutdown corner in Newton, a candidate for the 2023 Thorpe Award. Perry and Clark roam the deep part of the secondary and help against the run. Bradford is an all-conference level nickel. The new face is Avery Helm – a Florida transfer originally from DFW.  

2. Texas A&M Aggies 

The players: SS Demani Richardson, NB Bryce Anderson, FS Jardin Gilbert, CB Tyreek Chappell 

The Aggies led the nation in pass defense a year ago despite a five-win season. The secondary should once again be the strength of the defense, and maybe the entire team. Richardson is a tried-and-true leader and safety entering his sixth year in College Station. Chappell is one of the most gifted cover corners in college football. Anderson and Gilbert showed flashes of brilliance in 2022. The opposite corner position to Chappell is still up for grabs, but Texas A&M has plenty of talent on campus in the secondary to figure that out by Week 1. 

3. Texas Longhorns 

The players: NB Jahdae Barron, BS Jerrin Thompson, CB Ryan Watts, SS Jalen Catalon 

The addition of Catalon could be the pick-up of the year in the Big 12 if the former Arkansas star can stay healthy and play close to 12 regular season games. The returning safety duo of Thompson and Kitan Crawford is solid enough in its own right. Barron is one of the more underrated players in America – he scored two defensive touchdowns in 2022. At corner, Texas starts Watts and Terrance Brooks with transfer Gavin Holmes waiting in the wings for an opportunity. 

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders 

The players: CB Malik Dunlap, FS Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, CB Rayshad Williams, SS Tyler Owens

The defensive improvement for the Red Raiders begins with a talented secondary. Dunlap is a shutdown corner with All-Big 12 potential. Taylor-Demerson is a physical player who can also cover wide receivers and tight ends. Williams, who is the corner opposite of Dunlap, is also a talented player with experience in the conference. The wildcard might be Owens – a former highly-rated recruit who began his career at Texas. C.J. Baskerville was brought in to play the STAR position. 

5. Baylor Bears 

The players: STAR Bryson Jackson, SS Devyn Bobby, FS Devin Lemear, CB Tevin Williams 

New Baylor defensive coordinator Matt Powledge is known as a defensive back specialist, so expect the Bears secondary to return to the 2021 form that he created as an assistant on that team. Jackson is a Swiss Army knife who will deployed in the Jalen Pitre role in 2023. The other four projected starters are sophomores who suffered through a few growing pains in 2022. Devyn and Lemear could form one of the better safety duos in Texas by the end of the year. 

BEST OF THE REST 

6. NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN
7. UTSA ROADRUNNERS 
8. SMU MUSTANGS
9. HOUSTON COUGARS 
10. TEXAS STATE BOBCATS
11. UTEP MINERS
12. RICE OWLS
13. SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS