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. 48: SAM HOUSTON DEFENSIVE END ISSIAH NIXON
The history: The Fort Bend Elkins graduate began his college career at Texas State in 2020 when he played in six games on special teams. Nixon played in all 12 games as a Bobcat in 2021 and 2022 with five starts during that time. His first season in Huntsville was a success after leading the Bearkats with five sacks. He also registered 5.5 tackles for loss. Along with 25 tackles and a forced fumble, Nixon scored two rushing touchdowns on 12 carries in 2023.
The skillset: The 6-1, 240-pound Nixon is a grinder who works his way into the backfield on a consistent basis. What he doesn’t possess in terms of ideal length is made up for with motor and tenacity. He plays hard. All the time. And that’s made him one of the leaders of the Bearkats defense despite arriving on campus as an upperclassman from the transfer portal.
The impact: New Sam Houston defensive coordinator Skylar Cassity used a 4-2-5 base that thrives on getting after the quarterback. Nixon provides the young defensive guru with a weapon off the edge to pair with the likes of Jevon Leon, who was an FCS All-American in 2022 who battled through injuries in 2023. The Bearkats were second-to-last in Conference USA with 17 sacks, so Nixon needs to lead the line and help Sam Houston become a better pass rushing unit.
PREVIOUSLY ON THE LONE STAR 50 COUNTDOWN
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