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. 47: UTSA CB Denver Harris

The History: If all had gone to plan, Denver Harris wouldn't be at UTSA. He was an Under Armour All-American and No.1-rated player on DCTF's Hot 100 coming out of Galena Park North Shore. Harris signed with Texas A&M's No.1-ranked recruiting class in 2022. His talent got him immediate playing time - his actions took him off it. He was suspended for the Week 3 Miami game for violating curfew and again later in the season for a locker room altercation. He transferred to LSU and again started three games in the SEC, but spent the final two months away from the team for personal reasons.

Now, Harris is on his third strike, but he's got a support system to ensure he takes advantage. UTSA associate head coach Joe Price III coached Harris at North Shore. The early returns have been excellent: Harris's growth was the talk of our magazine stop in San Antonio.

The Skillset: Harris's length (6'1, 190) can cause problems for the opposing wide receiver, and he has the strength to jam them on the line of scrimmage. His tools are a physical mismatch for most American Athletic Conference wide receivers, but it remains to be seen how he transitions to his third defensive scheme in as many years.

The Impact: Harris will be the most naturally talented player to wear a UTSA uniform. The best-case scenario is he locks down every team's No.1 wideout. Of course, the best case hasn't happened to date in Harris's college career. He's started before at Texas A&M and LSU but hasn't played a lot of games due to off-field incidents. He may be rusty to start off, but Harris could develop into an all-conference caliber player.