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. 21: UTSA TE Oscar Cardenas

The History: Cardenas, a sixth-year senior, is one of the final players on UTSA's roster who's been in San Antonio longer than head coach Jeff Traylor. A two-time All-AAC selection, Cardenas is as dangerous blocking in the run game as he is catching passes. But after averaging over 14 yards per catch in the three seasons from 2020-22, Cardenas's average plummeted to 8.8 last year. He did, however, notch a career-best 32 catches. 

The Skillset: After playing last season at 285 pounds, NFL scouts informed Cardenas he could either bulk up to play offensive line, or slim down to stay at tight end. He's returned to UTSA at 260 pounds to prove he can be a tight end at the next level. His conditioning, speed and route running have all improved in fall camp as a result. 

The Impact: This is Cardenas's first season catching passes from a starting quarterback not named Frank Harris, and he'll take on a bigger role in the passing game as a security blanket. More importantly, he fills the leadership vacuum Harris and departing safety Rashad Wisdom leave. While not the most vocal presence, Cardenas's work ethic and experience make him a bridge for Traylor's program. Of the seven tight ends on the team, Cardenas and Dan Dishman are the only upper classmen.