The 50 most important college players in Texas in 2016 — No. 44: North Texas' Bryce English

[caption id="attachment_23102" align="alignnone" width="800"] Photo by Will Leverett[/caption] The importance of a player is not always defined by their skill. The most important player on a team is not always the best player on a team. This list is designed to breakdown the 50 most important players in Texas college football for the 2016 season. It is not a ranking of the 50 best college football players in the state. Importance can be defined by position, need, skill or leadership. We’ll count down the list through the summer, all the way to No. 1.Previously — 45: Texas OL Connor Williams // 46: Texas Tech DT Breiden Fehoko // 47: Houston DT B.J. Singleton // 48: Texas A&M DT Daylon Mack // 49: TCU S Denzel Johnson  // 50: Baylor S Chance WazNo. 44 – North Texas defensive tackle Bryce EnglishThe History Bryce English made his way to Denton by way of DeSoto and through Manhattan, Kansas. It was an interesting journey for the former three-star star from DeSoto. In high school, English couldn’t be blocked by interior offensive linemen. He demanded double-teams, manhandled blockers and was a threat against the run and the pass. His motor impressed college coaches, even if his 5-foot-11 frame isn’t ideal for the position. He was the District 8-6A co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 following a senior season which included 56 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and six sacks. English received offers from numerous P5 programs, eventually signing with Kansas State. His stay was short in Manhattan, transferring to North Texas to redshirt in 2015. Bryce’s father played running back at North Texas, rushing for over 1,000 yards in his career. His father, Lee, is now going through medical complications and the NCAA should allow English a hardship waiver to prevent a forced year of lost eligibility. English should be able to play right away in 2016, retaining all four years of eligibility. The Skillset English is a bowling ball of destruction. He carries over 320 pounds on his 5-foot-11 frame. English is an athlete, however, despite his physical makeup. He lived in opposing backfields in his prep days. His lack of height serves as an advantage in some ways. English keeps his center of gravity low. That allows him to not only get under offensive linemen in order to push them around and get to his spot, but it also makes it hard for offenses to force English out of his gap, even with double teams. He’s best suited as a one-technique defensive tackle capable of taking on blocks to free up linebackers to roam unblocked in the running game. He’s also athletic enough to collapse a pocket and put pressure on a quarterback from the middle of the defense. The Impact Few G5 programs like North Texas get a three-star Big 12 caliber defensive tackle to fall in its lap. That is exactly what happened to the Mean Green when English’s transfer played out. English is an immediate starting candidate at defensive tackle and instantly becomes one of the best freshmen in Conference USA. Talented big men are the hardest prospects for smaller programs to recruit and first-year head coach Seth Littrell earned a victory at the position without the normal amount of work it takes to secure top talent to a program. North Texas is under new leadership. Players like English can instantly give North Texas credibility in recruiting circles and English can help that cause by showing big-time DFW talent that staying nearby in Denton isn’t a bad choice.

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