The 50 most important college players in Texas in 2016 — No. 43: UTEP's Devin Cockrell

[caption id="attachment_23138" align="alignnone" width="800"]Photo by Mary Scott McNabb Photo by Mary Scott McNabb[/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 — 44: UNT DT Bryce English // 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. 43 – UTEP safety Devin CockrellThe History Cockrell signed out of Port Arthur Memorial in the 2013 recruiting class. He was a second-team all-district performer as a senior for a Memorial secondary which allowed the fewest amount of passing yards in school history. He led his team with 41 tackles and 10 pass breakups. He also forced two fumbles and averaged 7.6 yards per carry on offense. He made an immediate mark at UTEP, earning All-Freshman honors in CUSA after leading UTEP and all conference freshmen with 76 tackles, including 54 tackles on running plays. As a freshman, he also recorded two pass breakups, a quarterback hurry and an interception. Cockrell continued his impressive college career as a sophomore in 2014. He started all 13 games and was third on the team in tackles with 52 and second in tackles for loss with seven. He also recorded an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, as well as two sacks and two pass breakups. An injury forced him out of the 2015 season and he was able to use a regular redshirt since he played as a true freshman. Cockrell is expected to regain his starting position at strong safety entering his junior season. The Skillset At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Cockrell is a physical safety. He becomes an extra linebacker against rushing teams and can add an eighth man to the box to force opponents to throw. He’s also a valuable rusher on UTEP’s defense. Cockrell’s best skill is his ability to tackle. As the last line of defense at safety, getting down a ball carrier is the difference between a seven-yard run and a touchdown. Cockrell proved his first two seasons that he is a capable tackler and an anchor for UTEP’s defense. It is unclear how he’ll respond from his MCL injury since he missed spring practice, but he is still listed as the starter and his return will solidify the safety position for UTEP entering the 2016 season. The Impact UTEP was decent as a secondary unit even without Cockrell, but the run defense suffered with him on the shelf. According to Cockrell, his season away from football helped him learn more technique and see the game as the coaches see the game. That can only help him become a more well-rounded safety moving forward. Cockrell’s presence gives the Miners a hammer at the safety position against run-heavy teams in CUSA, and his return also provides experience in the back-half of the UTEP secondary.

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