Dave Campbell’s Texas Football is counting down the 50 most important players in the state of Texas, and we’re moving through the top 10.

Most important doesn’t always mean the most talented. Talent is a factor, but we’re weighing it against depth at the position, production and how much losing this player would impact a team’s trajectory.

The No. 9 most important player in the state recently moved from one of the smallest FBS schools in the state to one of the biggest. There won’t be a honeymoon; Calvin Anderson will have to produce for Texas right away.

Check back over the next several days as we count down the rest of the top 10.

Previous: Nos. 50-11 | No. 10 SMU WR James Proche |

The History

When Calvin Anderson decided to grad transfer from Rice, he immediately became the hottest commodity in the sport. The former 2-star recruit from Austin Westlake quickly became top priority at Michigan, TCU, Oklahoma and Auburn. However, he ultimately decided to join the hometown Texas Longhorns.

Anderson was a two-time All-Conference USA offensive tackle while at Rice, and was graded one of the best pass blockers in the country. After redshirting his first season in Houston, Anderson started 36 of a possible 36 games for the Owls.

He graduated from Rice with a degree in mathematical economics and religion. Now, Anderson projects to slide in and start right away on the offensive line at Texas.

The Skillset

Anderson is as solid as they come on the offensive line. He moves very well for a 6-foot-5, 300-pound specimen. Anderson was listed at just 240 pounds when he came out of high school, but kept his fluidity after gaining 60-plus pounds of muscle.

That said, Anderson is still developing. He needs to get stronger to deal with bigger and more physical defensive linemen at the Power 5 level. His skills will be tested right away against both Maryland and USC. Anderson also isn’t as physical a blocker as he could be with his size. Granted, he didn’t have to do it at the Conference USA level, so maybe that will change.

Expert insight

“Anderson was a reliable blocker on the Owls’ blindside last year. I think he’s particualrly nimble in pass blocking...his frame and those feet seemed to excite Power 5 coaches most. But despite the streak (36 straight starts) and accolades, his former teammate, center Trey Martin, was a noticeably more dominant blocker last season -- for what that’s worth in a 1-11 year. While his technique is sound, he could stand to get stronger. Still, he played at 210 pounds as a junior in high school, so he hasn’t had many issues bulking up in the past.”

--Rice beat writer Glynn A. Hill, Houston Chronicle

The Impact

To understand what Anderson will mean to this unit, look no further than the 2017 Texas offensive line. When star offensive tackle Connor Williams went out, the Longhorns were absolutely pitiful up front.

When Williams played, Texas averaged 34.4 points per game. Even without the 56-0 win over San Jose State, the average sits at 29.0. In games without Williams, Texas mustered just 26.4 points per game. The lows included a 7-point performance against TCU and 10-point performance against Oklahoma State.

The lack of protection up front eventually became glaring. Texas averaged just 3.6 yards per carry and gave up 34 sacks in 13 games. A few other linemen are back from injury, but Anderson is the load-bearing weight that will be relied on to hold the house up.

Granted, Anderson isn’t necessarily as good as Connor Williams. Plus, the Texas offensive line should have more depth in 2018. But still, Anderson’s ability to step in and replace Williams’ production will be critical.