For most of his Longhorn career, Roderick Babers was often remembered more for the plays that he didn’t make, than the ones he did. All of that changed in 2002, as Babers evolved from the cornerback with hands of stone into one of the best players in the country at his position. The senior from Houston was a Thorpe Award semi-finalist and earned All-America honors from the Associated Press and The Sporting News after recording 46 tackles (33 solo), three TFLs, one sack, a pair of interceptions, one forced fumble and a career- and team-high 21 pass breakups (T-No. 3 on UT's single-season list). Babers almost single handedly saved the Oklahoma State game by himself as his deflected pass on a two-point conversion attempt and interception in the fourth quarter thwarted two different OSU rallies. The fleet-footed Babers also recorded one of the season’s most memorable plays when he intercepted Oklahoma’s Nate Hybl and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown to give UT a 14-3 lead.