Please join us here at Texas A&M Athletics in celebrating some of the incredible student-athletes that have represented Aggieland. We'll share their stories throughout the month of February.
JOSIE CARTER '87, SOFTBALl
Josie Carter '87 was a four-year letterwinner for the softball team who led the Aggies into the NCAA era in a big way.
A two-time All-American, Josie led the Aggies to three World Series and two national championships (AIAW in 1982, NCAA in 1983). She still ranks in the top 10 of A&M's career records in multiple offensive categories. Her 235 hits is the fourth most in school history.
Following her eligibility, she joined the U.S. National Team in 1987 and competed in the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, winning a gold medal in the process.
Josie was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.
SAM ADAMS '93, FOOTBALl
Sam Adams '93 was a standout three-year letterwinner for R.C. Slocum and the football team. During his career, he led the Aggies to a 32-5 record, 21 straight conference wins and three straight SWC titles.
A consensus All-American as a junior, Sam was named national defensive player of the year after totaling 10.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and forced five fumbles.
He was selected in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft and played 14 seasons in the league, winning Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens. He was also a three-time Pro Bowler.
Sam was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
LISA LANGSTON '86, WOMEN'S BASKETBALl
Lisa Langston '86 was a four-year letterwinner in women's basketball for the Aggies.
She became first player in program history earn all-conference honors when she was named to the Southwest Conference's first team in 1985.
One of the most prolific scorers to ever wear the A&M jersey, Lisa's 1,615 career points still ranks as the seventh-highest total in school history.
A two-sport star, she also lettered twice in track & field and was a standout hurdler.
Lisa was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
WINSTON CRITE '87, MEN'S BASKETBALl
Winston Crite '87 was a four-year starter for Shelby Metcalf's basketball team who led the Aggies to three straight postseason berths.
After guiding A&M to NIT berths in 1985 and 1986, Winston and the Aggies entered the 1987 Southwest Conference Tournament as the No. 8 and final seed. An improbable run that week in Dallas lifted A&M to the SWC Tourney title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and Winston was named Most Valuable Player for his efforts that week.
As A&M's all-time leading shot blocker (200), he also ranks second in A&M history in rebounds (913) and sixth in points (1,576).
Winston was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
MORENIKE ATUNRASE '08, Women's Basketball
Morenike Atunrase was a four-year letterwinner in women's basketball and a member of Gary Blair's first recruiting class in Aggieland.
A two-time All-Big 12 pick and 2005's Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Morenike helped turn around the women's basketball program. She would lead the Aggies to 93 wins, three straight NCAA Tournaments and Big 12 titles in both 2007 and 2008.
Morenike is still A&M's all-time leader in blocks (176) and ranks in the top five in numerous other categories.
Morenike was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
GREG HILL '94, FOOTBALl
Greg Hill was a three-year letterwinner for R.C. Slocum and the football team during the era which the Aggies dominated the Southwest Conference.
A three time All-SWC running back, Greg led the Aggies to three straight conference championships. He totaled 18 career 100-yard games in just three seasons, and still ranks fifth all-time at A&M with 3,262 rushing yards.
Drafted in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft, Greg played six seasons in the league with the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions.
Greg was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
ZOE SLAUGHTER, Women's Golf
The people that truly make history rarely set out with history in mind.
Sometimes, history is something you stumble into. Zoe Slaughter did not transfer to Texas A&M from Houston because she wanted to be the first African-American women’s golfer to wear the Maroon & White.
Slaughter came here for the same reason so many of her fellow students did because it felt like home. Regardless, she takes great pride in her historic distinction.
Read More...
LISA BRANCH '96, Women's Basketball
Lisa Branch '96 was a four-year letterwinner for the women's basketball team from 1992-96.
As a sophomore, Lisa was named the 1994 Southwest Conference Co-Player of the Year. She led the Aggies to a 23-8 record and their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid, where the
13th-seeded Aggies upset 4th-seed Florida and 5th-seed San Diego State--the latter on the road--to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
The following year, she anchored the team's run to the WNIT Championship in Amarillo during a 21-win season. For her efforts she was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
As a senior in 1996, Lisa and the Lady Aggies won 20 games and grabbed another NCAA Tournament berth after winning the Southwest Conference Tournament in Dallas. She was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.
Kyle Colligan '09, Baseball
Kyle Colligan was a four-year baseball letterwinner who was part of three NCAA Tournament and two NCAA Super Regional teams.
Kyle helped lead the 2007 Aggies to the Big 12 Tournament title in Oklahoma City. One season later, he was a first-team All-Big 12 selection as A&M cruised to the Big 12 regular-season crown and an NCAA Super Regional.
Playing in over 200 games, Kyle still ranks among the program's all-time top 10 in four offensive categories, including home runs. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 12th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft and ended up playing four seasons of professional baseball.
A'Quonesia Franklin '08, Women's Basketball
Aqua Franklin was the first two-time All-American in women's basketball program history. She lettered four seasons for Hall of Famer Gary Blair from 2004-08.
A two-time All-American, she led the Aggies to the Big 12 Championship in 2007 and the Big 12 Tourney title in 2008. As a senior, she helped the Aggies reach the Elite Eight for the first time in program history and a 29-8 record, the second-highest win total in school history. She earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors and was named to both the NCAA Oklahoma City Regional All-Tournament team and All-Big 12 Tournament team.
Aqua, who is the current head coach at Lamar University, was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.
Joseph Jones '08, Men's Basketball
The "Pride of Normangee", Joseph Jones became a fan favorite at Reed Arena as he helped coach Billy Gillispie put the men's basketball program into the national spotlight.
He was a four-time All-Big 12 selection, earning honors in each of his four seasons in the maroon and white (2005-08). Joe would end up leading the team to 95 wins, three trips to the NCAA Tournament and one to the Sweet 16.
Currently an assistant coach under Gillispie at Tarleton, Joe still ranks in the school top-10 lists in points, rebounds and blocks. He was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
Leeland McElroy '96, Football
'Lectric Leeland' McElroy was a three-year letterwinner for coach R.C. Slocum's football team.
McElroy burst on to the national scene as a freshman in 1993, winning Sports Illustrated's National Special Teams Player of the Year award as the Aggies won 10 games and the Southwest Conference championship en route to yet another trip to the Cotton Bowl.
He would finish his Aggie career as a three-time All-Southwest Conference and a three-time All-America honoree as a kick returner. Leeland still holds the school record for kick returns for a touchdown.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Leeland in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and he would end up playing three seasons in the league.
Leeland was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
Larry Wade '98, Track & Field
One of the most decorated track & field athletes in school history, Larry Wade spent four seasons leading Ted Nelson's program on the national stage.
Larry dominated the hurdle events over his Aggie career, becoming a five-time All-American and a three-time conference champion. As a senior, he swept the NCAA Championships by taking both the indoor (55-meter) and outdoor (110-meter) hurdle competitions.
A native of nearby Giddings, Larry was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
George Woodard '79, Football
George Woodard was a four-year letterwinner on the football team from 1975-78.
The first Aggie running back to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, 'Big Woo' led the team to three straight bowl appearances and the 1975 Southwest Conference championship.
He finished his career with 2,911 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns, both still among the best totals in school history.
To read more about George, who was inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame in 2018, click here.
