Do You Remember These Permian Basin Athletes That Have Played In The NFL

It's my favorite time of year, football is back! Football for West Texans is not only a way of life but a state of mind. The Friday Night Lights are light, college football starts tomorrow and the NFL kicks off next week. Did you know that we have NFL stars that have played under our very own Friday Night Lights?

Here is a list of a few NFL Players from the Permian Basin:

Ryan Tannehill

Tannehill played ball for the Big Spring Steers, he went on to play college ball at Texas A&M and was then drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the First Round in 2012. He was then traded to the Tennessee Titans, where he is now their starting QB.

Marcus Cannon

Mark Cannon, Super Bowl Champion, graduated from Odessa High and went on to play for the New England Patriots and won a few Super Bowl Championships. He is now a member of the Houston Texans.

Bradley Marquez

Marquez is another Odessa High graduate who made it to the NFL. After playing for Texas Tech, he went on to play for the L.A. Rams and the Detroit Lions.

Roy Williams

The offensive Roy Williams, not the defensive Roy Williams, played for the Permian Panthers and went on to become a UT Longhorn. He was drafted into the NFL by the Detroit Lions, was then traded to the Cowboys, and he finished his career with the Chicago Bears.

Barron Batch

Batch, a Midland High graduate was drafted by the Pittsburg Steelers in 2011.

Eric Winston

Winston, a Midland  Midland Lee Rebel, played for multiple NFL teams including the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cedric Benson

Cedric Benson, who is in the Midland Lee Football Hall of Fame, went to college at UT Austin. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears and also played for the Greenbay Packers and the Cincinnati Bengals. Benson tragically lost his life in 2019.

Bubba Franks

Bubba Franks, another Big Spring alumni, played most of his career with the Greenbay Packers and played his last season in the NFL for the New York Jets.