By Darin What does it take to become the first player in the history of the legendary Southwest Conference to earn three consecutive All-America honors? For Hub Bechtol, it required a rare combination of 6’2″ athleticism and a “big play” chemistry with Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne. A Lubbock native who started as a “Little All-American” at Texas Tech before the Navy’s V-12 program redirected him to Austin, Bechtol became the premier target of the mid-1940s. Whether he was snagging nine passes in a single Cotton Bowl or shutting down opponents on the defensive end, “Big Boy” Bechtol redefined the expectations for a modern end and paved the way for the Longhorn legends that followed.
Football Bio
April 20, 1926 – Amarillo, Texas – Hub Bechtol, who played for both Texas Tech in 1943 and Texas from 1944 to 1946, was born.
The reason for Hub’s transfer was that he had enlisted in the Navy’s V-12 program, and because it was administered out of Texas, he had to leave Tech. As far as playing football, the Football Foundation states that Bechtol made the AP All-America team in 1944 and, in 1945 and 1946, was selected to six All-America squads, making him the first Southwest Conference player to become a three-time All-America.
Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne was feeding him the passes, and HOF Coach Dana Bible gave his assignments. The standout game of his career was on the big stage as Texas beat Missouri 40-27 in the Cotton Bowl, January 1, 1946, with Layne completing 11 passes with nine of them corralled by Bechtol. Hub Bechtol’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1991.
Conclusion
Hub Bechtol’s career represents a unique intersection of wartime service and gridiron excellence. By securing All-America status in every season he played for the Longhorns, he established a standard of consistency that remains a benchmark in the Texas record books. His performance in the 1946 Cotton Bowl—where he accounted for nearly all of the team’s completions—solidified his reputation as one of the most reliable receivers of the leather-helmet era. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991, Bechtol is remembered not just as a pioneer of the passing game, but as a dedicated community leader in Austin who proved that a “Big Boy” could have an even bigger impact off the field.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1991.
- Three-Time All-American: 1944, 1945, 1946 (First Southwest Conference player to achieve this).
- Consensus All-American: 1945, 1946.
- Texas Longhorn Hall of Honor: Inducted in 1963.
- 1946 Cotton Bowl MVP: Led Texas with 9 receptions for 138 yards in a 40-27 win over Missouri.
- UT School Record Holder: Set the single-season record for touchdown receptions (7) in 1946 (held until 1982).
- Dual-Sport Athlete: Lettered in both football and basketball at the University of Texas.
- Freshman “Little All-American”: Earned honors at Texas Tech in 1943.
- NFL Career: Played three seasons with the Baltimore Colts (AAFC/NFL).
- Civic Leadership: Named Texas Realtor of the Year in 1976 and served on boards for the Red Cross and United Way.
