I agree... rat snakes are awesome for keeping larger bugs and small rodents at bay. Hope you didn't kill it.

It is a Black Rat Snake, a harmless eater of rats, mice, other pests, the occasional bird, and the occasional egg. They kill by constriction, and are completely harmless to humans. They are to be encouraged around the house as a natural pest control. As an adult (in your area) it will be coal black.

Sharon, I am a devoted snake lover and hate to see dead snakes posted like this, but I always consider the bigger picture and benefit of responding positively. Amylynn had a serious concern if the snake was dangerous or not. If she didn't, she wouldn't have posted it here. Remember, the real "snake haters" of the world will kill the snake and not really care if was venomous or not because "the only good snake is a dead snake". They don't post questions. The people posting questions are trying to gain information so they can make more informed decisions in the future. Criticizing people here for seeking information may be counterproductive. Hopefully, Amylynn will NOT kill the next racer she finds because of the help she gained here. So even though this racer died, it may have died for a cause.

That is a Texas Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus). They are one of the more commonly seen snakes in the eastern half of the state and into central Texas. They are harmless predators of rodents and birds.