There is no shortage of defensive standouts in the Big 12 Conference this year, including players lining up to be All-Americans and already projected as high picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here’s a look at the best defensive player on all 16 teams in the Big 12 headed into the 2024 season:
Arizona, Tacario Davis, Cornerback: Davis is the prototype for an NFL cornerback at 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds. He earned All-Pac-12 honors in 2023.
Arizona State, C.J. Fite, Defensive Tackle: Fite was the only true freshman to start on defense for the Sun Devils in 2023 and is a physical freak at 6-foot-1 and 295 pounds.
Baylor, Caden Jenkins, Cornerback: Jenkins earned Freshman All-American honors in 2023 with 37 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups and 2 fumble recovers, including a 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown against UCF.
BYU, Tyler Batty, Defensive End: Batty, 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, has been one of BYU’s most productive pass rushers in the last 25 years. He had 6 quarterback pressures in 2023 and his 15 career quarterback pressures is third among all BYU players since 2000. Batty also has 15 career sacks.
Cincinnati, Dontay Corleon, Defensive Tackle: Corleone, 6-foot-1 and 320 pounds, was an All-Big 12 selection and is rated as one of the top NFL prospects for the 2025 draft.
Colorado, Travis Hunter, Cornerback: One of the most exciting, unique players to play college football in recent memory. Hunter could be a first-round draft pick at cornerback or wide receiver.
Houston, Keith Cooper, Defensive End: Transfers over after three seasons with Houston head coach Willie Fritz at Tulane. Cooper was sometimes dominant at Tulane, started the final 15 games of his career, and had 5.0 sacks in 2023. Has the size to play inside or outside on the next level at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds.
Iowa State, Jeremiah Cooper, Safety: Cooper had 45 tackles, 10 pass breakups and led the Cyclones with 5 interceptions in 2023 on the way to earning All-Big 12 honors.
Kansas, Cobee Bryant, Cornerback: Bryant is the first two-time All-Big 12 cornerback for the Jayhawks since Aqib Talib in 2006 and 2007. He’s tied for No. 8 on the school’s career career interceptions list with 9 interceptions over the last three seasons.
Kansas State, Austin Moore, Linebacker: Moore, 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, has started 27 consecutive games and is a two-time All-Big 12 pick. He’s led Kansas State in tackles each of the last two seasons and has 22.5 tackles for loss in that stretch.
Oklahoma State, Collin Oliver, Linebacker: Oliver had 73 tackles, 6.0 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in 2023 as the Cowboys went 10-4 and finished No. 16 in the final AP Top 25 Poll. He has 22.5 sacks over the last three seasons.
TCU, Namdi Obiazor, Linebacker: Obiazor led TCU with 84 tackles and 4.0 sacks in 2023 on the way to being named All-Big 12. He earned votes for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as well.
Texas Tech, Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker: Rodriguez seemed ready for a breakout season in 2023 but missed 8 games due to an early-season injury and ended up taking a redshirt year.
UCF, Lee Hunter, Defensive Tackle: Hunter is a massive, NFL-ready defensive tackle at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds and earned All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore in 2023.
Utah, Junior Tafuna, Defensive Tackle: Tafuna, 6-foot-3 and 308 pounds, is a three-time All-Pac-12 Conference pick and has started 36 consecutive games for the Utes. He was also named Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2021.
West Virginia, Aubrey Burks, Safety: Burks enters 2024 as one of the nation’s best safeties in 2024 after earning All-Big 12 honors in 2022 but missing several games in 2023 with a scary injury against TCU.
.@KU_Football - Jereme Robinson blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt and Cobee Bryant scooped the ball up and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown 🔥#Big12FB x @OldTrapper x @KUAthletics pic.twitter.com/2wb9jkRRFO
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 4, 2022