The Big 12 has been around since 1996 and has had some great players in its relatively short time as a conference
There’s nothing quite like the excitement in College Football, and the Big 12 has given us plenty to celebrate. Formed in 1996 when four schools located in the state of Texas combined with the Big 8, the Big 12 has been known for its high-powered offenses — and lack of defense as of late.
While it might not be as dominant now as it once was, the Big 12 still has given us some solid teams as of late. Although they haven’t had a National Championship team since Texas in 2005, they still have had their share of elite players make it to the next level.
Here, we look back over the tenure of the Big 12 and identify the top-50 players in the conference’s history.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 50. Mark Andrew, TE, Oklahoma football
Currently a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Mark Andrews is doing the same thing in the NFL that he did with the Oklahoma Sooners — causing major headaches for the opposing defense. During his three seasons with the Sooners, the 6-foot-5, 254-pound Andrews lined up at both tight end and wide receiver and was a nightmare in the red zone.
He had a total of 112 receptions for 1,765 yards with 22 touchdowns but it was his 2017 campaign that put him on the map. Andrews won both the John Mackey Award and the Ozzie Newsome Award that season while also earning his second appointment to the First-Team All-Big 12. If that wasn’t enough, he was an All-American as well.
Andrews declared after his junior season and had he not done so, he surely would have shot up these boards.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 49. DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma football
DeMarco Murray started out his career with the Sooners on a high note. Following a redshirt campaign in 2006, he ended up posting 764 yards and 13 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2007. What was even more remarkable was his six-yards per carry average, which ended up being the most in his collegiate career.
Murray followed that season up with his first 1,000-yard campaign for Oklahoma. That year started out with a bang, as he had 124 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Chattanooga and followed that up with triple digits against Washington.
On the year, Murray had 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns while also starting to show off his ability to catch the ball as well. The redshirt sophomore had 31 receptions for 395 yards and four more touchdowns, which earned him his first of two nods to the All-Big 12 First Team. His second nomination was in his senior campaign which was, by far, his best in Norman.
Murray had 1,808 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns that year. He finished with 1,214 yards on the ground and added 594 on 71 receptions. In all, he had 3,685 yards and 50 touchdowns on the ground and 1,571 yards on 157 receptions with another 13 touchdowns.
He wound up being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the NFL Draft, which was a steal for them. Perhaps it was his age — running backs don’t typically spend five years in college — but whatever it was, Dallas got a stud in the mid-rounds. Murray continued to be a great pro and even led the NFL in rushing in 2014.
Now, he’s back at Oklahoma as a running backs coach, which came after spending one season with the Arizona Wildcats in the same position.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 48. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State football
From one former Dallas Cowboys star to another. DeMarco Murray went on to have a great NFL career with the Cowboys, as did Dez Bryant — who was a teammate of Murray’s from 2011-2014 before the running back moved on and joined the Philadelphia Eagles.
As for Bryant, he came into the NFL with much more expectations and a little bit of drama. Bryant found himself in trouble during his final season with Oklahoma State and was suspended for the remainder of the season after just three games.
The reason the league came down on him was that he wasn’t truthful in regards to a visit with former NFL player Deion Sanders. While the two had become friends, the league started to believe Sanders was trying to set Bryant up with an agency and when the young wideout wasn’t completely honest about meeting with Prime Time, they brought down the hammer.
While that clouded his collegiate career, Bryant should be remembered for his physical dominance. He was a man among boys at times on the field and showed out in 2008 when he became a consensus All-American while also earning First-Team honors in the conference. On top of that, Dez won the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year award which was due to his 17.9 yards per punt return.
As a wideout, Bryant had 17-yards per catch and 19 touchdowns for the Cowboys. He finished with 1,480 yards with 87 receptions and was off to an even hotter start in 2009 before finding himself in hot water. Had he finished that season, he would have been ranked much higher because this kid was special.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 47. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia football
When it comes to what he did for his entire collegiate career, Tavon Austin was one of the best players in the NCAA. He was a weapon as a receiver, returner, and running back for West Virginia during a stretch where they were one of the most exciting teams in the nation.
Austin and the Mountaineers were in the Big East until 2012 and his final season in that conference was when he went from an exciting player to one of the most dominant in the sport. Austin had 1,186 yards receiving, 182 on the ground and nine touchdowns combined. He added another 938 yards and two touchdowns as a kick returner as well.
Then, West Virginia moved to the Big 12 in 2012 and that was when Austin really separated himself from other playmakers. He had 114 receptions for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns with another 643 yards and three touchdowns rushing the ball.
He continued to get the rock as a return man, gaining 813 yards on kickoff returns with one touchdown and another 165 on 15 punt returns with another trip to the end zone.
Austin was so impressive that the St. Louis Rams ended up taking him at No. 8 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. His ability to play multiple positions has seen him continue to get him the ball in the NFL but he never reached the heights St. Louis had for him. However, his career is still evolving, and has been a solid contributor for a while now.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 46. Aqib Talib, DB, Kansas State football
When most of us think of Aqib Talib now, we think of a savvy veteran who had an incredibly long NFL career. Talib was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2008 through 2012 before joining the New England Patriots. After a couple of seasons there, he went to the Denver Broncos for four seasons before joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.
Talib was traded in 2019 to the Miami Dolphins but never actually suited up for them before retiring. During his playing career, he won a Super Bowl with the Broncos and appeared in the big game for the Rams as well. However, before becoming an NFL star, he was a monster for the Kansas Jayhawks.
A shutdown corner, Talib had 162 tackles with 13 picks — two of which were returned for touchdowns. He wasn’t just a big body that could pick off passes either as Talib was a freak athlete for Kansas. He was so good that they even put him in the game as a wide receiver at times.
He finished his offensive career with nine catches for 224 yards (an average of just under 25 yards per reception) and had five touchdowns. Talib stood out for the Jayhawks and when the Bucs took him at No. 20 in the 2000 NFL Draft, he was the first player from Kansas to go in the opening round since Dana Stubblefield back in 1993. He had quite the career which included two First-Team All-Big 12 nods and an All-American season in 2007.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 45. Tommie Harris, DL, Oklahoma football
Our first defensive tackle in this ranking comes in here at No. 46 with Tommie Harris, the former stud from Oklahoma. Born in Germany and raised in Texas, Harris would end up becoming one of the more heavily recruited defensive linemen in 2001. He was so advanced for his age that the former track and field star was not only on the field for every game as a true freshman, he actually started every time he suited up for them as well.
At the time, this wasn’t the norm for Bob Stoops, who had always recruited such strong classes that freshmen often had to pay their dues. That wasn’t the case for Harris as he came into Norman as a dominant force.
Harris wasn’t just any player on the field for them that season either as he locked up his first of three All-Big 12 First-Team honors while taking home the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award as well. For good measure, he then went on to add two All-American seasons to his name.
From there, Harris was the No. 14 overall pick in 2004 and went on to have a seven-year career with the Chicago Bears before spending his last NFL season with the San Diego Chargers. He was a three-time NFL Pro Bowler and helped the Bears make it to Super Bowl XLI. Harris was simply a stud and still stands out as one of the best Oklahoma has ever had on their D-line.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 44. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma football
Born and raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Jermaine Gresham was a star football and basketball player for Ardmore High School. He was practically unstoppable on the football field and stood out for their basketball team as well, but then a torn ACL made him re-think his status as a two-sport athlete.
Gresham was said to have given up basketball to focus on making it to the Oklahoma Sooners as a football player. His dream came true when they came calling — as did Oklahoma State, Miami, LSU, USC, and many more. It was also rumored that he was considering Miami due to their history of turning out pro tight ends, but his love for the hometown team, as well as the closeness to his family, won out.
As a freshman, he spent most of the season learning the ropes. He had eight catches for 161 yards and a single score but then broke out in 2007. The sophomore scored 11 touchdowns while averaging 14 yards per reception. He then nearly doubled his reception total in 2008 as well as his yardage.
He finished that season with 66 catches for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns. Gresham was named to the First-Team for not only the Big 12 but as an All-American as well.
The talented young man proved to be one of the most dynamic tight ends the Sooners have ever seen and wound up landing with the Cincinnati Bengals as a first-round pick in 2009.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 43. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor football
When the name Corey Coleman is said, there will be those who remember him for nothing other than his ‘Hard Knocks’ fame. A first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2016, Coleman was on the HBO series in 2018 and things didn’t go well for him.
Coleman was demoted during that camp and went straight to Hue Jackson — the head coach at the time — for answers. Jackson did as he always does, and passed the blame, but Coleman then pleaded with the coach wondering why they won’t trade him. The exchange was rather interesting and is transcribed by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
“Why am I running second team?” Coleman asks him.
"“What did you say?” Jackson responds. “Why am I running second team?” Coleman repeats. “That s—‘s crazy. “Go ask (offensive coordinator) Todd (Haley),” Jackson says. “If you don’t want me to play, why won’t y’all just trade me?”"
Coleman got his wish and was later traded to the Buffalo Bills who cut him less than a month later. Since then, he’s managed just five receptions in the league which gives him the dreaded bust label. For anyone who watched him at Baylor, this is beyond shocking.
While with the Bears, Coleman was unstoppable. He finished his three-year career with 3,009 yards and 33 touchdowns — including 20 as a junior. He was a speedster who could run any route. There was nothing Coleman couldn’t do and that gets him the nod on our list here.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 42. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State football
While the University of Oklahoma seems to get the majority of the love when it comes to offensive linemen, the Oklahoma State Cowboys have had their share of success stories as well. One of the best was offensive tackle Russell Okung who parlayed four seasons with Mike Gundy’s team into a strong NFL career that’s still going.
Okung was taken sixth overall in 2010 by the Seattle Seahawks and was a part of their run to the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons. He has one ring and was a huge part of clearing holes for Marshawn Lynch while he was in his ultimate ‘Beast Mode’ form. He’s since played for the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and now the Carolina Panthers. But before those days, he was a Cowboy in Stillwater.
As a true freshman, Okung started eight games at right tackle and made it to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team. He moved to the left side after that and continued to rack up the honors as he was a two-time First-Team All-American (in 2008 and 2009). He also played well enough in his final season to lock up the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year Award.
During that season, he was praised for his performance against Von Miller of Texas A&M. Miller was one of the more dominant pass rushers in the nation — and continued to be dominant in the NFL — but Okung kept him at bay all game.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 41. Michael Huff, DB, Texas football
After redshirting in 2001, Michael Huff moved into the starting role for the Texas Longhorns in 2002 and never looked back. He was a dynamic safety who had no issues laying the ball carrier out but also had a knack for making the big play.
For instance, he had four interceptions in his first two seasons with Texas and returned all for touchdowns. He added a third-career defensive touchdown as a senior in 2005, which was a 21-yard fumble return. His four touchdown returns on picks gave him the school record, which made him a legend in Austin.
Huff was a blur on the field which was a testament to the fact that he also ran track. That was a big reason he could make a play on any opposing offensive player and that was never more prevalent than when he and the Longhorns beat USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl for the NCAA Championship.
That game went down as one where Vince Young showed out and upstaged Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart but Huff was just as critical to their win. He had 12 tackles, recovered a fumble from Bush, and even stuffed the powerful LenDale White on a key fourth-down play as well.
Following his success at Texas, Huff was drafted seventh overall by the Oakland Raiders and spent seven seasons there. He split time with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens in 2013, which proved to be his final NFL campaign.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 40. Orlando Brown Jr., OT, Oklahoma football
For a while, the name Orlando Brown Jr. was one that elicited a weird response. Everyone knew he was good at Oklahoma but he then went to the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine and had a terrible performance.
He ended up falling to the third round because of it and even he joked about it afterward, saying he would be used in the Rich Eisen 40-yard dash.
"“I’ll probably be a running joke.” Brown said via the Baltimore Ravens official website. “That camera they do with Rich Eisen and the 40-yard dash – I’ll probably be on that thing.”"
He later said that the idea of scouting solely on workouts should be of more importance and hoped the NFL would start to lean on game film more.
"“Hopefully the NFL eventually starts moving more so toward watching the film and evaluating how the guy played in college – not what he’s going to run or how high he can jump.”"
Now, Brown Jr. is one of the better offensive tackles in the NFL and the Ravens are the ones laughing about where they landed him in the mock. And if we are being honest, Brown Jr. is correct that he should have been judged on his tape.
The film at Oklahoma was phenomenal. He was a former unanimous All-American and two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. He even had some teammates coming to his defense after his workout including quarterback Baker Mayfield who was singing his praises — and for good reason.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 39. Jammal Brown, OL, Oklahoma football
From one Oklahoma offensive lineman to another. As good as Orlando Brown, Jr. was, he comes in just behind Jammal Brown who was with the Sooners from 2001 through 2004. During that span, he won the John Outland Award and was a Consensus All-American — which is even more impressive when you consider that he originally joined Oklahoma as a defensive tackle and switched positions as a redshirt freshman.
Brown was a standout in the running game where he mauled defenders with ease. According to SoonerSports.com, he was credited with 80 pancake blocks while being charged with just one interception during his sophomore season — where he played right tackle. He paved the way for running back Quentin Griffin to gain 1,884 yards that season.
Then as a junior, Sooner Sports says he had 127 knockdowns and only one sack allowed all season. He was the top lineman once again for Oklahoma but saved his best season for last.
In 2004, he was there to open holes for Adrian Peterson while helping Jason White stay upright. Those two got the Heisman votes but Brown deserves as much credit as anyone. He was an integral part of their Big 12 Championship win and not only did he floor 130 players while blocking them, but he gave up no sacks or quarterback pressures all season.
Brown was a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and played five seasons with the New Orleans Saints where he made two Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl ring. He then spent three seasons with the Washington Football Team before retiring after the 2012 season.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 38. Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri football
Chase Daniel spent his freshman season of 2005 on the bench behind Brad Smith, one of the more exciting quarterbacks in Missouri history. In 2006, he took over for Smith and had some big shoes to fill. Despite the pressure that comes with that, Daniel stepped right in and not only filled those shoes, but he also put his name in the team record books.
In 2006, Daniel had 3,527 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 picks while completing 63.5 percent of his passes. He only got better from there and threw for more than 4,000 yards in each of the two seasons that followed — while also improving his completion percentage to 68.2 as a junior and 72.9 as a senior.
For his career, Daniel had 12,515 yards passing with a 101-to-41 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He did this all while completing 68 percent of his passes. Daniel also had a list of awards that included the 2007 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was also a finalist for the Heisman that season. Following his senior season, he entered the 2009 NFL Draft with scouts varied on their opinion of him.
Some felt Daniel was one of the better prospects in the class whereas others lamented his height (6-foot-0) and said his numbers were padded due to the spread offense he orchestrated for the Tigers. In the end, the doubts won out as Daniel wasn’t drafted. However, he is still an active NFL quarterback and while he never ascended to stardom, he’s been one of the more well-respected backups in the NFL for the past 11 seasons.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 37. Chris Canty, DB, Kansas State football
A two-time Consensus All-American (1995 and 1996), Chris Canty was a huge part of the rise to prominence for Kansas State. Before 1993, the Wildcats had never finished in the top-20 but then, they suddenly had a run of success for the next eight years.
Canty was a part of that as the 5-foot-9 defensive back was a stellar corner capable of guarding any wideout in the game despite being on the shorter side for the position. As a freshman, he had just one pick but then recorded 13 in the next two seasons, including eight as a sophomore. He also returned two of those for touchdowns — proving that he was a playmaker with the ball in his hands.
He was so good once he had the rock that Kansas State tried to get him involved on offense and special teams. He returned 26 punts for 269 yards and a touchdown as a junior and added 206 yards on seven kickoff returns as well. Canty even logged time as a wideout and had 78 yards on five receptions.
After his three seasons with the Wildcats, Canty entered the 1997 NFL Draft and was taken in the first round by the New England Patriots. His success didn’t follow him to the NFL as he ended up playing for three different teams in five seasons. He did have some flashes, including a three-interception campaign in 1999 for the Seattle Seahawks but he didn’t show out the way he did for K-State.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 36. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma football
One of the more recent NFL Draft Picks to make this list, CeeDee Lamb put together three fantastic seasons for the Oklahoma Sooners. He had plenty of help though, playing for three amazing quarterbacks — two of which won the Heisman and then went on to be No. 1 overall picks in the NFL.
Baker Mayfield was Lamb’s quarterback in 2017 and the freshman wideout had 46 receptions for 807 yards with seven touchdowns. He showed off his ability to get deep that season by averaging 17.5 yards per catch, which ended up being the lowest average of his career.
His second season featured Kyler Murray under center and Lamb increased in every category, grabbing 65 receptions for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 17.8 per catch. Then as a junior, he had an impressive 21.4 yards per grab while scoring 14 touchdowns on 62 receptions for 1,327 yards.
Lamb was given Second-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2018 but then followed it up with a First-Team nod the next season, all while earning a spot as a Consensus All-American. What was most impressive about his play was how he had such a good rapport with every quarterback despite not being able to work with them for more than one season as the starter.
That adaptability helped him quite a bit as a rookie in the NFL. Lamb was taken 17th overall by the Dallas Cowboys and went through four quarterbacks during his rookie campaign. Dak Prescott was lost due to a broken ankle and Andy Dalton missed time with a concussion and COVID-19. With him out, there was one game with Ben DiNucci and another with Garrett Gilbert.
Even with this turmoil, Lamb had 935 yards and five touchdowns on 74 receptions. He’s one of the best at his position and went down as one of the greats for the Sooners.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 35. Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma State football
Another one of these players who were elite in college but didn’t make it too far in the NFL is Rashaun Woods. An Oklahoma State wide receiver, Woods was taken in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft but after sparingly playing as a rookie, he tore a ligament in his thumb which led to a trade and he never played in the league again.
Woods did have a short stint in the NFL Europe and the CFL, but it was his days with Oklahoma State where he will be most remembered for. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 202-pounds, Woods was a big-bodied receiver who pulled in just about every pass that came near him.
As a sophomore, he had 80 receptions for 1,023 yards with 10 touchdowns and only improved from there. He posted double-digit touchdowns in each of the following seasons and had 1,695 yards in 2002 and 1,367 in 2003.
For his career, Woods racked up 293 receptions for 4,414 yards with 42 touchdowns. He was simply unstoppable and found himself being named to the All-Big 12 First-Team twice (2002 and 2003) and Second-Team once (2001). He was also a two-time All-American during his collegiate career.
Woods later turned to coaching in high school and was named the head man of Enid High School in Oklahoma in 2019.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 34. Earl Thomas, S, Texas football
Had Earl Thomas played longer for Texas, he surely would have gone higher than this. Thomas was a redshirt during his freshman season but then came on strong in 2008 when he finally got on the field. He had 63 tackles and two interceptions for the Longhorns and had the most pass defenses by a freshman in school history with 17.
He then got even better as a redshirt sophomore, and some of those pass break-ups turned into interceptions. Actually, a lot of them did.
Thomas remained active in taking down the ball carrier, registering 65 tackles, but he also had eight interceptions and returned them for a total of 149 yards with two touchdowns. He was an electric playmaker, earning Consensus All-American and First-Team All-Big 12 honors during his final season.
Texas was undefeated in his final regular season, in large part due to the defense on which he set the tone. They didn’t finish the year with any losses, however, they were handed a defeat in the BCS National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
After that game, Thomas declared for the NFL Draft and was taken 14th overall by the Seattle Seahawks. He was a leader on that defense which became known as the “Legion of Boom,” and Thomas ended up winning a Super Bowl with Seattle following the 2013 season. Thomas hasn’t had great press in recent years but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he was one of the best the Big 12 has ever seen.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 33. Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State football
Collin Klein wasn’t expected to be the star he turned out to be. The Colorado native joined the Kansas State Wildcats in 2008 and redshirted that season. Then in 2009 as a redshirt freshman, he played wide receiver and was also on special teams. He played sparingly and had six receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Then in 2010, he switched to quarterback but was used only situationally. That season he had just 138 yards and a touchdown with no picks but was used as a runner often. Klein had 432 yards on 76 carries and six touchdowns. He followed that up with his best season on the ground, running for 1,141 yards and an unbelievable 27 touchdowns.
As a passer, he was improving with 1,918 yards and 13 touchdowns. In his final season, he threw for 2,641 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine picks and added another 920 yards with 23 touchdowns on the ground.
He was a big name in college football that season after leading Kansas State to a 10-0 start to the season and as high as No. 2 in the AP rankings at one point. He was also a Heisman finalist and won the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards.
Klein never made it to the NFL and had a cup of tea with the Montreal Alouettes before moving into the coaching ranks. As of 2021, he’s still the quarterback coach for his alma mater.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 32. Troy Davis, RB, Iowa State football
He might not be a household name, but if you were a fan of Iowa State in the mid-1990s, you knew exactly who Troy Davis was. The 5-foot-8, 183-pound running back was a workhorse for the Cyclones who absolutely blew up following a freshman campaign where he hardly saw the ball.
His 1994 season ended with him tallying just 187 yards on 35 carries but then in 1995, he took his game to another level. Davis was the featured back that season for Iowa State and ran for 2,010 yards and 15 touchdowns while carrying the ball 345 times.
If that wasn’t enough, he was even better in 1996, getting 402 carries for 2,185 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was so good that he was fifth in voting for the Heisman as a sophomore and second during his junior campaign. He was also the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was recognized as a Consensus All-American in back-to-back seasons.
He could have ended up even higher on this list had he elected to play his senior season but that didn’t happen. Davis ended up forgoing his final year and went to the NFL where he was a third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints. He ended up with just 446 yards in the NFL and one touchdown before taking his talents north to the CFL.
He had much more success in the Canadian league, playing for eight seasons while rushing for 6,739 yards and 36 touchdowns. He even tasted victory as a champion, winning the Grey Cup in 2005 with the Edmonton Eskimos.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 31. Derrick Strait, DB, Oklahoma football
As an NFL player, Derrick Strait played for three seasons before moving to Canada to try and make it in the CFL. That didn’t happen for him, and the fact that he never made it for long in the pros was a bit of a shock considering how good he was for the Sooners.
A four-year contributor, Strait was solid as a freshman for Oklahoma, recording 65 tackles, forcing two fumbles, and picking off two passes — taking one of those to the house. He continued to play well from there, putting together a strong sophomore campaign that saw him pick off another three passes, returning one for a touchdown.
His junior season wasn’t the one he got the most recognition for but he did set a personal record for interceptions that year with six. As good as he was — and he was good, even earning his first of two nominations to the All-Big 12 First-Team, he was even better in his final season.
As a senior during the 2003 campaign, Strait was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and won the Nagurski Award as the nation’s best defensive player. If that wasn’t enough, he also took home the Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in the NCAA.
Strait went on to coach later in his life, joining Bob Stoops staff as a graduate assistant in 2012 at Oklahoma.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 30. Nathan Vasher, DB, Texas football
Nathan Vasher was a very good cornerback for the Texas Longhorns from 2000-2003. He could do everything that was asked of him but there was one area where he stood out — Vasher was a ball hawk. During his four-year career, Casher intercepted 17 passes and broke up 64 passes. He’s tied for the school record in interceptions (a record that had been there since 1941) and during his time in the Big 12, there was no one else creating picks at the rate he was (he also intercepted all of those passes in a three-year span from 2001-2003).
His first season as a full-time starter was in 2001 and the sophomore had seven picks. He followed that up with four in 2002 and another six during his senior campaign. If that wasn’t enough, he was also a weapon in the return game.
Vasher ran back 94 punts for Texas and had 1,314 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 14 yards per return and ended up being recognized as a Second-Team All-Big 12 player twice, once on the First-Team and once as an All-American.
Following his career, Vasher was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round and played in the NFL from 2004 through 2010 — he even made the Pro Bowl in 2005 and finished with 20 career picks.
Fun fact: His nephew T.J. Vasher was a star receiver for Texas Tech and entered the 2021 NFL Draft.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 29. Rocky Calmus, LB, Oklahoma football
Rocky Calmus was a part of a huge turnaround for Oklahoma in the late 1990s, which culminated in them winning the National Championship in 2000. Calmus joined the team amid a stretch of losing seasons and they were still finding their footing during his freshman campaign. That year, they went 5-6 but then hired Bob Stoops, who was able to turn things around.
In Stoops’ first season, which was the sophomore campaign for Calmus, Oklahoma went 7-5. Calmus was a budding star at this point, earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors after racking up 114 tackles and an interception.
Then in 2000, he earned a nod to the First-Team All-Big 12 roster as well as becoming an All-American. Calmus had 125 tackles with 17 going for a loss. He added another interception and two forced fumbles while helping to lead Oklahoma to the championship that season.
He added one more season with at least 100 tackles and double digits for tackles for a loss as a senior. This time he had 117 tackles for the Sooners. His performance for Oklahoma led to him becoming a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans. He played three seasons in the NFL and never had the same star power he did at Oklahoma but that doesn’t make his days in Norman any less important.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 28. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma football
Currently a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Marquise Brown actually was in the same Florida Pop Warner league as Lamar Jackson, who is his current quarterback. The two weren’t on the same team, but that’s an interesting tidbit. Another fun fact about Brown is that his cousin is Antonio Brown, the Super Bowl-winning (and highly controversial) wide receiver who has often been considered one of the best in the NFL during his prime.
Despite his NFL bloodlines, Brown didn’t receive any Division 1 offers and had to go the JUCO route. He played for College of the Canyons and worked at Six Flags Magic Mountain to pay for his tuition. It paid off for him as that led to an offer from Oklahoma, and he made the most of it.
His first season with the Sooners was in 2017 and with Baker Mayfield throwing him the ball. “Hollywood” Brown (nicknamed for being from Hollywood, Florida) had 1,095 yards and seven touchdowns on 57 receptions. Then in 2018, he worked with Kyler Murray and continued to ball out. The junior receiver had 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 17.6 yards per catch.
Brown would end up being the first wide receiver selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, taken by the Ravens at No. 25 overall. His claim to fame in the collegiate world was his ability to beat the defense deep and he’s continued to do the same thing at the next level.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 27. Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech football
One of the most exciting times for Texas Tech fans came during a three-season stretch between 2006 and 2008. Following a season sitting on the bench as a freshman, Graham Harrell became the starter in 2006 and was unstoppable as a passer.
Working in Mike Leach’s offense, Harrell was a perfect fit and threw for 4,555 yards with 38 touchdowns and just 11 picks. If those numbers seemed unreal, just think about this — they were the lowest numbers of his career as the starter for the Red Raiders.
Harrell went for an insane 5,705 yards with 48 touchdowns against 14 picks the following season and then had 45 touchdowns and only nine interceptions in 2008 while throwing for another 5,111 yards. That gave him 15,793 yards and 134 touchdowns with only 34 interceptions for his career.
Some of those numbers are due to the fact that they played in a spread offense and it wasn’t as though Harrell was out there with scrubs. When he took over in 2006 he had Danny Amendola there who had 487 yards on 48 catches and followed that up with 109 catches for 1,245 yards and six touchdowns. There was also Michael Crabtree who was there in 2007 and 2008. The prolific wide receiver racked up 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns off 231 catches in two seasons.
Harrell also led the Red Raiders to a shocking upset over the Texas Longhorns in 2008, when their in-state rivals were the No. 1 team in the nation. Texas Tech had climbed all the way up to No. 2 in the polls that season as well, thanks to the efficiency of their offense under Harrell.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 26. Brian Orakpo, DL, Texas football
Brian Orakpo joined the Longhorns at just the right time. His freshman season was in 2005 when they won the NCAA Championship. That was the year Vince Young took the nation by storm but he wasn’t exactly alone. Texas had some studs on defense that held Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush in check.
One of those defenders was Orakpo, who served as a rotational rusher that season as a freshman. His impact wasn’t huge just yet, recording 19 tackles and a sack, but his talent was on display as he won the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award. He saw more time as a sophomore and had five sacks with six going for a loss.
Injuries slowed him down the following season, as he had 27 tackles and 5.5 sacks in nine games. He still showed off his talent and set the table for the biggest season of his career. As a senior, Orakpo stayed healthy and put it all together. He registered 40 tackles with 17.5 going for a loss and 11.5 sacks.
He won a litany of awards that season which include: Consensus All-American honors, the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Vince Lombardi Award, the Ted Hendricks Award, and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award.
Following his tenure with Texas, Orakpo was taken 13th overall by the Washington Football Team and played six seasons there before spending four seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 25. Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma football
Ryan Broyles career at Oklahoma got off to a rocky start. He was redshirted as a freshman by Bob Stoops after being arrested for trying to steal gas from a closed gas station. He was allowed to return in 2008 and started to show off his talent as a redshirt freshman. He recorded 46 receptions for 687 yards and six touchdowns.
His next season was even better with him recording 89 catches for 1,120 yards and 15 touchdowns, but that was still an appetizer for what Broyles had on tap for his junior season. That year, Broyles had 131 catches with 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns. He earned Consensus All-American honors that season after leading the nation and breaking his own record for the most team receptions in a single season.
He returned for his senior season but suffered a torn ACL after nine games. He was still playing well for the Sooners, with 83 catches for 1,157 yards and 10 more touchdowns. He again earned All-American Honors and was also named to the All-Big 12 First-Team for the second time.
Broyles was unstoppable in the NCAA but lasted until the second round in the 2012 NFL Draft. This might have been due in part to him finishing his career with the torn ACL. Broyles spent three seasons with the Detroit Lions and then popped up in 2019 with the Dallas Renegades of the XFL.
The league didn’t make it through the first season but Broyles wasn’t affected by that since he decided to retire before the season began.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 24. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri football
Jeremy Maclin is another player who made a huge impact in the conference despite the fact that he was a short-timer. He joined the Missouri Tigers in 2006 and redshirted during his freshman season. Then as a redshirt freshman the following year, he blew up for the Tigers.
A wide receiver by trade, Maclin was given the ball any way possible. He had 80 receptions for 1,055 yards and scored nine touchdowns as a receiver. He also ran the ball 51 times for an additional 375 yards and four touchdowns. If running and receiving wasn’t enough (and Missouri didn’t think it was) they also had Maclin return kicks.
During that same redshirt freshman season, Maclin had 1,039 yards on 43 kickoff returns with one touchdown and another two scores and 307 yards on 25 punt returns. He proved that he was no one-year wonder as well, putting up similar numbers as a return man (1,010 yards on kick returns with a touchdown and 270 yards and a touchdown on punt returns) while improving as a receiver.
Maclin hauled in 102 receptions for 1,260 yards with 13 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 40 times for 293 yards and two touchdowns. He was a one-man wrecking crew who made life miserable on opposing defensive (and special teams) coordinators. Maclin also earned All-American honors in each of his two seasons at Missouri.
Following that redshirt sophomore season, Maclin entered the 2009 NFL Draft where he was selected in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 23. Roy Williams, S, Oklahoma football
There was another big-name player in the Big 12 that went by Roy Williams — but he was a talented wide receiver. That Roy Williams just missed the cut in our top-50 and it was really hard not including him. The list is just so deep with talent that some tough decisions had to be made. As for this Roy Williams, the Oklahoma safety was an absolute game-changer at safety for three seasons.
As a freshman, he made his name known by recording 81 tackles with seven of them going for a loss. He also forced a fumble but he wasn’t just a heat-seeking missile, he could also get his hands on the ball. Williams had two picks in his first season and then had two more in 2000 before recording a career-high five as a junior.
While he could take the ball away, it was his penchant for the big hit that made him stand out — and helped him go 8th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft to the Dallas Cowboys. One play, in particular, stood out against Texas in a game known as the Red River Shootout. Williams timed a blitz perfectly in the final minutes and blew up Texas quarterback Chris Simms — he even got there before the running back had time to set up a block.
The hit forced the ball loose and Oklahoma recovered it for the win. There’s even a plaque at the University of Oklahoma to memorialize the big play. Williams wasn’t just a one-hit (no pun intended) wonder either. He had one solid game after another and won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award that season for his work.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 22. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State football
A redshirt freshman in 2009, Justin Blackmon came along slowly. He had 20 receptions for 260 yards and two touchdowns but was really getting his feet wet and working toward a great career — one that took off in 2010.
As a starter in Mike Gundy’s offense, the redshirt sophomore went for an incredible 1,782 yards with 20 touchdowns. He added another 77 yards on four rushing attempts with a touchdown. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound wideout was excellent at fighting for the ball when contested and could run just about any route. He was also able to win with speed, evidenced by his 16.1 yards per reception in 2010.
Blackmon continued to shine as a junior, pulling in another 122 catches for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. That year, he was named to the All-American Team and All-Big 12 First-Team for the second season in a row. He also won the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the second season in a row. In addition that, he was awarded the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2010.
The Oklahoma State product was following some huge footsteps since he was the wideout who took over for Dez Bryant. He ended up living up to the expectations and found himself being selected fifth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Unlike Bryant, Blackmon was never able to make it in the NFL. He had the talent but off-field issues ended up being his downfall and he played just two seasons for the Jags.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 21. Teddy Lehman, LB, Oklahoma football
Teddy Lehman spent his freshman season as a rotational defender for Oklahoma and that wound up being a great season for him to be introduced to the NCAA. Lehman was part of the Sooners National Championship run that season and was able to learn from some talented defenders, which helped him as he grew into one of the best linebackers the university has ever had.
Lehman had 83 tackles with 10 going for a loss as a sophomore. He also had three sacks and caught an interception on one of the more famous plays in school history. When safety Roy Williams lit up Chris Simms from Texas, Lehman was the player who caught the ball to seal the win.
After that season, Lehman moved to the weak side, where he took over for Rocky Calmus. He got even better in that role recording 112 tackles, 17 for a loss, with two sacks, and two picks. His senior year was his best, however, with Lehman registering 117 tackles, 19 for a loss, and winning the Chuck Bednarik Award, Dick Butkus Award, and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors while also being named an All-American for the second year in a row.
Entering the 2004 NFL Draft, Lehman was considered by many draft experts to be the top prospect at outside linebacker in the class. He ended up being a high second-round pick, landing with the Detroit Lions at No. 37 overall.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 20. Darren Sproles, RB, Kansas State football
There might not have ever been a running back who was able to defy the odds quite like Darren Sproles. Standing just 5-foot-6 and weighing 180-pounds, Sproles had to overcome his size to even get a chance in the collegiate ranks. Many programs overlooked him, thinking his stature would prevent him from making it at the position.
Then, Kansas State came calling and they never regretted bringing him aboard. Sproles was electric for the Wildcats, recording 4,979 career yards with 45 touchdowns. He averaged 110.6 yards per game on the ground and averaged an impressive 6.1 yards per run.
Sproles’ best season was in 2003 when he was named a First-Team All American while also landing on the First-Team Big 12. That year, he led the nation with 1,986 yards rushing and had 19 touchdowns — 16 of which were on the ground, two were as a receiver, and one on punt returns.
He set many school records during his time and is one of the top rushers in conference history. Despite his sensational career, Sproles was still doubted in the NFL, lasting until the fourth round of the 2005 draft.
Sproles again proved the doubters wrong, playing 14 seasons in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was also set the record for the most all-purpose yards in a single season when he had 2,696 yards for the New Orleans Saints in 2011 according to Pro Football Reference.
His ability to beat teams as a receiver with the Saints and Eagles is what made him famous in the NFL but for Kansas State, he was only scratching the surface when it came to receiving. Instead, he was a true running back who just made it look easy.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 19. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech football
There was a time when Texas Tech was one of the hottest teams in the nation. Mike Leach had their aerial attack on a different level and Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree were the two biggest stars for him during the height of his run.
Crabtree only played two seasons for the Red Raiders but he’s undoubtedly the best wide receiver the school has ever had. He started out on fire, landing Co-Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year when he had 134 receptions for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns.
2008 was another big season for him, even though he didn’t top the insane numbers he put up the prior campaign. He still had 97 receptions for 1,165 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was also on the receiving end of one of the best catches in school history.
Texas Tech upset Texas (who was ranked No. 1 at the time) on a 39*33 thriller. The game came down to the wire and Crabtree caught a pass from Harrell despite being double-covered. He then avoided the tackle and took the ball into the end zone for the game-winning score.
Beyond his heroics, Crabtree was given All-American honors in each of his two seasons with Texas Tech and also won the Fred Biletnikoff Award in each of those seasons. In 2009, he was taken 10th overall by the San Francisco 49ers and was able to play in the Super Bowl during his time with them.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 18. Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska football
Eric Crouch joined the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 1997 but an ankle injury caused him to miss the season where they were co-National Champions. He then spent 1998 as a rotational quarterback throwing 101 passes while running the ball 96 times for 459 yards and five touchdowns.
His dual-threat ability made Crouch stand out as he had 3,434 yards and 59 touchdowns on the ground including a 1,115 yard and 18 touchdown season in 2001. That same year, he threw for 1,510 yards which was a personal-best but he had more interceptions (10) than touchdowns.
Crouch ended up winning the Heisman in 2001, which happened to be a very close race. He beat out two other quarterbacks as Rex Grossman from Florida and Ken Dorsey out of Miami were also in the mix and had fantastic seasons of their own.
His Heisman win capped off an incredible career that was full of many other honors including the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award in 2001, the Davey O’Brien Award that same season, and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in both 1999 and 2001.
Crouch was then drafted in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He was hurt by the fact that he was just 6-foot tall and was a better runner than a passer. In the end, he never caught on in the NFL. He did have a stint in the CFL and NFL Europe and continued to play through 2007 before making one last attempt with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League in 2011.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 17. Terence Newman, CB, Kansas State football
Terence Newman is best known now for his longevity in the NFL. He was drafted in 2003 at No. 5 overall by Bill Parcells when he was with the Dallas Cowboys. He then spent the next nine years with them before moving to the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings for three seasons each. Newman played 15 NFL seasons and was last on the field at the age of 39 — and tried to rejoin the Vikings at age 41 but wasn’t re-signed.
While his NFL career is at the forefront of his resume, he was just as impressive for Kansas State. He played for them from 1999 through 2002 and was the first player in the program’s history to win the Jim Thorpe Award which is given to the best defensive back in the nation annually.
That award was given to him in 2002 when he had 54 tackles, 14 pass defenses, and five picks. A stellar athlete, Newman also got involved with special teams and the offense. He had 32 career kick returns for 834 yards and a touchdown and 27 punt returns for 417 yards and three touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough, he added four receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown plus 26 yards rushing.
With all his speed being on display every weekend, it’s probably not surprising to know he was also a stand-out on the track team for K-State.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 16. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma football
Following in the footsteps of a No. 1 overall pick is never an easy thing to do, but Kyler Murray did so and made everyone question why he was on the bench at all. Of course, he was there because Baker Mayfield — the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner — was ahead of him, but all Murray did was win the trophy himself in 2018 and become the No. 1 pick the following season.
It’s not often a team can boast back-to-back No. 1 picks in the NFL Draft, especially when they both play under center. But Murray proved to be worth following in the steps of Baker.
A transfer from Texas A&M, Murray sat out the 2016 season due to an archaic NCAA rule and then threw just 21 passes while backing up Mayfield in 2017. He completed 18 those passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 142 yards.
Then, when he took over, Murray completed 69 percent of his passes for 4,361 yards with a 42-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. If that wasn’t enough, he added 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Still, he was questioned at nausea entering the NFL since he’s listed at just 5-foot-10. There were those who thought he would forgo the NFL altogether and play Major League Baseball, and the two-sport star had an offer to play for the Oakland Athletics. In the end, he committed to football and is continuing his pro career after an exciting, albeit short, stint in the NCAA.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 15. Grant Wistrom, DT, Nebraska football
Once again, we have a player who was able to win a title as a freshman as we come to Grant Wistrom. In 1994, he was a part of that roster and had 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He continued to excel from there, adding 44 tackles with 15 going for a loss.
That was before Wistrom and the Cornhuskers played in the Big 12 but once they moved to the conference in 1996, he was at his best. He made the All-American Team and First-Team Big 12 in 1996 and 1997 and was also a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
John E. Hoover from SI.com’s All Sooners page was also high on the play from Wistrom in his Big 12 player rankings and pointed out that Wistrom was the first Big 12 player inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame.
"“Wistrom was two-time consensus All-America, was the Big 12’s inaugural defensive player of the year in 1996, and in 1997 won the Vince Lombardi Award as the nation’s best college lineman. He was also a two-time first-team Academic All-American. In 2009, Wistrom became the first Big 12 player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (there are currently only five).” — Hoover, SI All Sooners"
Most impressively, Wistrom was the leader of a defensive line that helped the Cornhuskers win three National Championships in 1994, 1995, and 1997. He was later drafted sixth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft and he was able to win a Super Bowl with the St. Luis Rams. This guy simply won wherever he went.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 14. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma football
Sam Bradford had a short but impressive career with the Oklahoma Sooners. An Oklahoma native, Bradford received a scholarship to play for his hometown team and started out his career as a redshirt, watching Paul Thompson lead them to a Big 12 championship. Thompson wasn’t supposed to be the starter but the former wideout was pressed into action when Rhett Bomar was dismissed from the team for violating league rules.
The following season, Bradford won the starting job in a battle with six players. Once he was named the starter, he didn’t disappoint. As a redshirt freshman, Bradford had 3,121 yards with 36 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.
He came back even better in year two, leading Oklahoma to a 12-1 regular-season record and a Big 12 championship. He broke the school record for most yards in a single game that season, throwing for 468 in a win over Kansas. He was also the central figure for a streak of five-straight games with over 60 points scored, an NCAA first.
Bradford won the Heisman Trophy that season, beating out Colt McCoy, and it’s easy to see why when looking at the numbers. The redshirt sophomore threw for 4,720 yards with a 50-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Unfortunately, Bradford’s time with the Sooners ended with him suffering a shoulder injury which ended his junior campaign after throwing just 69 passes. He still did enough to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft but the injury problems followed him to the NFL where he ended up playing for four different teams in nine seasons.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 13. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas football
During his tenure at Texas, Colt McCoy was one of the most accurate and most beloved quarterbacks in school history. McCoy joined a winning organization as he was a redshirt when they won the title in 2005. He then spent the next four seasons as the starter for Texas and when he was done, he was the Big 12 leader in completion percentage at 70.3. To show just how deadly accurate he was, McCoy also set the FBS record for a single-season by completing 76.7 percent of his passes in 2008.
That same season, Texas finished 12-1 and was No. 4 in the polls. McCoy had 3,859 yards passing with a 34-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He finished second in voting for the Heisman behind Sam Bradford that year.
McCoy was again a runner-up in 2009 when he and the Longhorns went 12-0 during the regular season before knocking off Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game. He then found himself suffering an injury and having to leave during the first offensive series of the game. Garrett Gilbert came in for McCoy but Alabama scored the win.
Even with that loss, McCoy finished 45-8 as a starter and was a third-round pick for the Cleveland Browns. As of 2021, he’s the backup quarterback for the New York Giants. He never became a full-time starter in the NFL but he has carved out a long career and has a reputation for his ability to run an offense as the reserve.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 12. Jason White, QB, Oklahoma football
Jason White was absolutely dominant from 2003 to 2004 and if he had been playing at that same level for more than two years, he might have cracked the top five on this list. White threw 75 touchdowns and only 19 interceptions in his final two seasons for the Sooners and had 3,846 yards passing in 2003 and 3,205 in his senior season of 2004.
White was named the AP Player of the Year in 2003 and was also awarded the coveted Heisman Trophy. He additionally earned the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Award in both 2003 and 2004 and had other awards such as the Davey O’Brien Award (twice), the Maxwell Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Unfortunately, the young man had a tough start to his career before then. He spent five seasons in Oklahoma because he was a medical redshirt after dealing with an ankle injury and two torn ACLs. He was still able to bounce back from that rough start and lead the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and got them to the NCAA Championship Game — they lost to the USC Trojans but still made it to the big game.
White entered the 2005 NFL Draft but was not selected and did not get a chance to work out for any teams. His knee injuries were likely a reason for that — and when he was finally called by the Kansas City Chiefs for a workout further down the road, he declined due to his knees. Still, his time at Oklahoma was something to remember.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 11. Dat Ngyuen, LB, Texas A&M football
Dat Nguyen ended up making history as the Texas A&M Aggies linebacker was the first Vietnamese player in NFL history to be drafted. He was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in 1999 and made a huge impact for them despite playing only seven seasons. Nguyen topped 100 tackles in three separate seasons but had to retire after the 2005 campaign due to neck and knee injuries.
As for his collegiate days, also in the state of Texas, he was a tackling machine. Considered undersized at just 5-foot-11, Nguyen was all over the field for the Aggies and started 51 consecutive games. When he left the program, he had the most tackles in school history with 517 which is an average of more than 10 per game.
He earned several awards during his career, which included the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year (Texas A&M moved to the Big 12 in his sophomore season) as well as the Chuck Bednarik Award, Vince Lombardi Award, Jack Lambert Award, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year all in 1998. Nguyen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017. He also made three Big 12 teams, twice with the First-Team and once with the Second-Team.
After his playing days in Dallas came to an end, Nguyen started to coach football. He spent two seasons as a quality control coach and assistant linebackers coach with the Cowboys before returning to A&M in 2010 to coach inside linebackers for two years.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 10. Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas football
When the name Derrick Johnson is mentioned in the college football world, fans can’t help but think about an extremely dominant linebacker. Johnson was a three-year starter for the Longhorns but was a major contributor for all four seasons that he was on Mack Brown’s roster.
As a freshman, he rotated into the defense and had 83 tackles with 17 going for a loss. He added 4.5 sacks and three pass defenses. From there, he never had fewer than 120 tackles, netting that many in 2002 followed by 125 and 130 in his final season.
Johnson also had 69 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, nine interceptions, 30 pass breakups, and 11 forced fumbles. Numbers such as those aren’t come by easily. Johnson was just that special and always knew how to get around the football, whether he was defending the run or the pass.
He was also highly decorated during his time in Austin, earning two First-Team All-American honors in 2003 and 2004. He was also given the Dick Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy for his sensational senior season.
Once his career at Texas was done, Johnson was taken at No. 15 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs and played for them for 13 seasons. He spent six games with the Oakland Raiders in 2018 but was released before midseason. Even so, he had a long and successful NFL career that lasted until he was 36 years old.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 9. Cedric Benson, RB, Texas football
A Texas-born athlete, Cedric Benson was on the radar of college teams as early as the eighth grade. He then went off in high school, registering 8,423 yards which were the most in Texas 5A history. In addition to his talent on the football field, Benson was a good baseball player as well, even being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2001.
It’s safe to say choosing football was the right move for him. He destroyed opposing defenses for the Longhorns, eclipsing 1,000 yards in all four seasons — starting with his 1,053-yard mark and 12 scores in 2001. He followed that up with 1,293 and 12 touchdowns and 1,360 in 2003 with a personal best 21 touchdowns.
Benson returned for his senior season and ran for 1,834 yards and 19 touchdowns. That gave him 5,540 yards and 64 touchdowns on the ground in four seasons. His performance was enough to land him the AT&T ESPN All-American Player of the Year in 2004 and then the Chicago Bears took him fourth overall in 2005.
He spent eight seasons in the NFL playing for the Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and Green Bay Packers. His final campaign in the NFL was in 2012 at the age of 30. Sadly, Benson was lost in a motorcycle accident six years later. One of the best running backs in Big 12 history, Benson was gone too soon but his legend lives on as one of the top Longhorns ever.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 8. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech football
The man who changed the game, Patrick Mahomes. Right now, this ketchup-loving quarterback is the talk of the sports world after winning an NFL MVP and a Super Bowl ring within his first three seasons. He also landed one of the biggest contracts in NFL history, signing a 10-year deal worth more than $500 million with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes made the air-raid offense cool in the NFL again but before that, he was the kid putting up video game numbers for Kliff Kingsbury and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. As a freshman, Mahomes was behind Davis Webb but was able to get into the lineup by the season’s end.
He finished his first season with 1,547 yards and 16 touchdowns with only four picks, but this was just an appetizer. Mahomes then went for 4,653 yards with a 36-to-15 touchdown-to-interception ratio before having his best season for Texas Tech.
His junior campaign of 2016 saw him complete 65.7 percent of his passes for 5,052 yards with 41 touchdowns and only 10 picks. He led the FBS in yardage that season and then decided to forgo his final season of eligibility to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.
There were still concerns about how he would translate to the NFL but the Chiefs took a flier on him at No. 10 overall and have never looked back.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 7. Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M football
Von Miller is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks and has been so for quite a long time now. Miller played on the defensive line and at linebacker for the Texas A&M Aggies and was excellent when it came to rushing off the edge.
He really broke out in his third season with 47 tackles (21.5 going for a loss) and 17 sacks. This came after he moved from playing as an undersized defensive end to a linebacker who would be used to rush the quarterback off the edge.
On top of that, He also broke up five passes and forced four fumbles, showing off his versatility. Miller earned his first of two All-American Team nominations. He then followed that up with another strong performance, registering another 10.5 sacks and a personal-best 68 tackles. He also recorded his first career interception and won the Butkus Award for being the best linebacker in the nation.
Miller was the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and only continued to dominate. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and then helped lead the Denver Broncos to a win in Super Bowl 50. He was even named the MVP of that Super Bowl game and was given a monstrous contract the following offseason, setting a new standard for elite pass-rushers in the NFL in the process.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 6. Robert Griffin, III, QB, Baylor football
One of the most exciting players ever — and the man who really made Baylor football famous — was Robert Griffin III. The exciting dual-threat quarterback won a list of awards during his time in Waco including the AP Player of the Year Award, a consensus All-American appointment, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Manning Award, and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Of course, the award that meant the most to him and his program was the Heisman Trophy that RG3 won in 2011. He won that award after a season that was simply insane. Griffin completed 72.4 percent of his passes that year for 4,293 yards with 37 touchdowns and only six picks.
As if his ability to carve up defenses with his arm wasn’t enough, RG3 also was able to run through opponents to the tune of 699 yards and 10 more touchdowns. For his career, he had 2,254 yards on the ground and 33 touchdowns and even caught three passes for good measure.
Griffin also boasted some impressive passing numbers, proving he was more than just a fast quarterback. He had 10,366 yards with 78 touchdowns and just 17 picks while completing 67.1 percent of his throws.
After his collegiate career was done, Griffin was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by Washington. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year as well, but knee issues hurt his effectiveness not long after that.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 5. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma football
Perhaps no player in the history of football has been counted out as much as Baker Mayfield. He was not only a one-time walk-on, but he had to do so twice to become the player we all know.
Back in 2013, he walked onto Texas Tech and became the starting quarterback under Kliff Kingsbury — and became the first true freshman to start a season opener under center in FBS history. A knee injury caused him to miss time and there were some issues between him and Kingsbury which led to his departure.
However, Mayfield didn’t have another offer despite throwing for 2,315 yards for Texas Tech but instead, walked onto Oklahoma. Before long, he made his way to their roster and by 2015, he was a two-time walk-on starter.
Mayfield continued to grow as a quarterback and by his senior campaign, he was one of the best in the nation. He threw for 4,627 yards that year with 43 touchdowns (his second season in a row with more than 40) and only six interceptions. He was awarded the Heisman Trophy for that season and then entered the NFL Draft, where the doubts came back.
This time, there were concerns of immaturity as well as a knock on his 6-foot-1 frame. In the end, the Cleveland Browns took him first overall and bet on him to turn their franchise around. He did that as he led them to the playoffs in 2020 for the first time since 2002.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 4. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska football
When the name Ndamukong Suh is mentioned, there could be several different emotions that come up. If you’re a fan of him or any of the teams he has played for, you probably get excited about what he brings to the field. If you aren’t a fan, you surely think of all the times there’s been some yellow laundry on the field from a play that was deemed “dirty.”
Either way, you have to admit he’s a player who has always moved the needle. Suh has been in the NFL now for 11 years and just won a Super Bowl with the Rampa Bay Buccaneers. His longevity is impressive but he’s also a player who has lived up to the hype he created during a great collegiate career with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
After redshirting as a freshman in 2005, Suh started to see the field a lot for Nebraska and flashed his potential early. He had just 19 tackles as a redshirt freshman but seven of those were for a loss and 3.5 were sacks. He also added an interception, which was one of four that he had in his career.
Suh really took off in his final two seasons, posting 76 tackles, 16 for a loss, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions, and two touchdowns in 2008. Then in 2009, he had 85 tackles, 20.5 for a loss, and 12 tackles with another pick. His numbers seemed made up at times, but Suh was a larger-than-life athlete who wound up being selected at No. 2 overall by the Detroit Lions.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 3. Vince Young, QB, Texas football
Whenever the name Vince Young comes up, there’s one major memory that comes to mind — the 2006 Rose Bowl. That season was absolutely magical for Young and the Longhorns. He finished as a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy but then had a shot at taking down not only the man who won it that season, Reggie Bush but also the winner from 2004, Matt Leinart.
Bush and Leinart were part of a tremendous USC program that also had LenDale White. They were expected to defeat Texas and win the NCAA Championship, but Young had other plans. The dual-threat quarterback was credited with nearly 500 yards of offense in that game as he threw for 267 yards and ran for another 200.
Young capped that game off with a 9-yard touchdown run— his third rushing score of the game — giving them the win 41-38. The upset capped off a great career for Young that saw him throw for 6,040 yards with 44 touchdowns while running for another 3,127 with 37 more touchdowns in his career.
He has since been named to the College Football Hall of Fame and has several awards under his belt including the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, the Manning Award, and the Davey O’Brien Award — all of which he earned for his 2005 season.
In the NFL, Young didn’t have as much success but he was still good enough to hear his name called third overall and he then spent five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. No matter how his pro career went down, Young was one of the best to ever play the game collegiately.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma football
Our No. 2 all-time Big 12 player is none other than former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. “All Day” was a beast for the Sooners and finished his career with them as one of the more decorated backs in school history.
As a freshman in 2004, he was the No. 1 back in the nation with an unbelievable 1,925 yards on the ground. If that by itself wasn’t impressive enough, he had the most 100-yard games from a freshman, with 11.
Peterson was named an All-American for his efforts that season and there were expectations that he would continue to shatter records. That ended up not happening as he dealt with some injuries in 2006, which proved to be his final collegiate season.
Despite playing in just seven games that season, Peterson still managed 1,012 yards and 12 touchdowns. Simply put, this kid was unstoppable and that’s why he was taken at No. 7 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.
As for his NFL career, AD only continued to prove he’s one of the best in the game. He spent 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before moving on to the New Orleans Saints. He has also had stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Football Team before spending 2020 with the Detroit Lions.
At the age of 35, he had 604 yards and seven touchdowns and enters 2021 with 14,820 career yards, good for fifth all-time and 118 touchdowns. Peterson still wants to keep playing and it’s highly likely that he will get a chance to catch on somewhere this coming season as well.
Big 12 Football best players of all-time: 1. Ricky Williams, RB, Texas football
The only reason to not put Ricky Williams at No. 1 would be the fact that he spent his first season with the Texas Longhorns in the Southwest Conference. That year, he was a solid freshman with 990 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. However, even if we throw that campaign out the window, Williams not only had one of the best careers in the Big 12, but he was also one of the better players in NCAA history.
Williams was great from the start but he only got better every season he played. His sophomore campaign saw him rush for 1,272 yards and 12 touchdowns but again, this was nothing compared to what he had in store. As a junior, Williams kicked it into another gear and ran for 1,893 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Then, he returned for his senior season and was even better. This time, he had 2,124 yards and 27 touchdowns — a performance that led to him winning the Heisman Trophy as well as the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and AP Player of the Year award as well. When all was said and done, Williams had his No. 34 retired by Texas.
His NFL career never reached the heights expected but he still made quite a mark on the league, and was a part of one of the biggest trades since Dallas shipped off Herschel Walker. Desperate for a playmaker, New Orleans Saints head coach Mike Ditka traded every pick he had to Washington (a first through seventh but without the second-round pick which was already traded) for the rights to draft Williams.
Seeing someone give up their entire draft was unheard of, but it spoke to the talent that Williams had, and how much he impacted the collegiate game of football.