Big 12 Football: Breakout player from each Big 12 team

Texas Tech

DT Jaylon Hutchings

Hutchings has been in a reserved role over the past few years.  With impact players in linebackers Riko Jeffers and Colin Schooler, Hutchings has an argument of the highest ceiling out of all the defensive lineman. Hutchings played in all ten games last year and made an impression.

He finished with 23 tackles, alongside three tackles for loss and a sack. At 6-foot and 305 lbs., he is a perfect run stuffer and has good speed for his size.

Moving forward, Hutchings will be a household name and similar to the other two defensive lineman, has a chance to be a dark horse to make the All-Big 12 list.

With him and Tony Bradford Jr., alongside the strong core of linebackers, the front seven should be the lead of the defense and Hutchings will make a big impact.

West Virginia

NT Akheem Mesidor

Although Mesidor made his presence felt in a rotational-role last year behind Darius Stills, he will have a bigger impact in 2021.

The freshman lead the team last year in sacks with five and was the best among freshman in the conference.

With increased playing time and production left on the table from Stills departure, Mesidor can still anchor the best one-two punch in the trenches.

The Mountaineers lost others to the portal on defense, headlined by safety Tyreek Smith, with his transfer to Georgia.

Mesidor should be the breakout player for the Mountaineers and has a legit case to be an All-Big 12 football player with a healthy season and consistency.