Greatest linebacker of all time from every Big 12 Conference football program

Up until roughly the middle of the college football’s first century, defensive player who controlled the game was the middle linebacker.

Over the span of the last 20 years, it’s the edge rushers, um, the linebackers and the cornerbacks you know?

On the way it also observed many legends in the linebacker and so also its eight new addressees that have joined the big 12 conference in last two years.

Below is a rundown of the all-time greatest linebacker per team from all the 16 teams in the Big 12.

Arizona, Tedy Bruschi (1991-1995): Terms related to football when Bruschi was in college at the University of Arizona are different from the existing ones. Whether in a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense modern game setup, he is an outside linebacker so that’s why we’re listing him here. Bruschi was a two time all-americ at Arizona and left the ncaa with 52 career sacks which was a record at that time.

Arizona State, Adam Archuleta (1997-2000): Archuleta was recruited to Arizona State University as a walk on and finished his college career as a two time All-Pac 10 choice, and the 2000 Pac 10 Defensive Player of the Year. He was drafted in the first round by the St. Louis Rams and defended the NFL for 7 years on the field of the safety.

Baylor, Mike Singletary (1977-1980): Singletary shall have been a two-time All-American he had 15 tackles per game in last two seasons, and as a senior in 1989 was a leader of Baylor Bears to the first ten-win season in the school history. Singletary further on to become an NFL two time Defensive player of the year, super bowl champion, member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

BYU, Kurt Gouveia (1983-1985): Gouveia was one of football great player — he was the state champion at the Waianae (Hawaii) High School, the national champion at Brigham Young University and the two time Super Bowl champion at the Washington Redskins.

Cincinnati, Ivan Pace Jr. (2022): Pace was used optimally at Cincinnati since he transferred from Miami of Ohio and altered the game averaging a record of 9. 8 points per match and was espn All American and AAC Defensive player of year in 2022.

Colorado, Alfred Williams (1988-1990): Williams was the college football’s all-time great product of the linebacker position. First team All Big- Eight three times, BIG- Eight Defensive player of the Team twice, two times All American, received the Butkus Award in 1990 and directed Colorado to the national championship in the same year. Williams was elected into the college football hall of fame in 2010.

Houston, Lamar Lathon (1986-1989): Lathon grew up in poverty 35 minutes away from the Houston campus in Wharton, Texas before becoming a star for the Cougars. The Houston Oilers selected Lathon in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft, with the fifteenth overall pick; he later was a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time NFL All-Pro.

Iowa State, Matt Blair (1971-1973): Blair was the head coach of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M when the school won the junior college championship in 1969 for the team before joining Iowa State University was the two times All Big-8 selection and two times All-American. Blair professed loyal for fifteen years with Viking club of Minnesota;however, he was a six-time pro bowler.

Kansas, Willie Pless (1983-1985): The NCAA beginning only counting tackles in 2000, Pless total of 633 tackles in his three years of playing is not the record. The three-time All-Big Eight selection extended his performance for 14 years in the CFL and clinched a Grey Cup in 1993 besides being the 5-time CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

Kansas State (tie), Mark Simoneau and Gary Spani: My bad with this one. We surely boast of making the tough call … only not in this one. Two Kansas natives. Two former college football players that were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame can be mentioned here. It was rather challenging to single out one of the two recipes as they both were great. So we didn’t.

Oklahoma State, John Corker (1976-1979): :How innovative was Corker? In 1978 he was awarded All-American and Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year even though the player played in only seven games.

TCU, Paul Dawson (2012-2014): He was two times All-Big 12 selection and for his final season in the year 2014; he was awarded the Big 12 Defensive Player of the year and All-American honor having 140 tackles, 20 tackles beyond the line of scrimmage, 4 interceptions, and 5 sacks. That, my friends, is a season for the ages does not it?

Texas Tech, Zach Thomas (1992-1995): Thomas was truly spectacular at Texas Tech; he was a two time All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 1995. Thomas, being a resident of Texas Tech, provided one of the most memorable moments by intercepting a pass that he took back 25-yards to score the only two touchdowns in that match against Texas A&M that ended 14-7. Thomas was inducted to College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame as well.

UCF, Shaquem Griffin (2013-2017): Kamari had one of the strongest performances playing for UCF for a few years, and he accomplished this as a defensive player — without his left hand; it was amputated at age four. Griffin was a two times AAC selection, the AAC Defensive Player of the Year of 2016 and an All-American in 2017. He ended his great career by begin named Peach Bowl Defensive MVP in 2018 after leading UCF to unbeaten record. Apart from this, the player should end up in the College Football Hall of Fame one day.

Utah, Devin Lloyd (2017-2021): Lloyd was an NFL evaluation a three-year starter and two-time All-Pac-12 selection who concluded his establishment by being named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-American in 2021.

West Virginia, Darryl Talley (1979-1982): After leaving the West Virginia, Talley departs with the records of 474 career tackles and was the All-American in the 1982 season. He was named in the College Football Hall of Fame that year, 2011.