Collin Oliver, Jaren Kanak, and other Breakout Big XII Defenders

1. DE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State

Oliver had a very good season under the radar in 2022 but was overshadowed by a lot of top-end talent in the Big XII. An explosive edge rusher, Oliver may be a bit undersized but more than makes up for it with his quickness.

Oklahoma State’s Collin Oliver (30) takes down Texas Tech’s Behren Morton (2) as he throws the ball in the first quarter during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.

2. LB Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma

Kanak is a unique athlete who will be among the rangiest linebackers in the conference, if not the country, next season. He ran under 10.4 in the 100m in high school and can cover ground and tackle with the best of them. Kanak has everything you want in a linebacker against the high-flying offenses of the Big XII.

Sep 17, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Jaren Kanak (7) chases Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Casey Thompson (11) during the first half at Memorial Stadium.

3. DB Devin Lemear, Baylor

As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Lemear earned honorable mention all-conference honors and locked down the back end of the Bears’ defense. Despite a smaller frame, he’s a big hitter who can also patrol center field with the best of them.