1. Travin Howard, junior LB, TCU
Howard, to say the least, had a huge game against Texas Tech. He led the conference in tackles that day with 19 and also picked up a sack. His 19-tackle performance gives him 88 on the year, which is 19 more than any other player in the Big 12.
2. Jordan Evans, senior LB, Oklahoma
Evans helped shut down the KU offense on Saturday, leading the Sooners with 10 tackles. Not only did he lead the team in tackles, Evans picked off a Montell Cozart pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.
3. Elijah Lee, junior LB, Kansas State
Lee had yet another solid performance in the Wildcats’ win over Iowa State. He had 11 tackles on the day, including half a sack late in the game to help seal the win. Lee is second in the Big 12 with 69 tackles.
4. Malik Jefferson, sophomore LB, Texas
Texas needed a win and Jefferson helped secure it. The sophomore linebacker had 9 tackles on the day, including one sack, which totals his total sacks on the season to three.
5. D.J. Reed, sophomore DB, Kansas State
Reed came up big for the Wildcats, picking up 14 tackles, 11 of which were solo. Double-digit tackle days for defensive backs are hard to find, so if Reed can keep his aggressive play up, the Wildcat defense becomes that much more scary.
6. Aiavion Edwards, senior LB, Baylor
Edwards paced the Baylor defense against the Longhorns with 13 tackles. He also picked up one of the three Bear sacks on the day. Edwards comes in fourth in the conference with 57 stops.
7. Vincent Taylor, junior DT, Oklahoma State
Taylor’s efforts on Saturday helped knock off the then-undefeated West Virginia. Taylor had six stops, but more importantly 2.5 sacks. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week also deflected a pass.
8. Malik Jenkins, senior LB, Texas Tech
Jenkins’ play came up big in the Red Raiders’ win over TCU. Jenkins led the team with 14 tackles, 10 of which were solo. Jenkins also defended a pass against TCU’s high-flying offense.
9. Mat Boesen, junior DE, TCU
On the flip side of Jenkins, Boesen did everything he could do to try and keep the Horned Frogs in the game. He had 10 stops including two sacks on the day. Boesen ranks fourth in the Big 12 with six sacks on the year.
10. Dorance Armstrong Jr., sophomore DE, KU
Armstrong Jr. had six tackles and another sack in their losing effort to Oklahoma. The sack pushes Armstrong’s total this year up to eight, of which he is tied for first in the Big 12 with K-State’s senior defensive end Jordan Willis.
