PFF’s Top Returning Defensive Big 12 Football Players in 2024
It’s never too early to talk about the 2024 college football season. Even though we are in full swing with basketball, there are still plenty of talking points going into the next football season.
While all the focus is on the NFL Draft with the Senior Bowl coming up, I decided to take a look at the top returning Big 12 players on defense according to grades from Pro Football Focus.
Here are the top returning defensive players at each position.
West Virginia DT T.J. Jackson (89.9)
T.J. is heading to Morgantown after playing at Troy for the last four seasons. Last year, Jackson had the third-highest run grade (91) out of all the defensive tackles and also was the fifth-highest-graded interior player in 2023. It was huge for West Virginia to go out and get one of the best defensive players in the Sun Belt.
Iowa State DL Kenard Snyder (79.1)
It took me a while before I found a Big 12 guy but thankfully, I stopped when I saw Kenard Snyder from Iowa State. Kenard is another transfer portal player that the Cyclones picked up from ULM. He totaled 60 tackles and 5.5 sacks last year for ULM after moving from linebacker to defensive end during fall camp.
Iowa State LB Caleb Bacon (90.2)
He could have easily gotten the highest-graded last name because who doesn’t love bacon? Caleb was a force for the Iowa State defense last season as he finished as the sixth-highest-graded linebacker. Coming into 2024, Caleb will be the third-highest-graded linebacker as well. His specialty? Stopping the run. According to PFF, he finished in run defense with a grade of 91.3.
Colorado CB Preston Hodge (90.0)
We have our third transfer portal player on the list, Preston Hodge from Liberty. Last season, Preston was the sixth-highest-graded cornerback in all of college football. Over the last two years, Hodge has had 13 pass breakups and over 60 tackles. It appears Deion Sanders got himself a great player as Colorado enters the Big 12.
West Virginia Safety Aubrey Burks (79.6)
I had to scroll a bit before I landed on a Big 12 player and eventually, I found West Virginia safety Aubrey Burks. Last year, Aubrey recorded 48 total tackles with four being for loss. He also had four interceptions with a forced fumble.
