Linebackers
1. Von Miller, Texas A&M
Miller, a hybrid linebacker/end “joker” in the Aggies’ defense, was named Big 12 co-preseason defensive player of the year with Jared Crick. It’s a good selection – they’re undoubtedly the most disruptive defense forces in the Big 12. He led the nation with 17 sacks and led the conference in tackles for loss and forced fumbles.
2. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
Unlike Miller, Lewis was one of only three unanimous selections to the preseason All-Big 12 team. He already has 253 tackles – 21 for loss – in two seasons, including 11 career games with 10 or more tackles. The weakside backer leads a unit that should be the conference’s best.
3. Keenan Robinson, Texas
Robinson saved his best games for his biggest ones in 2009: 10 tackles and a sack against Nebraska, plus another seven and half a sack against Alabama in the title game. The preseason All-Big 12 pick started 26 games in two years at outside linebacker and has 98 career tackles – 58 of them solo stops.
4. Brian Duncan, Texas Tech
Duncan was another guy who stepped up in big games, highlighted by 15 tackles against Houston and 11 against Texas. He led the team with 88 stops and seven tackles for loss, and Duncan fellow linebacker Bront Bird bring much experience to Tech’s unit with a combined 61 starts.
5. Will Ebner, Missouri
The hard-hitting junior collected 78 tackles – 9½ for loss – despite only becoming a starter halfway through the season. More impressively, Ebner had arthroscopic surgery after suffering a knee injury against Nebraska yet missed only one game. Ebner and Andrew Gachkar face a tall task this fall: replacing the production of first-rounder Sean Weatherspoon.
Honorable mention: Emmanuel Acho, Texas; Drew Dudley, Kansas; Garrick Williams, Texas A&M
CORNERBACKS
1. Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
Remember the 2008 season, when Ndamukong Suh quietly developed into a phenomenal talent on defense? Amukamara’s 2009 year – his first as a starter – was a bit like that. He picked off five passes, broke up a team-high 11 and collected two sacks. His interception and 22-yard return against Oklahoma set up NU’s only touchdown, and another season full of big plays should land him a spot in the first round of next year’s NFL Draft.
2. Curtis Brown, Texas
Brown has played in 40 games and has 25 career pass breakups. He collected 53 passes and only picked off one pass last year, but he did manage to take it 77 yards to the house. Texas lost All-American safety Earl Thomas to the draft, but it may still feature the nation’s best secondary.
3. Aaron Williams, Texas
How, exactly, are quarterbacks supposed to attack a Texas secondary that features two preseason All-Big 12 corners? Williams impressed in big games in 2009, including an interception and a sack against Oklahoma, five tackles and a pick game vs. Nebraska, and two pass breakups in the national title game.
4. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
Ask Prince Amukamara about Dennard and he’ll admit his fellow corner is a better athlete. Dennard took over as a starter at the start of Big 12 play last season and shined despite being hampered with a shoulder injury for much of the season. Dennard broke up eight passes, collected 36 tackles and should be even better this fall.
5. Chris Harris, Kansas
Harris was supposed to work as a nickel back last year but quickly took over the right cornerback spot. He finished third on the Jayhawks with 84 tackles – including three double-digit tackles games – and added nine pass breakups, earning him the team award for KU’s most unselfish player.
Honorable mention: Carl Gettis, Missouri; Jimmy Smith, Colorado; Chykie Brown, Texas
SAFETIES
1. Blake Gideon, Texas
Gideon’s been a starter from day one at Texas. His big sophomore season (62 tackles, six picks, five pass breakups) helped make fans forget about his flub against Texas Tech in 2008: Gideon’s dropped interception late in the fourth quarter gave Tech the chance to pull off that stunning Michael Crabtree game-winner.
2. Quinton Carter, Oklahoma
The physical preseason All-Big 12 defender was the Sooners’ second-leading tackler with 80 stops last year and added four picks in his first year as OU’s starting free safety. The Sooners will break in new starting corners this fall, so Carter will need another big year to prevent a big drop-off for OU’s always-strong secondary.
3. Eric Hagg, Nebraska
Nebraska assistant coaches have called Hagg one of the best defensive backs in the nation, and he’ll get a chance to prove it this year as an integral part of the “Peso” defense. He’s made 20 starts over the past two seasons and recorded 40 tackles – seven for loss – with four pass breakups and two sacks in 2009.
4. Tysyn Hartman, Kansas State
Hartman picked off five passes, the most by a Wildcat since 2003. He picked off two passes in the season opener, broke Jerrod Johnson’s streak of 226 passes without an interception and returned a pick 42 yards against Nebraska. He leads an experienced K-State secondary that returns three other starters.
5. David Sims, Iowa State
The 2009 Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year was a junior college transfer who originally intended to sign with Oklahoma. Sims led ISU with five interceptions, including a crucial goal-line pick against Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. He finished the year with 88 tackles and stepped up as Iowa State’s top kick returner.
Honorable mention: Cody Davis, Texas Tech; DeJon Gomes, Nebraska; Trent Hunter, Texas A&M