Most of the Big 12’s premier edge rushers from last season weren’t involved in spring practice; instead, they are preparing for the NFL Draft, including 2023 CFN Big 12 EDGE of the Year, Tre’Mon Morris-Brash. Houston’s Nelson Ceasar and Kansas’ Austin Booker even opted to leave a year early to test their chances at the next level.
Their vacancies need to be filled, making way for new blood in the 2024 Big 12 EDGE Rankings.
2024 Big 12 EDGE Rankings
10) Amier Washington, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Amier Washington took a redshirt and only played in two games as a true freshman last season, but one of those games was the Independence Bowl, where he had a breakout performance in a 34-14 win over Cal. Washington racked up four tackles for a loss, including two sacks and a forced fumble to help guide the Red Raiders over the Bears.
A converted defensive tackle at 6’2″, 275 pounds, Washington demonstrated his prowess off the edge despite a small sample size, priming him for an even more significant breakout in 2024.
9) Jared Bartlett, Cincinnati Bearcats
Jared Bartlett is no stranger to the Big 12, having spent his first five seasons with the West Virginia Mountaineers. From 2019-2023, he appeared in 50 games with 26 starts, racking up 135 tackles and 14 sacks, including 49 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season.
With one year left, Bartlett transferred to the Cincinnati Bearcats and will face his old team on November 9.
8) Steve Linton, Baylor Bears
Another senior transfer staying in the Big 12, Steve Linton only spent one season at Texas Tech last year before switching to the Baylor Bears this offseason. Linton started his career at Syracuse (2019-2022), registering 45 tackles and five sacks with the Orange.
At Tech last season, he recorded 22 tackles and three sacks in four starts. In his sixth year, Linton will have reps to prove himself in Waco, with T.J. Jackson awaiting the NFL Draft.
7) Sean Martin, West Virginia Mountaineers
With Jared Bartlett’s departure to Cincinnati, the West Virginia Mountaineers have some reps to make up for on the end of their DL. Sean Martin, a 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, has been with West Virginia for the last five seasons, starting 21 games with 77 career tackles and five sacks.
Martin saw some statistical regression last season with just one sack due to injuries, but he will be leaned on more by the coaching staff this season as he’s fully healthy at spring practice.
6) Brendan Mott, Kansas State Wildcats
Brendan Mott is a two-year starter heading into his sixth season with the Kansas State Wildcats. A 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, he has 23 starts in 29 games, 60 tackles, and seven sacks with the Wildcats.
MORE: 2024 Kansas State Wildcats Football Roster
Despite just one sack last year, Mott will have more shots at the QB in 2024 with star Kansas State edge rusher Khalid Duke graduating.
5) Jereme Robinson, Kansas Jayhawks
Jereme Robinson only made one start in his first three seasons with the Kansas Jayhawks, registering 51 tackles and four sacks in his first 28 games. He started every game last season, amassing 25 tackles, six for a loss, and 4.5 sacks, earning a 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection.
After being entrusted with a full slate, Robinson proved he could step into the lead EDGE role for the Jayhawks vacated by Booker.
4) Malachi Lawrence, UCF Golden Knights
A pedestrian true freshman season with the UCF Knights gave way to a phenomenal second year for Malachi Lawrence. The Golden Knight was a force without even making a start, racking up 17 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, and 7.5 sacks, earning 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
Tre’Mon Morris-Brash lit up the Big 12 and is off to the NFL, leaving a space on the end of the UCF line ready to be occupied by Lawrence.
3) Tyler Onyedim, Iowa State Cyclones
After waiting in the wings his first two years with the Iowa State Cyclones, Tyler Onyedim became a full-time starter last season. He played in all 13 games and had 42 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, and two sacks, earning a CFN 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
With two years left as a junior, Onyedim is prepped to continue his ascension as he gains more trust from the Cyclones staff.
2) B.J. Green II, Colorado Buffalos
A newcomer to the Big 12 in more ways than one, B.J. Green II cracks the top two of the 2024 Big 12 EDGE Rankings after transferring to Colorado from Arizona State this offseason.
Green was named to the 2023 All-Pac-12 Second Team after registering 39 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, six sacks, and a forced fumble. Twelve of his 13 career starts came last year, playing in 36 games overall across three seasons for the Sun Devils, registering 60 career tackles, 21 TFLs, and 13.5 sacks.
At 6’1″, 270 pounds, Green is a versatile force on the DL that can switch inside, but his true damage is inflicted off the edge.
1) Tyler Batty, BYU Cougars
A three-year starter at BYU, Tyler Batty is entering his fifth season overall with the Cougars after gaining another year of eligibility as a member of the 2020 COVID class.
Batty has played 40 games with 31 starts at BYU, racking up 162 tackles, 26.5 tackles for a loss, and 15 career sacks. He hit career highs in all three categories last season with 57 tackles, nine for a loss, and 5.5 sacks, earning a CFN 2023 All-Big 12 Third Team nod.
KEEP READING: 2024 BYU Cougars Football Roster
With most of the conference’s top EDGE rushers from last season either moving on to the NFL or the SEC with Texas and Oklahoma, the seasoned, 6’5″, 275-pound Batty sits atop the 2024 Big 12 EDGE rankings.
2024 Big 12 EDGE Rankings | 11-20
11) Trent Jones III, Iowa State
12) Van Fillinger, Utah
13) Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, Arizona
14) Kyler Jordan, Baylor
15) DeSean Brown, Oklahoma State
16) Paul Oyewale, TCU
17) Logan Fano, Utah
18) Dylan Wudke, Kansas
19) Keith Cooper, Houston
20) Justin Wodtly, Arizona State
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