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Rece Davis reveals all-time favorite player from each Big 12 football program

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•07/07/23•

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Rece Davis (Photo by Jordon Kelly | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

There’s nothing quite like sitting around and reminiscing on the all-time greats. On Friday, ESPN’s Rece Davis got in on the fun.

The College GameDay anchor listed his favorite player ever from each Big 12 program. While, at first, Davis only listed the 10 programs in the Big 12 last season, he later included picks for the four programs joining the conference this year. We include those picks at the bottom of the story.

There’s no shortage of legendary names. Look below to see if Davis’ opinion aligns with yours.

Rece Davis’ all-time favorite players from each Big 12 football program

Baylor: Mike Singletary

Mike Singletary struck fear into the Bears’ opponents from 1977-80. The star linebacker became Baylor’s first three-time All-American (unanimously so in 1980). Additionally, Singletary set program records for tackles in a game (33, versus Arkansas), season (232, 1978) and career (662).

Although Singletary made Davis’ Big 12 list, the program was still in the Southwest Conference when the Baylor legend was in college. Singletary’s NFL career was just as successful as his collegiate campaign. He received 10 consecutive Pro Bowl nods and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1988. Singletary was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

Oklahoma: Thomas Lott

Thomas Lott tore up Oklahoma’s enemies from 1975-78. Lott did not start in his first season but ultimately led the Sooners to a 23-5-1 record in his 29 games as OU’s starter from 1976-78 and three conference championships.

Lott finished his collegiate career as OU’s rushing leader among quarterbacks but was later surpassed by Jamelle Holieway. Nonetheless, no Sooner has outdone Lott’s single-game quarterback rushing record when he rattled off 195 yards vs. Kansas State in 1976.

Lott’s NFL career wasn’t as glamorous. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals as a running back and spot return man in 1979 before joining the USFL’s New Jersey Generals for the 1983 season.

Texas: Earl Campbell

This seemed like the obvious choice. Earl Campbell was a legendary Longhorns running back from 1974-77. In his senior season, Campbell led the nation in rushing with 1,744 yards. For his effort, he was named the Heisman Trophy Award winner the same year.

Perhaps even more impressive, he rushed for 100-plus yards 10 times as a senior. Campbell concluded his time at UT with 4,443 rushing yards. He was named an All-American in 1975, as well. Drafted by the Houston Oilers with the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NFL Draft, Campbell went on to be a five-time Pro Bowler and an NFL Hall of Fame member.

Texas Tech: Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree is Davis’ first pick who played in the 21st century. Competing for the Red Raiders from 2007-08, Crabtree was the first two-time recipient of the Biletnikoff Award in history, signifying the best wide receiver in college football.

To this day, Crabtree is the only two-time unanimous All-American in school history. The decorated wide receiver set the Texas Tech career records for receiving yards (3,127) and touchdowns (41). Cleveland Browns WR Jakeem Grant eventually broke his receiving yards record.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted Crabtree with the No. 10 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Texas Tech product went on to record 637 receptions for 7,499 yards and 54 touchdowns over his professional career.

TCU: LaDainian Tomlinson

Davis chose Tomlinson to represent the Horned Frogs. The 5-foot-10 running back terrorized opposing defenses from 1997-2000. For his career, Tomlinson recorded 943 carries for 5,387 yards and 56 touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

“LT” did not start at his position his first two years with the program but made for his slow start with a dynamic final two years. Tomlinson was a unanimous All-America selection and winner of the Doak Walker Award his senior year. Tomlinson went on to become a five-time Pro Bowler in the NFL and take the home MVP Award in 2006.

Oklahoma State: Barry Sanders

Davis made a bold choice by selecting arguably the greatest running back of all time to represent Oklahoma State. Kidding. Barry Sanders didn’t start his first two seasons with the Cowboys. However, he did lead the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 31.6 yards per return.

Nonetheless, when Sanders got his chance to start in his junior season, he made the most of it. That year, the Kansas native rushed for 2,628 yards, an average of 238.9 yards per game, with 37 rushing touchdowns. After ultimately setting 34 NCAA records, Sanders was awarded the Heisman Trophy.

Sanders chose to forgo his senior year and was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the third pick of the 1989 NFL Draft. Sanders became a ten-time Pro Bowl selection, an eight-time all-NFL player and the 1997 NFL MVP.

Iowa State: Charlie Kolar

Charlie Kolar is a more modern selection. The 6-foot-6 tight end played for the Cyclones from 2017-21. Kolar was the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy Winner, given to the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance.

Kolar was also named a Third Team All-American by the Associated Press and a First Team All-Big 12 coaches selection for his final three years. Baltimore selected the Iowa State alum with the No. 128 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

West Virginia: Pat McAfee

Suddenly, this list seems less convincing. In fairness, before McAfee became an internet sensation, he was an extremely talented kicker, playing for the Mountaineers from 2005-08. In his final season with the team, McAfee became the school record holder for all-time scoring with a field goal against Marshall.

As we all know, McAfee shined the brightest when punting. In 2008, the 6-foot-1 leg averaged a career-best 44.7 yards per punt average. The Indianapolis Colts selected McAfee in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. McAfee earned two Pro Bowl appearances while in the league.

Kansas State: Darren Sproles

Davis’ Wildcat choice was a fan favorite. Standing at just 5-foot-7, Darren Sproles still holds the Kansas State career record with 4,979 yards. The statistic ranks 11th on the NCAA career rushing chart and third in the Big 12 Conference.

The record is one of 23 that Sproles set while at Kansas State from 2001-04. Sproles never won the Heisman Trophy but finished fifth in voting his junior year. The San Diego Chargers selected Sproles in the fourth round (130th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. Sproles was selected to three Pro Bowls in the NFL and won the Super Bowl in 2018.

Kansas: Jalon Daniels

Davis didn’t bother hopping in his time machine for his final pick. Jalon Daniels is currently the Kansas Jayhawks’ starting quarterback. Experts expect Daniels to have a big year. The 6-foot QB1 was named the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

These experts’ suspicions are founded in the facts. Last season, Daniels completed 152 of his 251 pass attempts to amass 2014 passing yards. Daniels’ season was slowed down last year after he suffered a shoulder injury in October. Nevertheless, Daniels has fully recovered and is ready for a standout campaign.