Top 10 players in the Big 12 in 2023: Led by Cooper Beebe, the big uglies dominate rankings

We’re inching ever-so-close to the 2023 season, and with Week 0 just around the corner, I’m unveiling my Top 10 players from each Power 5 conference over the next week. 

This is a fun, but tough exercise. Whittling down to just 10 guys in a sport this loaded with stars and All-Americans is hard. On Monday, we kickstarted the series with the SEC, and then unveiled my Top 10 players in the Big Ten, the Top 10 players in the ACC, and the Top 10 players in the Pac-12. 

While it’s been all about the QBs the last two days with likes of Drake Maye, Jordan Travis, Caleb Williams and others, we wrap up the series with the Big 12 — which is the league with some of the best big uglies in 2023. 

Once again, there were plenty of tough omissions. There wasn’t quite room for the likes of Jerand Bradley or Will Howard. Spoiler: Also not in the Top 10? Quinn Ewers. But fear not Longhorns fans, you’re team is very well represented — with close to half of the whole list! 

As always, debate away.

10. QB Dillion Gabriel, Oklahoma 

Gabriel has battled a variety of injuries at both Oklahoma and UCF, but when available, the undersized quarterback has been one of the most productive players at his position the last several seasons. 

In his first year with the Sooners, Gabriel threw for more than 3,100 yards, with 25 touchdowns and a 63% completion. The fifth-year senior has over 11,200 passing yards and 109 total touchdowns during his career. 

9. C Zach Frazier, West Virginia 

The Mountaineers’ veteran has 34 starts in 35 career games, developing from an anonymous 3-star recruit into one of the best 2-3 centers in the country. Frazier is part of a WVU OL that will challenge Kansas State and Texas for the best unit in the Big 12 this fall. 

The 6-3, 310-pound senior is a former multi-time state wrestling champion in West Virginia and he’s taken those skills to college football, packing a powerful punch with great balance as a road-grader as a run-blocker (PFF best 82.0 grade for all P5 centers the last two years). 

8. OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU

Suamataia checked in at No. 3 overall in Bruce Feldman’s annual FREAK’s list, with BYU coaches telling The Athletic’s reporter that the 6-6, 318-pound tackle is “faster than our linebackers.” Suamataia reportedly hit 21.5 MPH last offseason. 

The former Oregon transfer didn’t allow a sack in his redshirt freshman season, and now he’s transitioning to left tackle where he hopes to augment his audition for NFL scouts. 

7. CB Josh Newton, TCU

Teammates with the 2022 Thorpe Award winner Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Newton was arguably just as good as a player for the Horned Frogs last fall. 

The former Louisiana-Monroe transfer was also an All Big-12 First-Team honoree after recording 15 PBUs and three interceptions. Despite losing Tomlinson to the NFL, there’s belief in Fort Worth that Newton will star for an even better and deeper secondary in 2023.

6. OT Kelvin Banks, Texas

As a freshman, Banks started all 12 games for the Longhorns at left tackle in 2022. According to PFF, he graded out as the best first-year OT in the country in terms of pass protection — allowing zero sacks against eventual 1st Round picks Will Anderson of Alabama and Felix Anudike-Uzomah of Kansas State. 

The 6-4, 320-pound sophomore should headline the best Texas OL since the Mack Brown era this fall. 

5. TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas

Outside of Brock Bowers, Sanders might be the second-best tight end in the country in 2023. The 6-4, 245-pound sophomore was Quinn Ewers’ security blanket, hauling in 54 receptions (second-most on the team) for 613 yards and five touchdowns. 

With Texas’ addition of standout wideout AD Mitchell and the return of a guy like Isaiah Neyor, Sanders, a former 5-star recruit. may take advantage of even more 1-on-1 matchups this fall. 

4. QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas

Daniels found himself on some of the early Heisman Trophy watchlists last season after leading Kansas to a 5-0 start before getting injured in the loss to TCU. Daniels was able to return to action after missing four games, finishing the season with 2.500 total yards, 25 touchdowns and just four picks. 

Back healthy and surrounded by more returning production than any other offense in the country this fall, the dizzying scrambler should have a monster senior season working with Lance Leipold again. 

3. LB Jaylan Ford, Texas

The preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Ford is coming off a season with a career-high 119 tackles. He added 10 TFLs, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two sacks. 

The Longhorns’ inside linebacker was a major reason why their defense improved from a unit ranked in the 100s in 2021 to a Top 25 group in 2022. If Ford can replicate last season’s production, Texas’ defense might inch closer to the Top 10 this fall.

2. WR Xavier Worthy, Texas

If anyone can push Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison for the Biletnikoff Award this fall it might be Worthy, who had a semi-down season in 2022 but still caught 60 balls for 760 yards and nine touchdowns.

The 6-1, 175-pound receiver is slight but he’s one of the most explosive players in the country with 4.3 speed and lightening quickness. He’s Quinn Ewers’ favorite target, and if he’s fixed his problems with drops, he’s an All-American candidate.

1. OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State

The Wildcats’ three-year starter is one of the best and most versatile offensive linemen in the country. Beebe was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection at left tackle in 2021 and then kicked inside to left guard last fall and earned First-Team honors once again. 

He graded out as PFF’s No. 1 returning interior lineman for 2023 after not allowing a single sack in 14 games. He also helped Kansas State led the Big 12 in rushing.