Last Word has already highlighted the best linebackers and best defensive linemen of the Big 12. But it’s time we shift our focus to the secondary. Passing games reign supreme over most of college football in 2025. Having defenders who can lock down pass catchers is a premium for grounding aerial attacks. So, which ball-hawking defender can stake his claim as the best Big 12 defensive back returning in 2025?
The Best Big 12 Defensive Back Returning for 2025
5. Myles Rowser – Arizona State
While Kenny Dillingham has to replace some key pieces on offense, his defense is poised to be one of the best in the Big 12. With Sun Devil players making the Last Words countdown for both linebackers and defensive linemen, they find multiple players up for the best Big 12 defensive back. The first player of note in Arizona State’s secondary is Myles Rowser.
A hard-hitting defensive back, Rowser finished just shy of 100 tackles last season and had multiple games with double-digit tackles. The senior defensive back from Detroit is one of many impact defenders looking to defend their 2024 Big 12 championship.
4. Jeremiah Cooper – Iowa State
The next player on our best Big 12 defensive back countdown has been a stalwart in the conference for years now. Jeremiah Cooper earned a first-team All-Big 12 selection back in 2023. And while he did not find the same type of post-season accolades in 2024, Cooper was still very productive. He started all 14 games for the Cyclones and was fourth on the team with 48 tackles. He also had two interceptions and led the team with eight pass breakups. Matt Campbell will look to Cooper to lead an always tough defensive unit through the 2025 season.
3. Jontez Williams – Iowa State
Cyclone Jontez Williams joins fellow teammate Cooper on Last Word’s countdown. Williams earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024. He made 12 starts while playing in all 14 games. Williams finished sixth on the team with 46 tackles, two for a loss. He also led the Cyclones and tied for third in the Big 12 with four interceptions. Williams also had five pass breakups. His four INTs ranked him among the Top 25 nationally. Even more remarkable about his interceptions in 2024 was that they came in four straight games, tying for the second-longest streak in school history. Expect Cooper and Williams to give opposing quarterbacks plenty of nightmares this year.
2. Bud Clark – TCU
TCU has been on a quest to return to the College Football Playoff for the last two years. Sonny Dykes has plenty of returning players to be excited about, including Bud Clark. He earned a spot on the second-team All-Big 12 2024 roster. His PFF season grade of 89.8 ranked third nationally among Power Four Conference safeties. Clark led the defense with three interceptions, which gave him 11 for his career and ninth place on TCU’s all-time list. He is a true ballhawk with natural instincts that can’t be taught. In addition to his nose for the ball, he finished fourth on the team with a career-high 67 tackles in 12 games during the 2024 season. Clark will hear his name called next April in the NFL draft. But he fell short of the best Big 12 defensive back crown for 2025.
The Best Returning Big 12 Defensive Back Is Xavion Alford – Arizona State
Big 12 quarterbacks run very deep this year. But good luck throwing on Arizona State’s secondary this season. Xavion Alford is the second Sun Devil on our countdown and claims the top spot of best Big 12 defensive back. The first team All-Big 12 member had impressive production, anyway one could quantify it.
- He played the 4th-most snaps in coverage in the Big 12 (354) and allowed only seven receptions, the second fewest among Big 12 players and 7th-fewest in the FBS.
- Alford had the nation’s 37th-best tackling grade among all defenders (86.6), tops in the Big 12 and 13th among FBS safeties in 2024.
- Opponents chose to throw his way on only 4.20% of coverage snaps, the fourth-lowest total among all FBS players.
- He allowed 76 yards in coverage during the 2024 season – eighth-lowest among all FBS players and second in the Big 12.
- He allowed 0.21 yards per coverage snap in 2024, the lowest in the Big 12 and fourth in the FBS.
- Alford forced an incompletion 35.7% of the time when targeted, best among all FBS players.
Alford had an opportunity to turn pro this past spring. But decided to return to the Arizona desert because he wants to build on the success the Sun Devils had in 2024. If he can build on an excellent 2024 resume, the Sun Devils just might be the first repeat Big 12 champion since Oklahoma won six straight from 2015-2020.
Main Photo: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
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