The Big 12’s Best Returning Linebackers in 2026. As we continue our best returning players’ series, we shift from the Big Ten to the Big 12, this time focusing on the linebackers.
Before we dive into our top-three rankings along with honorable mention selections, it should be noted that transfers from outside the conference will not be considered. In the Big 12, several programs, including BYU, Colorado, and Oklahoma State, added transfers from outside of the conference.
Transfers from within the conference are eligible for honorable mention but not for the top three. So with all that being said, let’s dive into some honorable mention linebackers in the Big 12.
The Big 12’s Best Returning Linebackers in 2026
Honorable Mention
- Austin Romaine (6-2, 240): Romaine transfers to Texas Tech after spending the past three seasons at Big 12 foe Kansas State. Despite missing time due to injury, Romaine earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors, compiling 66 tackles, seven TFLs, and two PBUs. A high-level run defender with firm gap discipline, he gives Texas Tech another top-end linebacker.
- John Curry (6-2, 235): Curry made the switch from inside linebacker to the star position for Texas Tech last season, which led to him starting all 14 games and finishing fourth on the team in tackles (72). He earned an overall PFF grade of 81 with an impressive 83.2 grade in coverage. The Lubbock, Texas, native enters 2026 with high expectations.
- Trey Lathan (6-1, 224): A balanced linebacker with nice speed and run-stopping abilities, Lathan gives Kansas a big-time producer. In 2025, Lathan led the Jayhawks with 86 total tackles (51 solo, 35 assisted). He is the centerpiece of the Kansas defense.
The Top Three in the Big 12
(3) Taye Brown, Arizona
Taye Brown is back as the conference’s leading tackler among returning players. Last season, Brown recorded 93 tackles, which ranked 11th in the Big 12. With the departures of Max Harris and Riley Wilson, defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales has raised the standard for Brown, expecting him to be the defensive anchor for the Wildcats next season.
Throughout his career, Brown has made 168 tackles across 38 games and has started 24 consecutive games since taking over a full-time role. He flashed his game-wrecking ability against BYU last fall, tallying a season-high 14 tackles. If Brown can produce a 100-plus-tackle campaign, it will be difficult not to rank him as the best linebacker in the Big 12.
(2) Isaiah Glasker, BYU
At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, Isaiah Glasker is a freak athlete, allowing the BYU coaching staff to be creative with how they utilize him. At times, Glasker lined up as an outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid, helping maximize his pass-rushing attributes. In 2024, Glasker totaled 14.5 TFLs and three interceptions, proving that his length can be a major issue for opposing offenses.
Among the returning linebackers in the Big 12, Glasker might have the highest upside due to his physical makeup and overall disruptiveness. The past two seasons, he has piled up 137 tackles, 23 TFLs, and five interceptions.
(1) Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
Ben Roberts ranks as the best returning linebacker in the Big 12, giving Texas Tech a lethal trio alongside John Curry and Austin Romaine. He earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2023, tallying 107 tackles and 6.5 TFLs. The fifth-year player has done it all throughout his career, showcasing his upside in pass coverage after making spectacular interceptions against BYU in the Big 12 championship game last season.
What separates Roberts’s from Glasker and Brown is his versatility, with a proven track record of tackling, high-level pass coverage, and top-end speed for a linebacker. With Jacob Rodriguez gone, Roberts could see his production uptick.
Main Photo: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
