One thing that hasn’t changed about college football over the last 100 years is that games can change with one huge play on special teams — something Big 12 Conference players have done in every incantation of the league.
Here’s a look at the greatest special teams player of all time from all 16 schools in the Big 12 Conference.
Arizona, Max Zendejas, Kicker (1982-85): Max Zendejas and his eight siblings immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. when he was jusst 6 years old and along with his older brother, Luis, joined cousins Tony Zendejas and Marty Zendejas as they learned how to play American football instead of soccer. All four would become NFL kickers. Max Zendejas had a flair for the dramatic with game-winning kicks at No. 9 Notre Dame and at Arizona State and went 5-of–6 on game-winning kicks for his career. He was also a two-time All-American.
Arizona State, Luis Zendejas, Kicker (1981-84): The older brother of Arizona kicker Max Zendejas, Luis Zendejas was a four-time All-Pac-10 pick and consensus All-American. He left college with the NCAA Division I scoring record (368 points) while going 81-for-108 on field goals (75 percent) and 137-for-138 on PATs (99.3 percent).
Baylor, Daniel Sepulveda, Punter (2002-06): The two-time Ray Guy Award winner was also a two-time All-American, four-time All-Big 12 pick and the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year in 2006. If you want to understand how punters have evolved over the last 20 years, Sepulveda left Baylor with the FBS career record for average yards at 45.2 — 18 years later he sits at 26th on that list.
BYU, Vai Sikahema, Return Specialist (1980-81, 1984-85): Sikahema starred as a return specialist for two seasons before going on a Mormon mission for two years. He returned in 1984 to help lead the Cougars to an undefeated season and national championship. Sikahema left BYU with the NCAA career record for punt returns (153). The first Tongan to play in the NFL, Sikahema was also a two-time Pro Bowler and NFL All-Pro return specialist.
Cincinnati, Kevin Huber, Punter (2005-08): Huber was a two-time consensus All-American and the Big East Special Teams Player of the Year in 2007. He still holds the Cincinnati record with a 69-yard punt against Memphis.
Colorado, Mason Crosby, Kicker (2003-06): Perhaps the greatest college kicker of all time, Crosby never missed a kick in the final 8½ minutes of a game and made 12-of-13 career field goals in the fourth quarter. Crosby was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big 12 pick along with being named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year in 2005. Crosby played 17 seasons in the NFL.
Houston, Tyron Carrier, Return Specialist (2008-11): Carrier holds the NCAA record with 7 career kickoff returns for touchdowns. That will get you on this list.
Iowa State, Kene Nwangwu, Return Specialist (2016-20): Nwangwu racked up a stunning 2,470 kickoff return yards in four seasons — he redshirted in 2017 — and is No. 3 on the Big 12 career list. Nwangwu was a fourth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, made the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2021 and was an NFL All-Pro return specialist in 2022.
Kansas, Marcus Herford, Return Specialist (2005-08): Herford had his best season on KU’s greatest team in 2007, when he returned 31 kicks for 888 yards and 2 touchdowns on the way to winning the Orange Bowl. Herford finished his career with 2,075 kick return yards.
Kansas State, Martin Gramatica, Kicker (1994-98): Few kickers in college football history played with the flair of Gramatica, a two-time All-American who won the Lou Groza Award in 1997 and finished as the runner-up in 1998 despite the fact he set the NCAA record for points by a kicker, went 69-for-69 on PATs and kicked a 65-yard field goal against Northern Illinois.
Oklahoma State, Justin Gilbert, Cornerback/Return Specialist (2010-13): Gilbert is the Big 12’s career leader with six kickoff returns for touchdowns and was a three-time All-Big 12 pick — interestingly enough teammate and punter/kicker Quinn Sharp was a two-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year. Gilbert is also the greatest defensive back in Oklahoma State history.
TCU, Michael Reeder, Kicker (1994-1997): Reeder was the first sophomore to win the Lou Groza Award in 1995 after he made 23 field goals and was named a consensus All-American. Reeder still holds the TCU career records for PAT percentage (.989) and consecutive PATs made (79). Reeder was inducted into the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
Texas Tech, Wes Welker, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist (2000-03): Welker had a mind-boggling 8 punt returns for touchdowns at Texas Tech, which still puts him at No. 2 in FBS history. Welker also left school with the NCAA record for punt return yards with 1,761 and was named to the Sports Illustrated All-Century Team as a punt returner.
UCF, Matt Prater, Punter/Kicker (2002-05): Prater’s first college kick attempt was a 53-yard field goal . Prater holds NFL career records for most field goals made over 50-plus yards (80) and most extra points in a single season (75). Prater was UCF’s full-time kicker and punter as a sophomore and responded by leading the nation in punting (47.9 yards).
Utah, Tom Hackett, Punter (2012-15): The Big 12 Conference has two of the three players to win the Ray Guy Award twice with Baylor’s Daniel Sepulveda and Hackett, who was also a two-time All-American and three-time All-Pac-12 pick. Hackett averged 45.2 yards per punt for his career and was also named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team.
West Virginia (tie), Todd Sauerbrun, Punter (1991-94): One of the greatest college and NFL punters of all time, Sauerbrun was a three-time All-American and Big East Special Teams Player of the Year in 1994, when he set an NCAA single-season record of 48.4 yards per punt. Sauerbrun played 13 seasons in the NFL and was a four-time NFL All-Pro.
West Virginia (tie) Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist (2009-12): Austin might be the most-viewed highlight reel of any college or NFL star, ever, by other college and NFL stars. Austin finished his college career with a staggering 2,840 punt return and kick return yards, including 5 touchdowns.
Tavon Austin highlights never get old 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zfdqo5DpmK
— Football Reels 📽 (@TheFBReels) July 21, 2024
