Texas Tech, Colorado Headline Big 12’s Top Defensive Portal Additions This Offseason

STILLWATER — Although the Cowboys headlined the top offensive transfers joining the Big 12 this offseason, they found themselves shut out of the defensive list.

Eric Morris brought several capable defenders in this year, including former North Texas linebacker Ethan Wesloski who will serve as one of four OSU player representatives at Big 12 Media Days next week.

But the likely future leader of the Pokes defense and his teammates didn’t rate high enough at any of the positions for this list which was organized entirely using 247Sports rankings.

Texas Tech led the conference with four transfers while Colorado finished second with three.

Here’s a look at the Big 12’s All-Portal Defense.

DL

Mateen Ibirogba (Texas Tech): Ranked 12th overall and first among defensive linemen in the portal. Among linemen with 100 pass-rush attempts last season, Mateen graded out 21st overall (according to Pro Football Focus) with a 78.4 while at Wake Forest.

Hosea Wheeler (Baylor): The former Hoosier ranked 11th among defensive linemen. His run-defense grade of 74.1 (PFF) put him 94th nationally among linemen with at least 100 snaps against the run.

There was a significant drop off between these two and other incoming linemen who joined the conference this offseason as the next Big 12 newcomer ranked outside the top 30 among transfers.

Edge

Wendell Gregory (Kansas State via Oklahoma State): Ranked 10th among edges in the portal. Gregory recorded 32 total pressures last for the Cowboys while earning more than his fair share of double teams.

Adam Trick (Texas Tech): Ranked 20th among edges in the portal. Trick finished fourth in the nation in total pressures with 67 including eight sacks, 20 hits and 39 hurries, according to PFF.

No other top 25 edges joined the conference this portal season, but Kansas State and Utah lost top 10 guys.

LB

Cade Uluave (BYU): Ranked first among linebackers in the portal. Recorded 100 tackles last season at Cal to finish tied 41st nationally averaging 8.3 tackles per game.

Austin Romaine (Texas Tech via Kansas State): Ranked second. Graded out 67th (76.5) among linebackers with 150+ snaps according to PFF.

Liona Lefau (Colorado): Ranked 14th. Recorded 68 tackles and one sack at Texas last season.

Owen Long (Arizona State): Ranked 18th. Led the nation with 151 total tackles at Colorado State.

Corey Platt (Texas Tech via Houston): Ranked 23rd. Graded out 200th (67.9) among linebackers with 150+ snaps, according to PFF.

Baylor and Iowa State each lost top five guys at the position in the transfer portal.

CB

Davin Martin (Texas Tech): Ranked 10th among corners in the portal. Recorded 26 tackles and one interception at UTSA.

Cree Thomas (Colorado): Ranked 18th among corners in the portal. Recorded one tackle for Notre Dame. He will attend Media Days next week.

Jalen Mayo (Houston): Ranked 27th among corners in the portal. Hauled in four interceptions and recorded 48 tackles Stephen F. Austin.

Iowa State lost two top 10 corners, while Utah and Colorado each said bye to one this portal season.

Safeties

Boo Carter (Colorado): Ranked fifth among safeties in the portal. Recorded 25 tackles, 4.5 for loss, to go along with three pass breakups and three forced fumbles at Tennessee in 2025.

Daylen Austin (Arizona): Ranked 24th among safeties. Only played 151 snaps of defense for Oregon in 2025 when he recorded 10 total tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.

Iowa State lost another top 10 option.

Specialists

Punter John Hoyet Chance (TCU): Ranked first at the position. Averaged 47 yards per attempt for Louisiana Tech.

Punter Bryan Hansen (West Virginia): Ranked eighth at the position. Averaged 48 yards per punt for Colorado State.

Kicker Jack Cassidy (West Virginia): Ranked 15th at the position. Nailed all three kicks taken from 40-plus yards including his long attempt from 55 yards out.

Kicker Will Stone (UCF): Ranked 17th at the position. Didn’t kick in 2025, but made both extra points in the 2024 CFP semifinal matchup against Ohio State.

Oklahoma State lost No. 8 kicker Gabe Panikowski in the transfer portal joining Texas Tech as the only two programs to lose a top specialist.