Emmanuel Ogbah was expected to be among the Big 12’s top players as a preseason All-Big 12 nominee heading into the season.
The Oklahoma State defensive end exceeded those expectations by becoming the conference’s most productive and consistent defender while leading the Cowboys to a 10-2 record and Allstate Sugar Bowl berth.
Ogbah’s excellence earned him ESPN.com Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Why he won: He was a Big 12 offensive coordinator’s nightmare. The junior had to be accounted for on every play yet it often didn’t matter as he spent most of his time in opposing offensive backfields despite attempts to neutralize his impact.