One thing that hasn’t changed for the best teams in the Big 12 Conference over the years — or any elite college football team — is that you can’t succeed unless you have a dominant offensive line.
Over the years, Big 12 teams new and old have continued to produce elite offensive line talent that has turned into All-Americans and NFL stars.
Here’s a look at the greatest offensive lineman of all time from all 16 teams currently in the Big 12:
Arizona, Eben Britton, OT (2006-2008): Britton was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Pac-12 pick who led the Pac-12 with 111 knockdown blocks and 17 touchdown-resulting blocks in 2008.
Arizona State, Randall McDaniel, G, (1984-1987): One of the greatest guards of all time and probably the best offensive lineman on this list, McDaniel led Arizona State to its first Rose Bowl as a senior in 1987. He’s in both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Baylor, Spencer Drango, OT (2011-2015): Here’s how good Drango was at Baylor — as a redshirt freshman he took over the left offensive tackle spot and sent Cyril Richardson inside to guard — both Drango and Richardson were All-Americans and both won Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year twice.
BYU: Mohammed Elewombi, G (1988-1989): Elewombi didn’t even play football until he go to Snow College, then transferred from the juco to BYU for his final two seasons and won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman in 1989.
Cincinnati: Jason Kelce, C (2006-2010): Kelce was versatile — he came to Cincinnati as a walk-on running back and then became a two-time All-Big East pick at left guard and center. In Kelce’s first three seasons playing for the Bearcats, they were 23-7, including a 12-1 season as a junior in 2008.
Colorado, Chris Naeole, G (1993-1996): Naeole mangled opponents during his career at Colorado, where he was a three-time All-Big Eight/All-Big 12 pick and a consensus All-American as a senior in 1996. Naeole was also the No. 10 overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft and played 10 seasons in the NFL.
Houston, Patrick Paul, OT (2019-2023): The youngest player on this list by over a decade, the 6-foot-7, 331-pound Paul was a two-time All-AAC pick and All-Big 12 in his lone year in the conference in 2023. Paul was selected in the second round (No. 55 overall) by the Miami Dolphins in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Iowa State, Kelechi Osewele, G (2007-2011): Osewele was a three-time All-Big 12 pick before starting every game during the regular season of his rookie year with the Baltimore Ravens at right tackle. Osewele moved to left guard for the playoffs as the Ravens won the Super Bowl.
Kansas, Anthony Collins, OT (2007-2008): Collins was an All-Big 12 pick and All-American on arguably the greatest Kansas team in history after they won an Orange Bowl following the 2007 season.
Kansas State, Nick Leckey, C (2000-2003): Leckey started his career at left guard before moving to center and becoming a three-time All-Big 12 pick — he also started 41 consecutive games. Leckey was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as a senior in 2003.
Oklahoma State, Russell Okung, OT (2006-2009): Okung started 47 consecutive games to close out his career at Oklahoma State, where he was a two-time All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2009.
TCU, Ki Aldrich, C (1935-1938): Aldrich was a two-way star and the center for two of TCU’s greatest quarterbacks; Sammy Baugh and Davey O’Brien. As a senior in 1938, Aldrich led the Horned Frogs to an undefeated season and the national championship. Aldrich was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1939 NFL Draft by the Chicago Cardinals and averaged 50 minutes per game from 1939 to 1947, only taking a break in 1943 and 1944 to go fight in World War II. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1960.
Texas Tech, E.J. Holub, C (1957-1960): Holub was one of football’s last true, two-way players and a two-time All-American at center. The first player in Texas Tech history to have their jersey number retired, he also holds an NFL record that will almost certainly never be broken. Holub played his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs and is the only player to start two Super Bowls at different positions — he started Super Bowl I at linebacker and Super Bowl IV at center. Holub was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
UCF, Josh Sitton, G (2004-2007): Sitton was the engine that drove UCF’s offensive line to block for running back Kevin Smith as he became an All-American and ran for 2,567 yards in 2007. Sitton was more of the same in the NFL, where he was a three-time NFL All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler.
Utah, Jordan Gross, OT (1999-2002): Gross was a three-time All-Mountain West selection and earned consensus All-American honors as a senior in 2002. Didn’t allow a sack in his final two seasons.
West Virginia, Dan Mozes, C (2003-2006): Mozes was a three-time All-Big East pick at two positions — first at left guard then at center. Mozes moved from guard to center midway through his junior year and became a two-time All-American and won the Rimington Award as the nation’s best center in 2006.
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