Heading into the 2021 college football season, Mathis has averaged a tackle for loss in every single one of his 22 starts.Īside from the statistics, there’s plenty to love about Mathis’ game. In addition to his 8 sacks, the TCU defensive end tallied 12.5 tackles for loss. Last season, Mathis led the Big 12 with 0.90 sacks per game, ranking 12th in the country. Lining up opposite Bonitto in our Big 12 All-Conference first-team is one of the nation’s top returning pass-rush producers. A second-team AP All-American honoree in 2020, the Oklahoma pass rusher should once again be among the awards at the end of this season. With Ronnie Perkins’ departure to the NFL, Bonitto will have an enhanced role within the Sooners’ defense this fall.
In addition to his pass-rush potency, Bonitto has also proven impactful in coverage with 6 career pass deflections and an interception. Furthermore, his 9 sacks in 2020 took his career total to 12.5. The Oklahoma outside linebacker has amassed 18 tackles for loss across the last two seasons. He has an array of pass-rush moves at his disposal and isn’t afraid to use them. Preseason Big 12 All-Conference | First-team defense Preseason Big 12 All-Conference | First-team defenseĪre there any surprises in our Big 12 All-Conference first-team defense?Īn exceptional athlete with elite burst and bend, Nik Bonitto has been a dangerous pass rusher for the Sooners since his 2019 redshirt freshman season.