Texas Tech football: The top Red Raider from each season of the Big 12 era

2012: Cody Davis

A year later, the Red Raiders returned to the postseason so as might be expected, there were a number of players that took their games to a higher level than in 2011.  While Doege improved across the board, his gains were not massive.

But the QB of that year’s defense, safety Cody Davis, became one of the best defensive backs in the nation.  With 101 tackles, (3.5 for loss) and three picks, he earned second-team All-Big 12 recognition.

Though he increased his tackles total from 2011 by only eight, the difference in his game in 2012 was his ability to take the football away.  Entering the year with only one career pick and none in the previous season, the Stephenville, Texas native was able to pick off passes against Texas State, Iowa State, and TCU and he returned the pick against the Bobcats for a score.

Perhaps his best game though was his 13-tackle performance against West Virginia.  That day, every one of his tackles was credited as a solo stop.   He also had 11 tackles against TCU and 10 against Minnesota in the Texas Bowl.

In 2012, Davis had no fewer than four tackles in every game.  What’s more, nine times he had seven or more.  As the leader of the defense and Tech’s last line of defense, Davis was a huge reason the Red Raiders were able to return to a bowl game.