The biggest, and my favorite, surprise of the 2017 campaign was Justus Parker. An unknown commodity, he exploded onto the scene in the Kansas game where he forced a fumble and recorded an interception. The former walk-on earned his stripes, and his scholarship, going in to this season.
He was an absolute ballhawk, forcing 4 fumbles and recording four interceptions. Perhaps most memorably was this huge interception to set up the game winning drive against Texas.
Parker forced turnovers like a beast, but he was no slouch in any other department either. He recorded 34 solo tackles, had four pass breakups, and three quarterback hurries.