Khalil Laufau's name sits at No. 9 on PFF's list of the Big 12's highest-graded returning defensive tackles, a 72.1 next to it. On paper, that reads like a rotational piece: steady, replaceable, a name you scroll past on the way to the ones that pop. On tape, it reads like a defensive lineman whose entire assignment most Saturdays was to occupy two blockers so somebody else's stat line could look cleaner. https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/2087925910242767144?s=20 That gap between the number and the tape is the whole story. Laufau isn't just a ranking heading into his senior season at…
football Exclusive
A PFF Nod at No. 9 Undersells Him: Why Khalil Laufau Anchors Houston's Big 12 Push

Exclusive · Premium Members
Read the rest.
This article is for Coogs 365 members. Become a member to unlock this piece and every exclusive from the desk.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Sign in
Conversation
Reader Replies.
0 replies
Sign in to join the conversation.
Sign in →No replies yet — be the first to weigh in.
Be civil · Keep it on-topic · Community guidelines
Closer to the program
Become a Coogs 365 member.
$9.99/month — exclusive reporting, the full archive, and an ad-lite reading surface across every sport.
Subscribe NowKeep reading
More from this beat
Exclusivefootball
The Only Thing: Shadre Hurst Earns His Spot on Lombardi's List
Lee Ann Herring-OlvedoAug 12, 2026 5 min

football
Cougars Crash the Party: Five Houston Players Land on PFN's Preseason All-Big 12 Teams
Lee Ann Herring-OlvedoAug 12, 2026 5 min
Exclusivefootball
CAP-TEX Holdings Fall Camp Coverage: Week 2 — Four Plays, Maybe Five: Marcus Trice Is Building Houston’s Corners for the Moments That Decide Games
Lee Ann Herring-OlvedoAug 10, 2026 4 min
