Ranking the Big 12's best players by position

[AR182]

hayes thinks that the big 12 is very strong for this year at the qb position....& i tend to agree...


Matt Hayes

Posted: May 20, 2008

We move on to the Big 12 in our post-spring evaluation of the best players in the BCS conferences. As always, rankings are not based on NFL potential.

Quarterback

1. Chase Daniel, Missouri
2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
3. Todd Reesing, Kansas
4. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
5. Colt McCoy, Texas

Quick thoughts: The first four are all legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates. This ranking really could go eight deep, with Colorado's Cody Hawkins, Kansas State's Josh Freeman and Nebraska's Joe Ganz closing in on the top five.

Running back

1. Marlon Lucky, Nebraska
2. Mike Goodson, Texas A&M
3. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
4. Jocques Crawford, Kansas
5. Darrell Scott, Colorado

Quick thoughts: This is a fluid spot. Goodson wasn't properly used the last two seasons, and if he can handle 20 carries a game, he will develop into a star. Murray has the most talent but is inconsistent. Crawford, a JC transfer, and Scott, an incoming freshman, could be the best backs in the league by the end of the season.

Wide receiver

1. Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
2. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
3. Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma
4. Dexton Fields, Kansas
5. Josh Smith, Colorado

Quick thoughts: You can't have one without the other -- quarterback is the deepest position in the league, and wideout is right behind it. Maclin is ahead of Crabtree only because he can do more in the return game. Smith may be as fast as Maclin -- and that's saying something.

Tight end

1. Chase Coffman, Missouri
2. Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
3. Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
4. Bradley Dedeaux, Kansas
5. Patrick Devenny, Colorado

Quick thoughts: Coffman and Pettigrew both could develop into first round picks in the 2009 NFL draft, and the OU staff is excited about Gresham's progress this spring.

Offensive line

1. Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
2. Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
3. Colin Brown, Missouri
4. Adam Ulatoski, Texas
5. Ryan Miller, Colorado

Quick thoughts: Brandon Walker nearly made the list -- he's No.6 -- and he gives OU three of the league's top six linemen. Brown developed into a terrific pass blocker last fall.

Kicker

1. Jeff Wolfert, Missouri
2. Ryan Bailey, Texas
3. Brooks Rossman, Kansas State
4. Alex Henry, Nebraska
5. Jason Ricks, Oklahoma State

Quick thoughts: Wolfert, with his accurate, strong leg, is one of the nation's best kickers.

Defensive line

1. Ian Campbell, Kansas State
2. George Hypolite, Colorado
3. Auston English, Oklahoma
4. Stryker Sulak, Missouri
5. Demarcus Granger, Oklahoma

Quick thoughts: If English stays healthy, he'll be the best rush end in the league -- even better than Campbell, who has been the league's most consistent force off the edge.

Linebacker

1. Joe Mortenson, Kansas
2. Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
3. Ryan Reynolds, Oklahoma
4. Joe Pawelek, Baylor
5. Rashad Bobino, Texas

Quick thoughts: This is not nearly as strong of a position as it was during previous seasons. Mortenson and Weatherspoon are good players, but not among the elite in the nation. Reynolds could develop into an elite player, but he has been limited by injuries in his career.

Defensive back

1. William Moore, Missouri
2. Nic Harris, Oklahoma
3. Jordan Lake, Baylor
4. Darrell Stuckey, Kansas
5. Jamar Wall, Texas Tech

Quick thoughts: Missouri coach Gary Pinkel likes to say he's a good coach now because he has good players. One of his difference-makers is Moore, a big hitter who has become the heart of a much-improved unit.

Punter

1. Justin Brantley, Texas A&M
2. Jonathan LaCour, Texas Tech
3. Dan Titchener, Nebraska
4. Matt Fodge, Oklahoma State
5. Mike Brandtner, Iowa State

Quick thoughts: There's nothing too special here, although Brantley was very consistent last fall.

 

[Dice34]

The Big 12 is loaded with individual talent across the board, I think more so than any other conference this year.....

you can even add Zac Robinson to that list who I would put above McCoy

how dare he put Maclin over Crabtree in the WR rankings, although Maclin is a stud, both are going to be monsters.....

Demarco Murray is by far (in my eyes) the #1 back talent wise in the conference....interesting to see how he bounces back from that dislocated knee cap suffered in the Ttech game....Allen Patrick is gone, so he will share time with Chris Brown, but Demarco, if given the rock, has a chance to be a 2,000 yard rusher......especially with Loadholt and Robinson in front of him, the only person that seems to stop him is Bob Stoops

I'm anxious to see how Darrell Scott performs as well....

The Big 12 will have some fireworks this year thats for sure......

 

[Dice34]

and Goodson should have a big year like he says, since they are moving big javorski lane to FB....

and after reading the capsules, he must of had an oversight not inlcuding Zac Robinson on the QB list, after not playing the 1st game he ended up with 2800 yds passing, 850 yards rushing and 32 total tds:shrug:

 

[AR182]

dice...

do you have any opinions about which teams have the strongest lines on both sides of the ball ?

if you do can you post them in the 3 conference threads that i posted so far ?

thanks

 

[Dice34]

I'm always up for an assigment AR

OL
1. Oklahoma- no doubt, almost 700lbs on the left side alone between Loadholt and Robinson
2. Texas Tech- big, beefy unit, 4 starters return plus they play the wide splits, Harrell will have the time he needs
3. Oklahoma St- based on depth, O-cord. is talking about using a 2nd line to rotate in, to keep the line fresh, scary to think when this team avg'd 40 a game and 500 yds of O last year

DL I am not caught up the D side of things yet
1. Oklahoma- always has talent, NFL prospects Granger at DT and English at DE
2. Texas- same with texas, Orakpo at DE and Miller at DT
3. Texas Tech (sorry I'm enamored by this team) they return the whole line and have serious depth


Most Improved DL
Nebraska

 

[AR182]

I'm always up for an assigment AR

OL
1. Oklahoma- no doubt, almost 700lbs on the left side alone between Loadholt and Robinson
2. Texas Tech- big, beefy unit, 4 starters return plus they play the wide splits, Harrell will have the time he needs
3. Oklahoma St- based on depth, O-cord. is talking about using a 2nd line to rotate in, to keep the line fresh, scary to think when this team avg'd 40 a game and 500 yds of O last year

DL I am not caught up the D side of things yet
1. Oklahoma- always has talent, NFL prospects Granger at DT and English at DE
2. Texas- same with texas, Orakpo at DE and Miller at DT
3. Texas Tech (sorry I'm enamored by this team) they return the whole line and have serious depth


Most Improved DL
Nebraska

yeah...i know tt is a passing team but i also think that they will surprise some people if they can get any kind of ground attack going this year...

also according to what hayes has listed at the top positions, it looks like okla. will be a beast this year...& stoops could use a big season because his rep has taken a hit over the last few years...

 

[Destructor D]

Big 12 Rankings IMO (Preseason)
1. Oklahoma - Most overall talent. Best offensive and defensive line. Solid QB and Stoops is solid other than bowl games.
2. Missouri - Daniel a SERIOUS Heisman candidate. Maclin a Heisman candidate as well. Only game they look to be dogs is @ Texas.
3.Texas Tech - Schedule isn't too bad. Could move up, but doubtful.
4. Texas - Conference Schedule is brutal @ Kansas, @ TT, vs. OU, vs. MU. Could be dogs in everyone of these games.
5. Kansas - All depends on their offensive and defensive lines. Also, how will they perform being the hunted?

I think these 5 teams could be ranked in the top 15. KU has big questions on both lines of scrimmage and they play OU, Texas, and Texas Tech in the South... OUCH! Texas and Kansas really get screwed by their conference schedules.

6. Colorado - Really like Hawkins.
7.Nebraska - Gut feeling pick the Huskers surprise. Ganz will be the real deal IMO.
8. Kansas State - Ton of Jucco kids. Freeman needs to step up and defense has to play with fire.
9. Oklahoma State - Tough to predict as they should score points. However, they won't stop anyone again.
10. Texas A&M - New coach. Defense sucked last year.
Difference between #6 & #10 is very small. I rated Okie State and Texas A&M a bitter lower because their schedules are a bit more difficult

11. Baylor
12. Iowa State
I'll be shocked if these teams don't finish 11th & 12th. Iowa State will be gawd awful and the Bears are the Bears... the armpit of Big 12 football.

 

[Sun Tzu]

Big 12 Rankings IMO (Preseason)
1. Oklahoma - Most overall talent. Best offensive and defensive line. Solid QB and Stoops is solid other than bowl games.
2. Missouri - Daniel a SERIOUS Heisman candidate. Maclin a Heisman candidate as well. Only game they look to be dogs is @ Texas.
3.Texas Tech - Schedule isn't too bad. Could move up, but doubtful.
4. Texas - Conference Schedule is brutal @ Kansas, @ TT, vs. OU, vs. MU. Could be dogs in everyone of these games.
5. Kansas - All depends on their offensive and defensive lines. Also, how will they perform being the hunted?

I think these 5 teams could be ranked in the top 15. KU has big questions on both lines of scrimmage and they play OU, Texas, and Texas Tech in the South... OUCH! Texas and Kansas really get screwed by their conference schedules.

6. Colorado - Really like Hawkins.
7.Nebraska - Gut feeling pick the Huskers surprise. Ganz will be the real deal IMO.
8. Kansas State - Ton of Jucco kids. Freeman needs to step up and defense has to play with fire.
9. Oklahoma State - Tough to predict as they should score points. However, they won't stop anyone again.
10. Texas A&M - New coach. Defense sucked last year.
Difference between #6 & #10 is very small. I rated Okie State and Texas A&M a bitter lower because their schedules are a bit more difficult

11. Baylor
12. Iowa State
I'll be shocked if these teams don't finish 11th & 12th. Iowa State will be gawd awful and the Bears are the Bears... the armpit of Big 12 football.

Thats about right although of course with the divisions it might not quite look that way. I would be very surprised if OU and Mizzou dont win their divisions. Mizzou's game at Texas is the week after Texas-OU which is nice for them. The Illinois game to start the year may be the toughest one.