BIG 12
OVERVIEW
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| West Virginia's Dana Holgorsen (Ray Carlin USAToday) |
The storyline this year in the Big 12 is quarterback -- who is and isn't around.
The top selection is West Virginia, because quarterback Will Grier returns. Grier has run Dana Holgorsen's offense almost perfectly in his time in Morgantown, and wants to exit stage left with a Big 12 championship ring. A deep receiving corps is led by David Sills V, whose 18 touchdowns were the best in the country in 2017. Gary Stills led the team in catches and TJ Simmons and Marcus Simms add to the riches. An upgraded defense could give him just that, though truth be told defense in the Big 12 only has to be adequate, not great. Oklahoma made last year's College Football Playoff thanks in large part to Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. A savvy, deadly accurate passer, Mayfield played with a huge chip on his shoulder, becoming maybe the best walk-on quarterback to ever play college football -- if not the most decorated. While many in Boomer Sooner land think that the wheels will hum with the same precision in 2018, that will be nearly impossible. You see, Kyler Murray isn't Mayfield -- he's a better runner and better athlete, but not a better passer. So it's reasonable to wonder how he will react when the Sooners are faced with adversity on third-and-a-million. Mayfield would improvise and, more often than not, get the job done. With Murray we just don't know. The defense has talent and speed, but also some holes, most notably against the pass.
Texas has its own quarterback quandary -- sort of. Sam Ehlinger returns as the favorite, but Shane Buechele has had his moments. The Longhorns boast one of the better receiving corps in the conference and have an experienced offensive line, and the defense is snarling and should vie for top honors in the Big 12. Whether or not that's enough to finish in the top two remains to be seen. Gary Patterson led his TCU team to 11 wins last year but now has to rebuild in crucial places, most notably along the offensive line. New quarterback Shawn Robinson is a better passer than Kenny Hill and has the mobility to keep teams honest. He has excellent weapons in Jalen Reagor and KaVontae Turpin, and the defense will be its usual sturdy self.
Matt Campbell did a yeoman's job in his second season in Ames, leading the Cyclones to their first eight-win campaign since 2000. What he does for an encore depends on how the defensive leadership steps up. Gone is heart and soul linebacker Joel Lanning, and his place is -- who? Maybe linebacker Willie Harvey or talented cornerback Brian Peavy. The offense has the benefit of sixth-year quarterback Kyle Kempt, and physical running back David Montgomery. The schedule is tough, however. If Mike Gundy can get this year's Oklahoma State team to contend, they should just retire the coach of the year award. There is a ton to replace, including quarterback Mason Rudolph and receivers Marcell Ateman and James Washington. Hawaii transfer Dru Brown is the likely pick to run the offense. Kansas State is yet another team with an unsettled quarterback battle, featuring Alex Delton and Skylar Thompson -- Delton is the better runner, Thompson the better passer. So it will depend on what sort of identity Bill Snyder wants his offense to have. The good news is that the Wildcats have one of the most experienced offensive lines in the league, led by All-America candidate Dalton Risner at left tackle. The defense is almost completely new, so this could be one of those rare years where offense carries the day in Manhattan.
RISING: Baylor
FALLING: Oklahoma State
BOWL TEAMS (7): West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, TCU, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Kansas State
BIG 12 PROJECTED STANDINGS
1 West Virginia (11-2, 7-2)
2 Oklahoma (10-3, 7-2)
3 Texas (9-3, 6-3)
4 TCU (8-4, 6-3)
5 Iowa State (7-5, 5-4)
6 Oklahoma State (7-5, 5-4)
7 Kansas State (6-6, 4-5)
8 Texas Tech (6-6, 3-6)
9 Baylor (5-7, 2-7)
10 Kansas (2-10, 0-9)
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
West Virginia over Oklahoma
ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB Will Grier/West Virginia
RB Rodney Anderson/Oklahoma
RB David Montgomery/Iowa State
WR David Sills V/West Virginia
WR Marquise Brown/Oklahoma
WR Jalen Reagor/TCU
TE Chase Allen/Iowa State
OT Dalton Risner/Kansas State
OT Yodny Cajuste/West Virginia
OG Ben Powers/Oklahoma
OG Marcus Keyes/Oklahoma State
C Zach Shackleford/Texas
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DE Ben Banogu/TCU
DE Jordan Brailford/Oklahoma State
DT Daniel Wise/Kansas
DT Ira Lewis/Baylor
LB David Long/West Virginia
LB Dakota Allen/Texas Tech
LB Joe Dineen/Kansas
LB Gary Johnson/Texas
CB Brian Peavy/Iowa State
CB Kris Boyd/Texas
S Dravon Henry-Askew/West Virginia
S Jah'Shawn Johnson/Texas Tech
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Austin Seibert/Oklahoma
P Billy Kinney/West Virginia
KR KaVontae Turpin/TCU
PR CeeDee Lamb/Oklahoma
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB Kyler Murray/Oklahoma
RB Justice Hill/Oklahoma State
RB Darius Anderson/TCU
WR CeeDee Lamb/Oklahoma
WR Gary Jennings/West Virginia
WR Collin Johnson/Texas
TE Grant Calcaterra/Oklahoma
OT Bobby Evans/Oklahoma
OT Anthony McKinney/TCU
OG Dru Samia/Oklahoma
OG Patrick Vahe/Texas
C Sam Tecklenburg/Baylor
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DE Breckyn Hager/Texas
DE Reggie Walker/Kansas State
DT Ross Blacklock/TCU
DT Marquise Overton/Oklahoma
LB Ty Summers/TCU
LB Kenneth Murray/Oklahoma
LB Marcel Spears/Iowa State
LB Caleb Kelly/Oklahoma
CB Duke Shelley/Kansas State
CB Grayland Arnold/Baylor
S Niko Small/TCU
S Denzel Goolsby/Kansas State
SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Gabriel Rui/Kansas
P Zach Sinor/Oklahoma State
KR Marcus Simms/West Virginia
PR Steven Sims/Kansas
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Will Grier/West Virginia
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ben Banogu/TCU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Dana Holgorsen/West Virginia
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: DB Brendan Radley-Hiles/Oklahoma
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