The Big 12 has become notorious for high-octane offenses and superstar skill players lighting up the scoreboard over the last few years. But this season, a growing number of defensive stalwarts should impose some semblance of order on the conference. A handful of NFL-level talents put their pro football dreams on hold for one more year of Big 12 glory, so the cupboard is stocked. Here is the cream of the crop.
Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU
If there were ever a quarterback perfectly suited for the spread offense, it would be Boykin. The Heisman finalist from a year ago will have nine other returning starters in the Horned Frogs offense to keep them operating at a high level. Boykin threw for 3,901 yards, rushed for 707 yards, and gave opposing coaches thousands of gray hairs last season. This year, an undefeated season and a national title run are distinct possibilities.
Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
Think of Ed "Too Tall" Jones in the modern age. Oakman is a certified specimen at 6-foot-9 and 280 pounds, and he put off the NFL for one more year in Waco. Possessing incredibly quick feet for a man/mountain his size, the Penn State transfer notched 19.5 tackles for loss, including 11 sacks in 2015. Opposing teams will get smart and direct their offenses away from him this season, so the stats may drop, but his effectiveness won't.
Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
No single player in the Big 12 - make that no single player in the country - had a more dominant performance than Perine's epic 427-yard, five-touchdown day versus Kansas in the 11th game of last season. Wow. The freshman wunderkind went on to total 1,737 yards despite starting just eight games. This time around, he'll be running behind an offensive line that features four seniors. Record books beware.
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
He's as scary as they come. At 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, Ogbah is a freakish athlete who's posted 4.7 speed in the 40. The junior end finished last season with 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, and made his presence felt immediately with a six-tackle, two-sack performance against No. 1 Florida State in the opener. The coaches in the Big 12 love him and loathe him at the same time - they named him the defensive lineman of the year, but now have to put up with his dominant style of play for another season.
Eric Striker, LB, Oklahoma
Striker possesses big-play ability and versatility, along with one of the best names in college football. He's adept at dropping into the passing zones, but even better when blitzing off the edge. He led the Sooners with nine sacks last season, and holds the school record for career sacks by a linebacker. The team gave up 26 points per game last season, so look for Striker to make amends and play with his hair on fire again in 2015.
Shock Linwood, RB, Baylor
Playing in an offense with such a successful passing attack, it could be argued that Linwood doesn't get enough love. But we're still talking about a back that totaled 1,252 yards and 16 TDs on the ground last year. In 2013, he rushed for a Baylor frosh-record 881 yards, breaking the old mark held by Robert Griffin III. Look for Linwood to take on a bigger load this season, with a new quarterback to break in and five starters back on the offensive line.
Sam Richardson, QB, Iowa State
He may not be an NFL-level talent, but there may not be a better example of a "Most Valuable Player" in college football. Richardson set Cyclone records with 254 completions and 2,669 yards through the air while also scrambling for 421 yards on the ground. He did all that after just eight starts under center. Look for more fireworks in 2015, as he'll have a deep and talented receiving corps.
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Doctson, the working definition of a stretch-the-field receiver, can turn on the burners while also making highlight-reel catches weekly. Tall, lanky, and with flypaper for hands, Doctson nabbed 65 passes for 1,018 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, and should see his name on a number of school records before his time in Forth Worth is finished.
Karl Joseph, FS, West Virginia
Fearless: That's a good way to describe this Mountaineer heat-seeker in the secondary. As the No. 2 tackler on the team a year ago with 92 tackles, Joseph is one of the more physical players in all of college football. His instincts and football smarts make him a perfect leader for a defense that returns nine starters and is looking for redemption.
Spencer Drango, LT, Baylor
This 6-foot-6, 310-pound block of granite decided to bypass millions of dollars from the NFL to return to Waco for his senior year and bolster one of the top offensive lines in the country. This will be Drango's fourth year as Baylor's starting left tackle, holding the important job of protecting quarterback Seth Russell's blindside. He also helped plow the way for the Bears to average 235 yards per game on the ground.
