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It's been a long and winding road, but we've finally met the end.

Sitting at the top of our 25 best players in the Big 12 in 2011 should be no surprise. He won the Heisman Trophy as the best player in all of college football, following it up with one of the most memorable speeches in Heisman history.

Without further ado, time to crown the best player of 2011.

No. 1: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

2011 numbers: Completed 291-of-402 passes (72.4 percent) for 4,293 yards, 37 touchdowns and six interceptions. Ran for 699 yards and 10 touchdowns on 179 carries. Also caught one pass for 15 yards.

Most recent ranking: Griffin was ranked No. 5 in our preseason list of the top 25 players, but grabbed the No. 1 spot in the midseason ranking of the Big 12's top 25 players.

Making the case for Griffin: No quarterback accounted for more of his team's offense than Griffin, who produced 65.4 percent of Baylor's yardage. That's especially impressive considering the Bears' offense ranked No. 2 nationally in total offense. Every time Baylor needed a big play, Griffin provided it.

Need to convert a tough third down on a game-winning drive against TCU? Griffin will catch a pass in the middle of the defense and take a beating, get his wind knocked out and stay on the field.

Need to erase a three-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit against KU? Griffin will break a long run and throw two touchdowns to force overtime, where, yes, he'll win the game there.

Need to go 80 yards in less than a minute to beat Oklahoma for the first time in school history? Griffin will scramble for almost 30 yards and throw a 34-yard game-winning touchdown pass with seconds remaining.

That doesn't even tell the full story of what Griffin means to the Baylor program he'll leave behind after this season. He changed the game and paved the way for others at Baylor. He restored some faith in the Heisman, proving that the award is a lot more than a figurative honor for the best player on the best team in college football. The best player in the game really does still win, even if his team has three losses.

Griffin's best attribute, though, may be his fierce loyalty to teammates and an unshakeable confidence which was strong and infectious. Griffin believed in his teammates. He knew what they were capable of doing. Time and time again, they proved him right, from his beefy, physical offensive line to Big 12 rushing champ Terrance Ganaway to receiving champ Kendall Wright.

The result was a historic season that made it easy to forget the difficult decade-plus in the Big 12 B.G. (Before Griffin). His arrival signified greater days were ahead. Now that he's gone, will they continue? That's the big question at Baylor, but a bowl win, a 10-win season and a Heisman Trophy assure that Griffin's time in Waco will never, ever be forgotten by the green and gold.

The rest of the list:

• No. 2: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
• No. 3: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
• No. 4: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
• No. 5: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
• No. 6: Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma
• No. 7: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
• No. 8: Levy Adcock, RT, Oklahoma State
• No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're officially in the top 10 now. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 2: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

2011 numbers: Caught 121 passes for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. Carried the ball five times for 59 yards.

Most recent ranking: Blackmon was ranked No. 1 in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Blackmon: Oklahoma State's top talent wasn't quite as dominant as he was in 2010, but he actually caught 10 more balls. The biggest difference were his big plays. He caught 15 passes longer than 30 yards in 2010, but just eight in 2011. He had 10 catches longer than 40 yards, against just six in 2011.

But let's not focus on one Biletnikoff Award-winning season vs. another. The bottom line: Blackmon was the best receiver in the Big 12 in each of the past two seasons and showed why in his final game, which was arguably the greatest performance of his career. Oklahoma State's offense stalled against Stanford early, but Blackmon was unstoppable, turning his first two catches into touchdowns and bringing Oklahoma State's offense to life.

He had at least 95 yards receiving in nine games this year, and anyone who's seen the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder knows that he plays a lot bigger than he measures.

He'll finish his career as by far the best receiver in school history, and to think, a few years ago, we were wondering who would replace Dez Bryant in Stillwater. The answer? Someone even better.

The rest of the list:

• No. 3: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
• No. 4: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
• No. 5: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
• No. 6: Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma
• No. 7: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
• No. 8: Levy Adcock, RT, Oklahoma State
• No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're officially in the top 10 now. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 3: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

2011 numbers: Completed 408-of-564 (72.3 percent) passes for 4,727 yards, 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Most recent ranking: Weeden was ranked No. 3 in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Weeden: The simple fact about the 2011 season? If Quinn Sharp's field goal late in regulation at Iowa State is a foot -- maybe a couple inches -- to the inside of the post, Brandon Weeden wins the Heisman Trophy and Oklahoma State plays for a national championship.

Alas, an awful loss in Ames derailed Weeden's Heisman campaign -- unfair or not -- and forced the Cowboys to settle for a Big 12 title and dramatic overtime win over Andrew Luck and Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl. Luck was only the latest in a long line of top quarterbacks Weeden toppled. He was dominant in wins over Arizona (Nick Foles), Texas A&M (Ryan Tannehill), Baylor (Robert Griffin III) and Oklahoma (Landry Jones), adding Luck to that list in his career finale.

Weeden threw the ball more than every FBS quarterback but Houston's Case Keenum and Texas Tech's Seth Doege. Harp on about balance if you must, but Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle ran for 26 touchdowns and 1,200 yards, and if anything, Weeden's attempts total signifies two things:

1) His ability to string together completions and move the chains, and

2) His coaching staff's confidence in him.

Oklahoma State ran a lot of plays last year, and scored more than everybody but Houston. Weeden was the catalyst that made it all run.

The rest of the list:

• No. 4: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
• No. 5: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
• No. 6: Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma
• No. 7: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
• No. 8: Levy Adcock, RT, Oklahoma State
• No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're officially in the top 10 now. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 4: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

2011 numbers: Caught 108 passes for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns. Also completed 2-of-3 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Rushed for 72 yards on 10 carries. Returned five punts for 37 yards.

Most recent ranking: Wright was ranked No. 17 in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Wright: Pick your reason why Wright was snubbed as a Biletnikoff finalist. Was it because he doesn't have the name of a national power on the front of his jersey like Ryan Broyles? Was it because he didn't already have a Biletnikoff Award trophy stashed at his house like Justin Blackmon?

In my book, it was neither. Wright should feel snubbed for not getting onto the Biletnikoff finalists list. From my perspective, the main reason was his late push came after the finalist list had been trimmed. It was announced on Nov. 21 -- two days after Wright put on a 208-yard show against Broyles-less Oklahoma. In the final three games of the regular season, Wright caught 20 passes for 499 yards and four touchdowns. Voting took place beforehand.

At the end of the season, Wright was just as productive per game as Broyles but amassed more yardage than Blackmon, who repeated this year.

Still, Baylor's star led the league with 1,663 yards and finished third nationally. He'll leave as the best receiver in Baylor history and the team's leading receiver in all four of his seasons on campus. That's a remarkable career, and Wright got better every single year. Not everyone can say that.

He can.

The rest of the list:

• No. 5: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
• No. 6: Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma
• No. 7: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
• No. 8: Levy Adcock, RT, Oklahoma State
• No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're officially in the top 10 now. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 5: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

2011 numbers: Caught 83 passes for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also returned 19 punts for 196 yards (10.32 avg.).

Most recent ranking: Broyles was ranked No. 2 in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Broyles: I remember it all too well. I watched on a TV in the press box at Boone Pickens Stadium. Broyles sat on a training table on the sidelines in tears while teammates tried to console him. It was heartbreaking and unfair.

Don't let the awful final moments of Broyles' career at Oklahoma take away from its overall excellence. A few weeks before going down with the knee injury, he became the FBS leader for career receptions, and he was on his way to dethroning Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon as the Biletnikoff Award winner. He'd outperformed him to that point, and when Broyles went down, Oklahoma's offense suffered.

That was obvious in a win over Iowa State and an awful loss to Oklahoma State. Broyles will be missed, but he'll leave an amazing legacy at Oklahoma. He almost never dropped a pass. He was one of the toughest players to cover in the history of the league.

And from the time he walked on campus to the time he stepped off, he did a whole lot of growing up. Here's to a bright future for Broyles.

The rest of the list:

• No. 6: Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma
• No. 7: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
• No. 8: Levy Adcock, RT, Oklahoma State
• No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're officially in the top 10 now. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 6: Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma

2011 numbers: Made 54 tackles (35 solo), 19 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Broke up eight passes and had an interception. Also forced three fumbles.

Most recent ranking: Alexander was unranked in our preseason list of the top 25 players. He was, however, No. 7 on our midseason top 25 players list.

Making the case for Alexander: There's no need for much explanation here. Alexander earned a well-deserved Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honor after leading the Big 12 in tackles for loss. That was no accident, and he could have had plenty more. He was the most disruptive single player for passing games across the Big 12, and in the run game, too.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end had always been one of the most physically gifted players in the Big 12, but he turned it into big-time production this season. Alexander suffered a painful shoulder injury against Iowa State that limited him the rest of the season and turned him into a nonfactor against Oklahoma State. His void was enormous. Oklahoma got no pressure on Brandon Weeden and the defense was shredded. When he was active and healthy, though? Big 12 quarterbacks needed to keep their heads on a swivel. His 8.5 sacks were tied for second in the Big 12.

The Sooners will need to replace him next year, which won't be easy, but he turned in a memorable season in a year Oklahoma would like to forget.

The rest of the list:

• No. 7: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
• No. 8: Levy Adcock, RT, Oklahoma State
• No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're officially in the top 10 now. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 7: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State

2011 numbers: Carried the ball 317 times for 1,141 yards and 27 touchdowns. Threw for 1,918 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions. Completed 161 of 281 passes (57.3 percent).

Most recent ranking: Klein was unranked in our preseason list of the top 25 players. He was, however, No. 23 on our midseason top 25 players list.

Making the case for Klein: The Big 12's Honey Badger checks in at No. 7 on our list after a crazy season in Manhattan that began with modest expectations and ended in the Cotton Bowl and a second-place finish in the Big 12 after a 10-win season.

That was the first in Manhattan since the Wildcats' Big 12 title season in 2003, but Klein was the biggest reason by far for the unforeseen success. Were you like me? Did you wonder if K-State's offense was sustainable with Klein taking a weekly beating and leaving every game bleeding?

It didn't matter. It was. Klein led the Big 12 in carries by 67 and was one of just five players to log a 1,000-yard rushing season. His 27 touchdowns tied Texas' Ricky Williams' Big 12 record and tied Ricky Dobbs' FBS record at Navy for quarterbacks.

We saw big growth in Klein as a passer, never more on display than in a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback against Texas A&M that set the stage for a quadruple-overtime win for the Wildcats.

K-State's workhorse will be back in 2012 and has a shot to mount a Heisman campaign if he keeps the Wildcats winning. He does it ugly, but he does it, and it's always fun to watch.

The rest of the list:

• No. 8: Levy Adcock, RT, Oklahoma State
• No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're officially in the top 10 now. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 8: Levy Adcock, OT, Oklahoma State

2011 numbers: Helped protect QB Brandon Weeden in the nation's No. 2 scoring and passing offense and helped create holes for 1,200-yard rusher Joseph Randle.

Most recent ranking: Adcock was ranked No. 6 in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Adcock: Adcock's been a stalwart on Oklahoma State's offensive line the last two seasons, emerging as the most talented member on the line as his mullet emerged out the back of his helmet.

It's a memorable look for the juco transfer, and the Oklahoma native was a big reason for the Cowboys' first Big 12 title in school history. He held down the right tackle spot, and at 6-foot-6, 322 pounds, is a great balance of size, speed and strength, earning my nod as the Big 12's best offensive linemen.

It's no surprise, that he was part of the Big 12's best offensive line, too. OSU gave up just 12 sacks on 595 pass attempts. That total ranked as the 12th fewest nationally, even though OSU ranked fourth in pass attempts. Adcock protected Weeden's front side, and though OSU's offense is predicated upon quick release, Weeden had plenty of time all season, and rarely got his jersey dirtied.

The rest of the list:

• No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're in the top 10 now, officially. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State

2011 numbers: Made 117 tackles (66 solo) and 7.5 tackles for loss. Made two sacks and broke up six passes. Returned his only interception 78 yards for a touchdown.

Most recent ranking: Klein was unranked in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Klein: Klein's partner in crime in Ames, Jake Knott, earned a bit more of the recognition in 2010, but Klein emerged as one of the league's best defenders this year.

Look no further than the upset win over Oklahoma State, an inspired performance by the entire Cyclones defense, but especially Klein, whose 14 tackles were his highest total of the regular season. You saw a lot of emotion in that game, and that's nothing new for Klein and Knott, the emotional leaders of the Cyclones' defense.

Klein was arguably the league's most productive defender. He always seemed to show up where the ball was during the year, and was rewarded by the league's coaches as the co-Defensive Player of the Year.

The rest of the list:

• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're in the top 10 now, officially. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M

2011 numbers: Made 79 tackles (50 solo), including 17 tackles for loss. He also made 9.5 sacks and broke up two passes. Forced a fumble.

Most recent ranking: Porter was unranked in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Porter: Texas A&M's defensive line had a tough time producing pressure and getting sacks in Tim DeRuyter's 3-4, but Porter provided another level of pass rush that helped push Texas A&M to the national title in sacks, with 51. (That's a thing, right?)

His total of 9.5 sacks gave him the Big 12 sack title, and he finished third in the league with 17 tackles for loss. His pass rush won't quite be as valuable in the SEC, but the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder should be poised for a great year as a senior in 2012.

Porter was on pace for a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year nod, but was held without a sack in five of his seven final games, notching just two sacks in that period.

He made just five tackles for loss in his final five games, and was shut out in two of those games. He's got great speed and great flexibility that allows him to dip his inside shoulder on the edge like Von Miller used to.

It wasn't quite the season it looked like it might be early on, but Porter put together a huge year and earned plenty of respect heading into 2012.

The rest of the list:

• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor

2011 numbers: Carried the ball 250 times for 1,547 yards and 21 touchdowns. Caught six passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Most recent ranking: Ganaway was unranked in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Ganaway: After Ganaway bulled his way for a physical 120 yards against TCU in the season opener, I said it was time to line up the 240-pounder for 1,200 yards in 2012. Looks like I was way off. The big man surpassed anyone's expectations entering the season and won the Big 12 rushing title with a huge year in his only season as the team's featured back.

No one quite knew who would replace 1,200-yard rusher Jay Finley from the 2010 team, but Ganaway proved more than capable, rushing for 200 yards in three games and 186 in a win against Missouri. He capped his career with a five-touchdown performance in the bowl win over Washington, stealing the show from Heisman winner Robert Griffin III. He carried the team when RG3 sat out most of a win over Texas Tech with a head injury, rushing for 246 yards and keeping the Red Raiders at an arm's length.

He had the big games, but his season was marked with consistency, which led to his huge season total on the ground. He was held to fewer than 89 yards just four times all season, but scored 11 touchdowns in the final four games of the season.

No surprise: those four games were part of a six-game winning streak to end the season for the Bears.

The rest of the list:

• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State

2011 numbers: Made 114 tackles (73 solo) and four tackles for loss. Intercepted two passes. Also forced three fumbles and broke up two passes.

Most recent ranking: Knott was ranked No. 10 in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Knott: The Cyclones linebacker showed big promise as a freshman in 2009, and since taking over the starting job as a sophomore, has been one of the Big 12's most productive players. That didn't change this year, when he was the Big 12's No. 4 tackler. Since becoming the starter in 2010, he's made 244 tackles.

It wasn't widely reported, but Knott played all year with a painful, banged-up shoulder that popped out of place several times, including twice in a loss to Baylor. Knott, however, didn't miss a game and the 6-foot-2, 243-pounder had double-digit tackle totals in six games this year.

It's been touched on in this blog, but Knott just may be the toughest player in the entire league. Expect a big season in 2012 as Knott takes the field as a senior with legitimate defensive player of the year aspirations.

The rest of the list:

• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

2011 numbers: Completed 355-of-562 passes for 4,463 yards, 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also rushed for two touchdowns.

Most recent ranking: Jones was ranked No. 4 in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Jones: For some reason, most tend to focus on what Landry Jones is not, rather than what he is. From his perspective, it has to be frustrating. No, he's not Sam Bradford. Few are. Yes, he regressed as a junior after a stellar sophomore season.

But still, show some broader perspective. He threw for more yards than everybody in college football except Houston's Case Keenum and OSU's Brandon Weeden. He threw more passes than all but three quarterbacks, but that says a lot about how the coaching staff feels about him. QB Blake Bell's inclusion into the gameplan in the gadget Belldozer formation inexplicably increased the Jones criticisms, but even in a loss to Baylor, Jones was outstanding. He wasn't great in the loss to Oklahoma State, but find me someone on Oklahoma's team who did play well in that game.

Losing Ryan Broyles late in the season hurt, but Jones is still one of the game's best quarterbacks and one of the frontrunners for the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2013. The Heisman is within reach, too.

It's easy to focus on what he's not. What he is? Outstanding.

The rest of the list:

• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri

2011 numbers: Carried the ball 145 times for 1,168 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for 91 yards.

Most recent ranking: Josey was unranked in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Josey: The speedster started the season third on Missouri's depth chart, but finally got his shot after De'Vion Moore and Kendial Lawrence went down with injuries early in the season.

After breaking out for 263 yards against Western Illinois, an FCS opponent, Josey still had his doubters. Then he rushed for at least 129 yards in five of his next six games and opened up a laughable lead by almost 300 yards in the Big 12 rushing race.

A catastrophic knee injury ended his season in early November, but he still finished third in the Big 12 in rushing, despite ranking 12th in carries. His 8.06 yards per carry was sky-high and second nationally. The only player whose average was higher, though, carried the ball just 61 yards.

His abbreviated season (both early and late) and the presence of James Franklin in the running game to open room for him to run keeps Josey out of the top 10, but not by much. Here's hoping he's able to rehab and get back on the field in 2012 for Mizzou in the SEC.

The rest of the list:

• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M

2011 numbers: Caught 89 passes for 1,207 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Most recent ranking: Swope was unranked in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Swope: Teammate Jeff Fuller earned all the preseason headlines after pledging to return to College Station for his senior season, but Swope stole the show in 2011, emerging as the team's top receiver by a wide margin in Ryan Tannehill's only year as starter.

Swope, a former All-State running back in high school, looks the part with great quickness and a shifty frame. He's one of the league's best at shedding tacklers after the catch. Just ask Baylor, who gave up two long scores after broken tackles in Swope's 11-catch, 206-yard, four-touchdown career day in the win over the Bears.

He topped 100 yards receiving on six occasions in 2011 and returns to Aggieland for its move to the SEC and will be the No. 1 target for the Aggies' new passer, likely Jameill Showers. His consistency will help, too. He had at least eight catches in seven games last season, and at least six catches in two more. He was one of the toughest covers in the Big 12, and that should continue in the SEC, even with the league's tougher defenses.

The rest of the list:

• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M