ESPN College Football

College football guru Phil Steele is previewing his must-read offseason magazine, and with it, he's releasing his all-conference and All-America teams.

Here's who he slated as his first-team All-Big 12 squad:

OFFENSE

QB: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
RB: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
RB: Malcolm Brown, Texas
WR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia
WR: Kenny Stills, Oklahoma
WR: Stedman Bailey, West Virginia
TE: Jordan Najvar, Baylor
C: Ben Habern, Oklahoma
OL: Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State
OL: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
OL: LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech
OL: Cyril Richardson, Baylor

• I'd probably go with Geno Smith ahead of Jones, but it's close. You could definitely make a compelling case for both.
• I'd also lean more toward Terrance Williams at Baylor for that third receiver spot ahead of Stills. Stills' upside is still really high, but again, it's close between those two.
• Good grief, the tight end spot in the Big 12 is a rough. Navjar is a good selection. Travis Tannahill at Kansas State could grab that spot, too. You're almost better off picking a sixth offensive lineman or a fullback like Trey Millard at Oklahoma, who's more valuable than any of the league's tight ends.

DEFENSE

DL: Alex Okafor, Texas
DL: Stansly Maponga, TCU
DL: Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
DL: Jamarkus McFarland, Oklahoma
LB: Jake Knott, Iowa State
LB: Tom Wort, Oklahoma
LB: A.J. Klein, Iowa State
LB: Arthur Brown, Kansas State
CB: Nigel Malone, Kansas State
CB: Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State
S: Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
S: Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma

SPECIALISTS

P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
K: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
PR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia
KR: Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

• No complaints among the specialists, but I'd definitely have kept a more traditional three linebackers. You could afford to leave Tom Wort off that list. Not so with the other three.
• After a sad group of cornerbacks in 2011, the position looks pretty loaded this year. There's no fewer than five guys in my book who deserve strong consideration and probably a spot on the first team. It's too bad there are only two spots. Clearly, Malone and Brown are deserving, but so are Justin Gilbert, Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs.
• Safeties are both loaded. Maybe two of the best defenders in the league.

Here's who Steele tabbed as All-Americans, too.

FIRST TEAM

• Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

SECOND TEAM

• Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
• Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• Quinn Sharp, K, Oklahoma State

THIRD TEAM

• Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
• Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia
• Lane Taylor, OL, Oklahoma State
• Quinn Sharp, P, Oklahoma State
• Tyler Lockett, KR, Kansas State

FOURTH TEAM

• Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
• Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
• Gabe Ikard, OL, Oklahoma
• Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas
• A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma
• Tavon Austin, KR, West Virginia

As part of “College Football Live’s” 100 Days Till Kickoff countdown, here’s a look at the top 10 players in the Big 12.

Note: This is a separate list from our preseason top 25 players. We'll tackle that later. It might be a lot different. It might be much of the same.

1. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: Geno's a newcomer to the Big 12, but putting up big numbers is nothing new for the senior, who threw for 4,385 yards last season. Only one quarterback threw for more, but Smith had two more touchdown passes and eight fewer interceptions than the No. 2 quarterback on this list. Smith also completed nearly 3 percent more of his passes.

2. Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma: Jones checks in at No. 2 as the Big 12's leading returning passer, and will try to climb back in 2012 to give the Sooners another Big 12 title. Jones is the Big 12's most experienced quarterback, which should pay off the fall.

3. Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State: Klein was the league's No. 4 rusher and threw for 1,900 yards? You can't argue with that production, and Klein accounted for 69.8 percent of the Wildcats' offense. That's insane. His importance to K-State can't be understated.

4. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia: Austin's the most dangerous playmaker in the Big 12, a true triple threat as a receiver, runner and kick/punt returner. He's the Big 12's No. 2 returning receiver, but he also returned two kicks for touchdowns in 2011, joining two other Big 12 returners who duplicated that feat last season.

5. Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State: Knott was outplayed by teammate A.J. Klein last season, but not by much. Knott was also playing through injuries. He's a superior talent, and like Klein, there's no arguing with his production. He's made 244 tackles in the past two seasons.

6. Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State: Randle is the Big 12's leading returning rusher and should see an increased workload from his 208 carries last season. He turned those into 24 touchdowns to come three short of the Big 12 record.

7. Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State: Brown's one of the league's most impressive freak athletes, a cruise missile of a linebacker who doesn't miss tackles in the open field and gets there faster than any true linebacker in the league. (You nickelbacks don't count.)

8. Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas: Vaccaro's the most versatile talent on a loaded Texas defense, and as a roaming nickelback, offenses must account for where he is on every snap. He's also got a case as the hardest hitter in the Big 12.

9. Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas: Who has two last names and is the Big 12's returning sack leader? This guy. His 8.5 sacks were 1.5 more than any other returner in the Big 12, and he made four more tackles for loss (17) than any other returner, too.

10. Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia: Bailey's a more traditional receiver in WVU's offense and he's taken advantage. He's the league's leading returning receiver and offers the Mountaineers a steady, dangerous target with sure hands who will help make WVU arguably the league's most dangerous offense.

The stock on Kansas State seems to be slipping. The secret's out, and the close wins in 2011 -- eight of them, to be exact -- are under the microscope.

A top-10 team? Cue the laughs. A Big 12 title contender? Newcomer West Virginia is earning more buzz, even though it loses most of its front seven, and K-State, which topped WVU's regular-season win total in 2011 and played in a much tougher league, returns 18 starters and almost no key contributors.

Just how good was this team? The more relevant question: Just how good is this team?

Colleague Travis Haney took notice of a relatively silent spring in Manhattan , and assessed K-State's chances to make noise in the fall.

But in a season in which there is no clear-cut favorite, how can Kansas State be summarily dismissed? ...

Quarterback Collin Klein, the 6-5, 230-pound boulder who wound up receiving a few votes for the Heisman, accounted for 40 of the team's 65 touchdowns (61.5 percent) and 3,059 of its 4,381 yards (69.8 percent). "You knew he was all they had (offensively), but you still had to tackle him," one Big 12 head coach said this spring, his defensive coordinator nodding beside him.

After 27 rushing scores, and the book on him clearly available, surely Klein will need to throw more this fall. There was an obvious emphasis on the forward pass in the team's spring game. Klein flourished, completing 47 of 56 throws for 480 yards and six touchdowns. That speaks well for K-State improving its 4.9 yards-per-play average, 106th in the country in 2011.

After giving up 394.6 yards a game last season, and the spring game perhaps highlighting work to do this summer, the defense will need to tighten up, even if it does have future pro talents like Arthur Brown at linebacker and Nigel Malone at corner. In their first years after transferring in, Brown had a team-high 101 tackles and Malone was tied for fourth in the country with seven interceptions.

Tightening up is needed, indeed. In the Big 12, though, you really do have to grade on a curve when it comes to passing defense. K-State ranked sixth in the league in pass defense, but was second in the league with 18 interceptions; second, of course, to only Oklahoma State's absurd 24 picks.

K-State is the team that makes my head spin most entering 2012. I have no idea what to expect. My gut says it'll be better and its record worse.

This is a Bill Snyder team we're talking about, and a team full of experienced players who know how to win and what's expected of them. If you don't know by now, you should: that's very, very dangerous.

The Big 12 had eight players notch at least 100 tackles in 2011.

Of that group, five return. Here's a look at the Big 12's returning 100-tackle defenders.

1. A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State: Klein's no joke. He shared Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors with Frank Alexander, and is the Big 12's leading returning tackler. Only Kansas' Steven Johnson had more than Klein's 116 tackles in 2011. He's physical and a sure tackler, and ISU's defense has enjoyed the benefits.

2. Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State: Knott might just be a better overall talent than Klein, but played through injuries in 2011 and was limited throughout the season. He dislocated his shoulder twice in a loss to Baylor, and needed surgery after the season. Knott and Klein are legit, but when your linebackers both have 100-plus tackles and only 11.5 of those 200+ stops are tackles for loss, you've got a problem on the defensive line.

3. Sam Holl, S, Baylor: Like the backers at ISU, Holl is one of two Baylor safeties with 100 tackles. Thaaaaat's ... not a good thing. Holl and Mike Hicks were torched often, and racked up tackles as cornerbacks missed them. Holl had 113 stops.

4. Mike Hicks, S, Baylor: Hicks added 105 tackles of his own, but had just 3 interceptions and 2.5 tackles for loss. He broke up just five passes, too.

5. Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State: For my money, Brown is the single best talent on this entire list. He's fast. He's a sure tackler and he's smart. That's a good combination, without even mentioning his toughness. He gave a much needed speed boost to a very slow K-State defense in 2010, and led the Wildcats with 101 stops in 2011. He also had 9.5 tackles for loss and his one interception set up a season-changing victory over Baylor.

Let's get this out of the way right now: None of these guys can win the Heisman.

It's a new day, and simply put, we'll never see a defensive player win the Heisman. If Ndamukong Suh couldn't win it (and I would have voted for him if I'd had a Heisman vote that year), then nobody could.

It wouldn't stop me from voting for a defender who deserved it, but lots of voters just won't make it possible. Charles Woodson did it in 1997, but we live in a new day full of high-powered, fast-paced offenses and he was a dynamic return man, too.

Buuuuuut, what if defenders could win the Heisman? They can certainly have an impact. That much is clear.

Our man Chris Huston at HeismanPundit.com broke down his top 10, which featured three possible winners from the Big 12:

5. Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas – Jeffcoat had a fine sophomore season with 63 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. Despite those stellar numbers, one gets the sense he still hasn’t come close to fulfilling his potential. He might get there as a junior, which could result in some Heisman attention.

My take: Everyone, myself included, keeps waiting for Jeffcoat to explode. If it happens this year, and it very well might, I'd agree that he's going to blow up on the national stage, too. He's a junior with a ton of experience. He's in the second year of a fairly complex scheme under Manny Diaz. It's all there for him if he stays healthy.

6. Tony Jefferson, S/LB, Oklahoma – Jefferson is a versatile and explosive defender in the mold of past Sooner hybrid-type defensive backs like Roy Williams and Donte Nicholson. He had 74 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 4 interceptions as a 2011 sophomore. If he improves on those numbers and helps the Sooners to the Big 12 title, he might make some noise in the Heisman race.

My take: I feel bad for Jefferson, who's expressed some frustration at being snubbed for All-Big 12 honors and awards in the past. The only reason is he's moved around. Anyone who watches OU knows how obvious it is that Jefferson's one of the most gifted defenders in the Big 12. Now, he's been moved back to traditional safety, where he can wreak all kinds of havoc. Will he stay there in new DC Mike Stoops' scheme? We'll find out.

7. Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State – Brown really came into his own as a 2011 junior, as the former highly-touted recruit made 101 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and an interception (of Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, no less). Brown is the latest in a stellar line of fast and tough K-State linebackers, so look for a ton of honors to flow his way if he comes through with a special senior season.

My take: Brown's biggest asset is his sure tackling. That's exactly what linebackers have to do in the wide-open Big 12 full of offenses whose sole goal is to get playmakers the ball in space. Brown makes sure that space is eliminated, and with his speed, does it quickly. He held together K-State's defense last year, and if the Wildcats get on a winning run again, he'll definitely get much-deserved attention.

NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. broke down his top-five prospects at each position among juniors and seniors entering the 2013 draft.

You'll need ESPN Insider to see both (here are the juniors) (and here are the seniors), but here's a taste of what you can find among the seniors.

Quarterbacks

• No. 3: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
• No. 5: Geno Smith, West Virginia

Fullbacks

• No. 1: Braden Wilson, Kansas State

Receivers

• No. 2: Terrance Williams, Baylor
• No. 4: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Offensive tackles

• No. 5: Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

Centers

• No. 5: Ben Habern, Oklahoma

Inside linebackers

• No. 3: Arthur Brown, Kansas State

Cornerbacks

• No. 5: Demontre Hurst, Oklahoma

Punters

• No. 2: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

2011 overall record: 10-3
2011 conference record: 7-2
Returning starters: Offense 9; defense 7; P/K (2)

Top returners:
QB Collin Klein, RB John Hubert, LB Arthur Brown, CB Nigel Malone, WR Tyler Lockett, LB Tre Walker, WR Chris Harper

Key losses:
CB David Garrett, LB Emmanuel Lamur, S Tysyn Hartman, DL Ray Kibble, DE Jordan Voelker

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Collin Klein* (1,141 yards)
Passing: Collin Klein* (1,918 yards)
Receiving: Chris Harper* (547 yards)
Tackles: Arthur Brown* (101)
Sacks: Meshak Williams* (7)
Interceptions: Nigel Malone* (7)

Spring answers

1. Filling the void left behind by Garrett: David Garrett was one of the biggest playmakers for the K-State defense, but Allen Chapman seems to have locked down the assignment of replacing him in 2012. The California juco transfer broke up four passes last year and returned his only interception 60 yards for a touchdown. K-State's secondary should be solid. Kip Daily will also help out at corner.

2. Collin Klein can chuck it: You have to take into account that Klein did it against second-teamers and that the quarterbacks have put up big numbers in spring games, but his 47-of-56, 480-yard performance is encouraging. He won't do that during the fall, but it's a good sign that Klein's improvement was obvious in the one practice fans or media were allowed to see.

3. Lockett returns: Tyler Lockett was the most explosive talent on an offense mostly devoid of home run threats, but a lacerated kidney ended his 2011 season early. Lockett returned and practiced this spring, but reportedly had another minor injury before the spring game, depriving us of a chance to see him back in action. Still, it sounds like he'll be back in the fall.

Fall questions

1. Can Kansas State validate its surprising 2011? The Wildcats memorably won eight games in 2011 by a touchdown or less, ascending to a second-place finish in the Big 12 after being picked to finish eighth. Advanced college football statistics suggest K-State is due for a regression in 2012, but this is Bill Snyder we're talking about. His team will be better in 2012. Can its record improve, too? Klein must remain healthy after leading the Big 12 in carries last season.

2. Who's filling in for Tysyn Hartman? Hartman had loads of experience and was one of the most intelligent players on the team. The Wildcats don't have many question marks, but who replaces Hartman is one. They'll still have competition between Thomas Ferguson, Randall Evans and Jarard Milo this fall to win the job.

3. What will the offensive line look like? Kansas State was the Big 12's most physical team in 2011 because of their strong offensive line. K-State loses three starters, and there's no doubt that if there's one thing that derails K-State in the fall, it's the new faces on the line. B.J. Finney is a stud at center, and Nick Puetz is solid, but the other three spots on the line didn't sound like they were sewn up by the end of spring.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy list broke the ice on awards list season and put six Big 12 talents on its 2012 Watch List. Each year, the award is given to the defensive player with the biggest "IMPACT" on his team, on and off the field.

The acronym stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

• A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• Brodrick Brown, CB, Oklahoma State
• Demontre Hurst, CB, Oklahoma
• Alex Okafor, DE, Texas
• Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas
• Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State

No Big 12 player has ever won the award, but TCU's Jerry Hughes won the award in 2009.

Boston College's Luke Kuechly won the award in 2011, when Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho was a finalist for the award.

West Virginia ran away with our poll on the Big 12's best offense, but what about the other side of the ball?

Who will have the Big 12's best defense? Let's look at the real candidates.

Texas

The Longhorns have led the Big 12 in total defense in each of the past four seasons, and coordinator Manny Diaz has a great unit coming back in 2012. Linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho are gone, but cornerbacks Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs might be the best and second-best in the entire Big 12. Pass-rushers Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat provide a unit well-equipped to slow the league's best offenses.

Kansas State

Bill Snyder's unit has lots of raw talent and brings back seven starters from a defense that ranked fifth in the Big 12 last season. Linebacker Arthur Brown holds it all together in the middle, but cornerback Nigel Malone could emerge as the Big 12's best by season's end. Fellow defensive back Ty Zimmerman and linebacker Tre Walker are both very underrated.

TCU

TCU had a rough 2011 season, and lost former All-American Tanner Brock before the season when he was arrested in a campus drug sting. The Horned Frogs have a tried and true defensive system, though, and safeties coach Chad Glasgow returns after a season at Texas Tech. Under coach Gary Patterson, the Horned Frogs led the nation in total defense in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys came under fire last year under the national microscope, but OSU still forced 44 turnovers in 13 games, six more than any team in all of college football. Eight starters return, including an outstanding cornerback duo in Justin Gilbert and Brodrick Brown. Linebacker Shaun Lewis could be due for a breakout season, too. There are some questions on the defensive line, but Alex Elkins and Caleb Lavey fill out a strong set of linebackers.

Oklahoma

The Sooners' back line caught a lot of criticism last season, but Mike Stoops is back, 11 years after helping carry Oklahoma to its seventh national title, pitching a shutout of Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl. He'll help revitalize the secondary in Norman, and has plenty of talent at his disposal to do so, highlighted by Tony Jefferson, who looks like he's found a home at the traditional safety spot after spending two seasons as nickelback. Corey Nelson and Tom Wort give the Sooners one of the best sets of linebackers in the league.

So, who are you taking?

Kansas State is the last Big 12 team to take the field this spring. Let's take a closer look:

Schedule: Kansas State holds the first of 15 practices today, capped by the Purple/White game on April 28. Practices are closed to fans and media.

What's new: The expectations. Kansas State returns 18 starters from last season's team; only seven teams in college football return more. Last season's team was picked to finish eighth in the Big 12, but won 10 games and earned a second-place finish. Bring back a team like that, and the spring's going to sound very, very different. Kansas State will likely tote a top-15 ranking into the season, and there's a lot more attention being paid to Manhattan this spring after Bill Snyder proved returning to the sidelines was a worthy cause.

New faces: Defensive coordinator Chris Cosh left for South Florida, but new defensive coordinator Tom Hayes inherits a great defense with plenty of talent and experience. Kansas State also welcomes several early enrollees: quarterback Tavarius Bender, fullback Glenn Gronkowski, and defensive lineman Wesley Hollingshed from the juco ranks. Hollingshed, a 6-foot-2, 300-pounder from Texas, could help fill the void left by defensive tackle Ray Kibble, who made 38 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2011.

Breaking out: Arthur Brown earned plenty of attention last season, but fellow linebacker Tre Walker could be poised for a big junior season. Walker made 52 stops last season, and broke up three passes.

Big shoes to fill: The offensive line. Kansas State's rushing attack carried it to the Cotton Bowl last season, but the biggest losses were on the front line. Tackles Clyde Aufner and Zach Hanson, and guard Colton Freeze are gone, so finding replacements this spring will be important. Center B.J. Finney might emerge as one of the team's leaders, but look for guys like Cornelius Lucas, Jordan Allred and Ethan Douglas to get the first shot at filling those holes. Keenan Taylor should be a factor at guard, too. Kansas State also brought in juco transfers Tavon Rooks and Ellwood Clement on the line. Last season's starting left tackle, Manese Foketi, suffered a season-ending injury early, but could be granted a medical redshirt and return for 2012.

All eyes on: Collin Klein. How much better of a passer will he become this offseason? We saw a lot of progression from September to December. Will that continue into the offseason, or has Klein hit his ceiling as a passer? He has an underwhelming receiving corps to throw to, but if Kansas State develops a better passing game, the offense is going to be the nation's most frustrating to stop. If Klein shows up with much more accuracy in the fall, he's going to have legitimate Heisman aspirations, too.

Question marks: Kansas State can't prove it until the fall, but was last season a fluke, or the start of something special? There's no ignoring the Wildcats' 8-1 mark in games decided by a touchdown or less. In every game except a road loss against Oklahoma State, the Wildcats found ways to make plays and come back from fourth-quarter deficits. Can they improve and avoid some of those situations, but still perform in tight spots late in games? No question is bigger for the Wildcats in 2012. They won 10 games last season, but could have easily been closer to 7-5.

Time to continue our series breaking down each team's best and worst positions entering the 2012 season. Kansas State is up next.

More spring superlatives:

• Baylor
• Iowa State
• Kansas

Strongest position: Linebacker

K-State must replace converted safety Emmanuel Lamur, but the Wildcats have a great base in the middle of the defense. Senior Arthur Brown will be on the short list of Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year candidates in 2012, and his partner in crime, Tre Walker, has tons of potential and good speed.

Brown holds down the middle while Walker, a junior, roams the weak side. Who takes over on the strong side? Like Lamur, K-State needs someone with great speed. Watch for that battle this spring. The Wildcats start spring practice on April 4.

Weakest position: Wide receiver

I'll preface this by saying Kansas State doesn't have what I'd call a true weakness at any position. There are few positions in which the team truly excelled (I'd point to offensive line and cornerback as the team's best positions in 2011), but relative to the rest of the Big 12, the Wildcats need help at wide receiver.

Part of the low numbers for the position is Kansas State's offense, which threw the ball just 290 times last year, the fewest attempts in the Big 12. Three teams in the league (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech) literally doubled Kansas State's pass attempts.

Still, K-State returns its three leading receivers, so there's hope at the position. Tyler Lockett is a shifty speedster, but Chris Harper and Tramaine Thompson are the best pure receivers on the team. Beyond that duo, however, K-State lacks much additional, reliable depth at the position.

We're moving on with our postseason position rankings. Today, it's time for linebackers. If you missed it, here's how I ranked them in the preseason.

At this position, depth is a major factor in these rankings. Additionally, I included nickelbacks in this grouping. Hybrid defensive end/linebackers will be grouped with defensive lines.

More postseason position rankings:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Receivers/tight ends

1. Iowa State: The Cyclones top the list after a huge year from their outstanding duo, Jake Knott and A.J. Klein. They combined for 231 tackles in 2011, both finishing among the top four in the Big 12 in tackles. They had 241 together in 2010, but this season Knott played through injuries and Klein was awarded co-Defensive Player of the Year honors from the league's coaches.

2. Texas: The Longhorns will sorely miss an outstanding duo of their own with tons of experience. Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho are both NFL-bound after combining for 215 tackles.

3. Oklahoma: The Sooners weren't quite as good as expected in 2011, but part of that was because of a Travis Lewis preseason toe injury that slowed him for much of the season. Lewis, Tony Jefferson and Tom Wort all topped 70 tackles in 2011, and are a solid group.

4. Kansas State: Arthur Brown reinvigorated this group, finishing eighth in the Big 12 with 101 tackles, but the Wildcats linebackers were more than just Brown. Tre Walker and converted safety Emmanuel Lamur combined for 135 stops and helped lead one of the league's most underrated units and a much-improved run defense.

5. Texas A&M: The Aggies' backers were big pass-rushers, though they struggled in coverage this season. Sean Porter was the Big 12's sack champion with 9.5, and Caleb Russell and Jonathan Stewart combined for six more. Damontre Moore is the rawest talent of the bunch, but built on that in 2011, making 72 tackles.

6. Oklahoma State: OSU's group was good, but not great. Alex Elkins' crazy story came to an end with 90 stops in 2011. He showed up everywhere for the Cowboys, but reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year Shaun Lewis didn't quite have the sophomore season some had hoped. Caleb Lavey added some solid play for the turnover-hungry unit, producing 74 tackles and five tackles for loss.

7. Missouri: Zaviar Gooden wasn't quite the impact player Mizzou had hoped, but he was solid alongside a group that's been injury prone over the past two years. Sophomore Andrew Wilson emerged as the team's top tackler with 98 stops, and Luke Lambert added 82 more. A high ankle sprain in the season opener kept Will Ebner off the field, but he'll be back in 2012 after the NCAA granted him a fifth year of eligibility.

8. Kansas: Steven Johnson led the Big 12 with 119 tackles, but the rest of the unit left a lot to be desired. Darius Willis has some potential, but the rest of the team's linebackers have their work cut out for them in 2012. Tunde Bakare also returns from a unit that ranked ninth in the Big 12 in rushing defense.

9. Baylor: The Bears needed help just about everywhere. Elliot Coffey was solid, and finished tied for fourth with 114 stops, but Baylor was eighth in the Big 12 in rush defense. Baylor has solid athlete in the secondary and on the defensive line, but at linebacker, Rodney Chadwick and Brody Trahan leave a bit to be desired. Ahmad Dixon was better in 2011, but still has a lot of potential that needs to be filled.

10. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are looking for a new defensive coordinator and the 4-2-5 made a short stop in Lubbock. The Red Raiders were awful everywhere on defense, but especially up front. Nobody in college football was worse at stopping the run, and D.J. Johnson, Daniel Cobb and Cqulin Hubert turned in forgettable performances. Time to get better for 2012.

Spring football is already under way at Texas Tech, but in the coming weeks, the Big 12's other nine programs will join the Red Raiders in taking the field as a team for the first time since January, December or November for some.

Here's a preview of what to expect:

BAYLOR BEARS

Spring practice start date: March 19
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Nick Florence: It's not official, but the Baylor quarterback job is Florence's to lose. That means he inherits the unenviable task of replacing the school's first Heisman winner. He replaced RG3 in 2009 with mixed results, but showed some major potential in a win over Texas Tech when RG3 took a shot to the head and sat out the second half. Can he keep the bowl streak alive at Baylor? We'll get an idea this spring.
• The defense's progression: You didn't need to see much more than the 67-56 Alamo Bowl win over Washington to know the Bears needed some work on defense. In the month of November, Baylor became the first team in FBS history to win four consecutive games in a single season while also giving up at least 30 points in each of those games. The defense can't make Florence pick up the slack to that level. Year 2 under Phil Bennett must be better. Baylor has no excuses. The Bears have the athletes on campus necessary to be at least a decent defense.
• The team's attitude/motivation: Baylor played with a lot of purpose the past two seasons, and made history in both, cracking a 16-year bowl drought and winning 10 games this year. Is that fire still there? Baylor has to prove it is without RG3 (and Kendall Wright) carrying the team on the field, emotionally and mentally.

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Spring practice start date: March 20
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• The quarterback battle: Or is it? Jared Barnett looked like the man of the future in Ames late in the season, leading the Cyclones to an historic upset of No. 2 Oklahoma State. But in the ugly Pinstripe Bowl loss to a mediocre Rutgers team, Barnett's inaccuracy posed big questions. He was benched and Steele Jantz stepped in, though he didn't play much better than Barnett. Turnovers were an issue for Jantz early on, but Barnett has to bounce back in the spring to make sure the job doesn't come open.
• The receivers: Darius Reynolds was the big-play man for the Cyclones, but he's gone. It's going to be tough to replace him. Slot receivers Aaron Horne and Josh Lenz were productive, but did little to stretch defenses like Reynolds did. Can ISU find someone to fill the void?
• The new man at left tackle: Iowa State had the luxury of having a future pro, Kelechi Osemele, at left tackle for the past three seasons. He earned All-Big 12 nods in each of those seasons, but he's gone now. Junior Carter Bykowski was behind Osemele on the depth chart, but will the converted tight end be the new man at tackle for the Cyclones?

KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Spring practice start date: March 27
Spring game: April 28

What to watch:

• Uh, everything?: I mean, what's not to watch at KU? Charlie Weis steps in for the fired Turner Gill and tries to build KU up from nothing. The Jayhawks were one of the worst teams in Big 12 history last season, losing six games by at least 30 points. Weis will speak his mind and watching him rebuilding the Jayhawks is going to be fun. It all starts next month -- on the field, at least.
• KU's new pass-catch combo: Dayne Crist is on campus, and so is Oklahoma transfer Justin McCay, a former blue-chip recruit who didn't quite catch on in Norman. Quarterback and receiver were arguably the two biggest positions of need for KU last year, and we'll get a preview of what could be a productive combo next season. McCay isn't officially eligible for the 2012 season yet -- he needs the NCAA to waive its mandated redshirt year after a transfer -- but the coaching staff is confident he'll have it granted.
• The uncertainty on the depth chart: When a new staff comes in, you never know what to expect. Kansas' leading rusher in its final season under Mark Mangino, Toben Opurum, is now one of its best defensive linemen. Look for Weis to shake things up, too. Where? Who knows?

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Spring practice start date: April 4
Spring game: April 28

What to watch:

• Collin Klein's maturation: Kansas State's quarterback could be fun to watch this spring and next fall. His throwing motion isn't pretty, but his accuracy improved in a big way throughout the season. If that continues at a pace anything close to what we saw last year, K-State's going to be a load for everyone. Look out.
• Developing depth at running back: John Hubert is back, and so is seldom-used Angelo Pease. Bryce Brown is gone, though. Klein handles a lot of the heavy lifting in the running game, but it'd be some nice insurance if K-State could establish some more depth in the backfield. Making Klein carry the ball 300 times again is tempting fate.
• Stars becoming superstars: Kansas State brings back more starters than all but seven teams in college football, so this team is going to look remarkably similar in 2012 to the way it did last year. However, it should get better. And its two transfers could look dominant this spring. Cornerback Nigel Malone and linebacker Arthur Brown emerged as stars last year, but we could see the duo emerge as true game-changers this spring. Look out, Big 12 offenses.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Spring practice start date: March 8
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• New faces on, off the field: Mike Stoops' arrival as the defensive coordinator was the biggest news this offseason in the Big 12, and Brent Venables, who had been at OU for all of Bob Stoops' tenure, left for Clemson rather than become co-defensive coordinator. Hopes are high that Stoops can revitalize Oklahoma's defense. He was in charge when the Sooners rode a dominant D to the 2000 national title, and the Sooners have the talent to win it all in 2012. Receiver Trey Metoyer joins the team this spring, and could be a major contributor immediately. Two of the team's four new tight ends are also enrolled early.
• QB Blake Bell's role: The Belldozer is back … but so is full-time quarterback Landry Jones. How will the balance between the duo look this spring? And what new wrinkles will we see in Oklahoma's simple, yet near-unstoppable short-yardage formation that scored 13 touchdowns in the second half of 2011?
• The battle at defensive end: Oklahoma must fill two huge holes at defensive end. Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Frank Alexander is gone, as is possible first-round pick Ronnell Lewis. R.J. Washington contributed late and has potential, but David King filled in for Lewis in the final three games of the season. The duo could be great, but it could also be pretty pedestrian. We'll get an idea this spring, but Lewis and Alexander set a high, high bar.

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Spring practice start date: March 12
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• The quarterback battle: This will easily be the highest-profile, highest-quality quarterback battle in the Big 12. It won't be at the level of Texas Tech in 2010, but it won't be too far off. Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt will go head to head. All have plenty of potential, though Lunt may have the most. The big-armed true freshman also has the least experience. Anything could happen here.
• Which receivers rise: Justin Blackmon and Josh Cooper leave huge holes behind. It's not every day a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner walks on campus. Hubert Anyiam is gone, too. Michael Harrison is unlikely to play for the 2012 season, but the school has offered no confirmation on his status. He had the most potential, but OSU is deep at the position. Who emerges as the top target? Isaiah Anderson? Tracy Moore? Josh Stewart? Anything could happen there, too.
• Defense needs a leader: Safety Markelle Martin has been the heart of the defense the past two seasons, but his big-hitting days are over. Who becomes the new voice of the defense? It needs to find leadership this spring heading into summer voluntary workouts.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

Spring practice start date: Feb. 23
Spring game: April 1

What to watch:

• The quarterback competition: I still think having a competition at the spot, which Texas says it will, isn't the best option, but David Ash and Case McCoy will go at it alongside early-enrolling freshman Connor Brewer. If Ash secures the job, expect an announcement heading into summer officially anointing the sophomore.
• More sophistication on both sides of the ball: The progression is natural and likely. Offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz had good first years in Austin, but this is Year 2. The spring won't be devoted to learning the playbook. It's time to master it. Both units could look markedly different, and much more refined next fall. Deny it all you like: Texas is back on its way to the top after a rough two years.
• Maturing offensive weapons: Last season, the Longhorns relied on two true freshman running backs (Malcolm Brown/Joe Bergeron), a freshman/sophomore rotation at quarterback and its top receiver (Jaxon Shipley) was a true freshman. No. 2 (Mike Davis) was a sophomore. I hope I don't have to tell you what freshmen and sophomores do in college football. Look. Out.

TCU HORNED FROGS

Spring practice start date: Feb. 25
Spring end date: April 5

What to watch:

• Can TCU shut out the scandal? Four team members were arrested in a recent drug sting and kicked off the team. How much of a distraction will that be for a program undergoing the most monumental change in its history? Quantifying the effects of the scandal will be pretty impossible, and we've got no idea how they'll handle the change, but will it be on players' minds?
• The offense tightens up: The Horned Frogs' offense is absolutely loaded and ready to go for 2012. Quarterback Casey Pachall returns and brings his top three weapons (Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter) with him. Running backs Waymon James, Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker each topped 700 yards rushing in 2011 and all return. The spring will be all about fine-tuning an already stellar offense, and it'll be fun to watch.
• Replacing departed starters: All-America linebacker Tanner Brock was among the four football players arrested and booted from the team, as was all-conference defensive tackle D.J. Yendrey and likely starting safety Devin Johnson. Those were unforeseen losses, but TCU can't feel sorry for itself. Gary Patterson has no choice but to find new faces to fill those holes.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Spring practice start date: Feb. 17
Spring game: March 24

What to watch:

• Once again, a new defense: Texas Tech sounds like a broken record these days when it comes to defensive coordinators. This time, Art Kaufman will be stepping to the microphone as the fourth defensive coordinator in Lubbock in four years. He's bringing a 4-3, a shift back to what Ruffin McNeil ran in 2009. Chad Glasgow's 4-2-5 and James Willis' 3-4 failed miserably in 2011 and 2010, respectively, the first two years under Tommy Tuberville.
• The battle at running back: No one knows yet if Eric Stephens will be back next season. There's still a long way to go in his rehab from a dislocated knee he suffered last season in a loss to Texas A&M. DeAndre Washington is also out this spring after tearing his ACL against Missouri. Harrison Jeffers hung up his cleats. Who will prove to be reliable this spring? Look for the Red Raiders to try to use sophomore Bradley Marquez, freshman Javares McRoy and junior SaDale Foster in a manner similar to the way Oregon uses scatback De'Anthony Thomas, with lots of short passes and bubble screens to get them the ball in space, where they can use their speed and shiftiness to make plays.
• Team health: Tuberville said earlier this month that the team is missing 15 players this spring. It can't afford any more injuries. It's already going to be tough to get enough done this spring, but Tech can't start getting banged up.

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Spring practice start date: March 11
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• Dana Holgorsen's offense in Year 2: Holgorsen didn't get a chance to coach his talented offense at Oklahoma State in its second year. The results could have been crazy. They might be at West Virginia in 2012, and the beginning steps will be taken this spring as Geno Smith & Co. get more and more comfortable with the system and Holgorsen adds more wrinkles.
• The battle at running back: Sophomore Dustin Garrison hurt his knee in practices leading up to the Mountaineers' 70-33 Orange Bowl win over Clemson, and won't be there for the spring. What does senior Shawne Alston have in store for the spring? Garrison was the featured back last season, but a big spring could help Alston earn a few carries next year.
• Defense needs help: Najee Goode leaves a big hole at linebacker, and defensive back Eain Smith's exit means the Mountaineers enter the season without two of their top three tacklers from a year ago. Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller's talents on the defensive line will be tough to replace, and in a league that requires a great pass rush, Irvin, Goode and Miller's 19 combined sacks must be replaced somehow.

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. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State

2011 numbers: Made 101 tackles (57 solo) and 9.5 tackles for loss. Had two sacks and broke up two passes.

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

Making the case for Brown: Kansas State needed speed and Brown provided it in the middle of the defense. He added some major toughness to a defensive unit that gave up 3,000 rushing yards in 2010 and proved himself almost immediately as one of the surest tacklers in the Big 12.

He was remarkably consistent all year, notching at least seven tackles in nine games, twice making 12 stops in a game. In another era, Brown might be a safety. He's got the freakish athleticism in the middle of the defense that's required of elite defenders in the wide-open Big 12, with offenses spreading defenses over every inch of the field and demanding sure tackling in the open field.

Brown can do it. He was just outside the contenders for the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, but helped revitalize the Wildcats' defense, one of the most improved units in the league this year. He could win it in 2012.

The rest of the list:

• 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

We're offering up grades for each team in the Big 12 after their seasons conclude, so here's a look at how the 10-3 Kansas State Wildcats graded out in 2011.

More report cards:

• Kansas
• Texas Tech
• Missouri
• Texas
• Baylor
• Iowa State
• Oklahoma
• Texas A&M
• Oklahoma State

OFFENSE: Before the season, the outlook for this group looked grim. It was headed by an inexperienced quarterback who'd only thrown a handful of passes, and an unproven transfer named Bryce Brown would be charged with filling the role of NFL-bound workhorse Daniel Thomas.

Or so we thought, anyway. Who knew Collin Klein was a stud that became more of a workhorse than Thomas -- the Big 12 leader in carries and rushing the past two seasons -- ever was?

Well, Bill Snyder probably did. Or at least had a hunch. Klein carried the Wildcats on his back, complete with perpetually bleeding elbows and led the Big 12 in carries, toting the ball 317 times, 67 more than any other ballcarrier in the Big 12. He wasn't the only one. K-State's ground attack also relied on the lightly-recruited John Hubert, a Waco native who filled in for Brown. Brown left the team in midseason after struggling early and carrying the ball just three times, fumbling once. He added 970 yards of his own.

The offensive line was one of the Big 12's best, and the receivers were good enough. This unit, though, revolved around Klein, who turned out better than anyone expected, tying the Big 12 record for rushing touchdowns with 27, and giving way to Heisman hype for 2012.

GRADE: A

DEFENSE: Stop me if you've heard this before, but the expectations for this group were ... let's say measured. That's what happens when you give up 3,000 rushing yards in a single season. Only two teams did it this season. Kansas State did it in 2010.

Enter Arthur Brown and Nigel Malone. The Miami transfer/linebacker and junior college transfer/cornerback checked in and gave K-State a much-needed speed boost that helped the rest of the defense look pretty good. Defensive ends Jordan Voelker and Meshak Williams combined for 11 sacks and provided a pass rush that was non-existent in 2010. None of the teams top five sackers in 2010 were defensive ends.

Fellow corner David Garrett had another solid season for the Wildcats, too. The ball-control offense perhaps inflated the defensive numbers, but K-State held its own for 13 games this season against a ton of great offenses. Well done.

GRADE: A

OVERALL: This year was one Kansas State won't soon forget. Snyder hates comparing his teams, but admitted at the end of the season this team grew more than just about any he'd ever have. That's pretty obvious.

After a season-opening 10-7 win over Eastern Kentucky (let me repeat that: a 10-7 win over Eastern Kentucky) I dropped the unimpressive 'Cats all the way to ninth in the Big 12 Power Rankings. They finished the season at No. 2. That's a heck of a season.

Yeah, Kansas State got fortunate in a few spots to win games late. But it won, and the wins as underdogs grew even more impressive by the week. Wins over Miami, Baylor, Missouri and Texas Tech helped push the Wildcats to a 7-0 start and gave them four consecutive wins as an underdog, despite getting outgained in each game. That's pretty unbelievable.

Believe it.

GRADE: A+