ESPN College Football

We're handing off Missouri from the Big 12 blog to the boys at the SEC blog today, and as part of the proceedings, it's time to get a bit sappy.

Ol' Mizzou, here's what I'll miss about you when you leave for the SEC.

And, if you were curious, here's our past installments of this series:

• What I'll miss most about Nebraska
• What I'll miss most about Colorado

1. Columbia. I called the city home for four of the best years of my life and earned a degree that I had so much fun earning it almost felt stolen. That doesn't affect how I cover the team, but I'd be a liar if I said I enjoyed visiting any Big 12 campus more than Mizzou. Sorry, Austin. Whether it's a Booche's burger, a slice of Shakespeare's Pizza or a stop by The Heidelberg, which somehow gets consistently left out of the "Must Go" places in Columbia, I love it. And if you didn't know, now you know, Tigahs.

2. The Border War. Nebraska and Colorado checking out didn't cost us any big annual rivalries, but this one hurts. The Kansas-Mizzou hate flows 365 days a year, and now, they'll have no chances on the football field or basketball court to give that hate an outlet. It's a shame. Please, please, play this game. I understand Kansas' side of the debate and why it wants to end it. That doesn't make it any less ridiculous.

3. The coaching staff. This was always a fun group to work with. Offensive coordinator David Yost -- we had some fun with him on Twitter last week -- will tell it like it is and offer some solid insight, too. He's always good to help folks better understand what's happening on the field, but the Tigers have a great mix of coaches. The fiery nature of defensive coordinator Dave Steckel balances well with the straight-laced Gary Pinkel, who handled an embarrassing incident this year with about as much class as you'll ever see, personifying the idea that character isn't mistakes, it's how you react to them.

4. Senior Day at Mizzou. The Tigers have one of the least-publicized, coolest senior day traditions around. After a player finishes his career on Faurot Field, he runs down, hops the fence surrounding the field and grabs a rock from the Rock M to keep for good.

5. Seeing DGB's career play out. Top recruits at schools that traditionally don't get them are much more interesting than ones who go to factories like Texas and OU. Dorial Green-Beckham will be a fun, fun player to watch over the course of his career. Unfortunately, I won't get to see it. But, good luck to him in Columbia.

Recruiting Nation scoured every league and named the recruiter of the year in each conference.

Who landed the honor in the Big 12?

Bo Davis of Texas.

Writes Recruiting Nation:

Bo Davis settled right in for the Longhorns and did very well in his first season as a recruiter for Mack Brown and Texas. His impact was immediate as ESPNU 150 defensive end Torshiro Davis (Shreveport, La./Woodlawn) signed with Texas on signing day instead of LSU, where he had been a longtime commit. These are battles LSU doesn't normally lose to Texas. Davis was also responsible for landing junior college standout Brandon Moore (Scooba, Miss./East Mississippi C.C.), who originally signed with Alabama out of high school two years ago. Davis also had a key hand in the Longhorns getting defensive end Caleb Bluiett (Beaumont, Texas/West Brook) and defensive tackle Paul Boyette Jr. (Humble, Texas/Humble) on signing day. Davis, who is from Louisiana, is a big reason Texas, which normally isn't very active late in the process, made some big, late moves.
Honorable mention: Stacy Searels, Texas; Joe Wickline, Oklahoma State; Terrell Williams, Texas A&M; David Yost, Missouri.

No doubt an impressive haul for a Texas team bringing in lots of talent once again. We'll see how well each develops.

Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost shows how the Tigers execute the bubble screen to open up the running game.

Let's take a look inside that first half out in Tempe, Ariz., where Missouri trails Arizona State, 16-10.

Turning point: Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler, who, if you haven't heard, is 6-foot-8, connected with Aaron Pflugrad on a gorgeous 60-yard rainbow down the right side of the field to give Arizona State its halftime lead. The momentum had shifted toward the Tigers, who scored on the previous drive, but Osweiler's deep ball gave ASU points on its first play of the ensuing possession and control of the game once again.

Turning point II: Missouri lost De'Vion Moore early on with an ankle injury and he won't return. Missouri had four reliable backs to begin the season, but for tonight and perhaps a bit into the future, it's down to just one. Henry Josey is the only healthy back left from a group that included Moore, Marcus Murphy (shoulder surgery) and Kendial Lawrence (broken fibula) and rushed for 1,557 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. Missouri already entered tonight's game missing six starters due to injury just a week into the season. Moore was a new starter, so it's still six, but still.

Stat of the half: Osweiler and Missouri's James Franklin have combined to complete 23-of-29 passes. It's been a pretty clean-looking game so far with both quarterbacks dealing.

Best player in the half: Osweiler. He's been outstanding, connecting on throws at every level of the defense and really making the Tigers' defense work. In the first half, he was 11-of-14 for 229 yards and two touchdowns. He also swung the game on a huge throw to Pflugrad that earned our turning point of the half.

Second guessing: On Missouri's opening drive, Gary Pinkel elected to kick a 24-yard field goal on fourth-and-short in the red zone, rather than try and tie the game at 7 after Arizona State scored on its first drive. The Tigers have the perfect quarterback to make those kinds of plays, and OC David Yost has lauded Franklin's ability to push a pile. However, coach Gary Pinkel didn't give him the opportunity. Somewhat reminiscent of a similar decision early on against Oklahoma State in 2008, a game in which top 10 Missouri was upset on its home field.

What Missouri needs to do: Get in the backfield. Missouri's defensive line is strong, but it has been quiet in the first half. The Tigers have been unable to pressure Osweiler with any consistency, but the Tigers' cornerbacks need help. E.J. Gaines and Kip Edwards have both been burnt already, and two of Missouri's defensive backs somehow whiffed on the first touchdown pass. How did it happen, though? Osweiler had lots of time and receivers were able to find open space in the secondary.

Tyler Gabbert's career began as a near carbon copy of his older brother's.

A commitment to Nebraska, followed by a decommitment and finally signing a letter of intent with Missouri.

Tyler enrolled early at Missouri last spring. He spent a year behind a franchise quarterback, just as his brother did during his freshman season behind Chase Daniel .

As a freshman, though, Blaine played the role that James Franklin assumed last year, a freshman change of pace behind an experienced talent.

And in the spring that followed, their careers further diverged. While Blaine Gabbert won the starting job in what was a competition in name only, Tyler Gabbert narrowly lost a spring battle with Franklin.

Rather than stick around this fall and try to claim a No. 1 spot, Gabbert announced he would transfer on Monday, giving no indication of his future destination.

Based on coaches' comments, the race looked close, with Gabbert grabbing hold of a co-No. 1 spot midway through spring camp and briefly getting more time with the first team than his counterpart, Franklin.

But after spring break, Gabbert struggled while Franklin surged, capped by a disastrous spring game for Gabbert, who completed 8 of 22 passes for 48 yards and an interception.

Franklin completed 13 of 21 passes for 116 yards and two scores.

The pair's cumulative numbers were nearly identical over the handful of spring scrimmages, but based on the finish, Missouri's coaches made the right call for the time being, placing Franklin atop the chart but stopping well short of anointing him the starter for next season.

Publicly, at least.

Gabbert's father, Chuck Gabbert, spoke with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Monday after the announcement was made public.

Gabbert is leaving Mizzou, his father, Chuck, said Monday morning, "for an opportunity to compete and vie for a starting position."

Unstated but implied in those words and his son's action is the notion that Franklin had seized hold of the starting job for keeps after a back-and-forth battle in spring practice.

"This is not a knee-jerk reaction by any stretch of the imagination," he said.

Gabbert's father also told the Columbia Tribune "There are other factors that went into this decision that we’re not going to discuss with the press."

I won't stab a guess at what those are, but regardless of what Missouri's coaches told the media, it seems likely that Gabbert didn't feel he had a realistic shot to win the job in the fall.

This spring, Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost described Gabbert to me as the quarterback with the most competitive fire and the strongest arm on campus.

Decision-making and accuracy will take you a lot further on the field than either of those, but I find it very, very hard to believe that Gabbert would leave before fall camp if he still felt he had a chance to start next fall. The message from the staff in the post-spring evaluations likely wasn't welcomed. The public was blindsided by what looked like a stunning decision. I'd be surprised if the same was true of Missouri's coaching staff.

The future could be promising for both. Gabbert is good enough to play somewhere at the Division I level, and he'll have four years of eligibility after he sits out a year at his new home, unless he goes the FCS route, where he'd be eligible immediately.

Nebraska, where he first committed, has already surfaced as one possible destination, as has Louisville, where former Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson coaches the quarterbacks.

But both schools have logjams at quarterback and young players taking part in those competitions. Louisville also signed Teddy Bridgewater, one of the nation's top dual-threat passers, in its 2011 recruiting class.

Both places sound good on the surface, but I'd expect Gabbert to look elsewhere and, with finals at Missouri wrapping up this week, take his time doing it. There's no rush for Gabbert, who I expect to make a few campus visits this summer and find a permanent home a few weeks before fall camp begins.

For Missouri, the quarterback situation gets simplified. Franklin might have to hold off incoming freshman Corbin Berkstresser this fall, but he'll begin preseason camp with a huge lead, and I'd expect him to ingrain himself as the team's offensive leader during voluntary workouts this summer.

That's probably an advantage in the long run for Missouri, which can focus on giving Franklin a huge share -- if not all -- of the first-team snaps during fall camp, too.

Missouri's fielding one of its most complete teams under Gary Pinkel, but a huge gap remains at quarterback.

For the first time since Blaine Gabbert's departure, though, there's little doubt about who will fill it.

Good set of stuff once again. Thanks, all.

Blake Gore in Fort Worth, Texas, writes: David - TCU Alum here....while I do agree that TCU really doesn't bring anything to the Big 12, the Big 12 doesn't already have (strong DFW market presence and another team to split the pie with).....to say we have no alum base or facilities, completely makes not only the response you gave, but essentially any further reporting you could offer about anything in the future; meritless. TCU's athletic facilities are top 10 in the entire country...on top of which, if we have no alum base...how can we pay $100 million + for a stadium...in cash? You live in Dallas so come over and check them out. SMU, Baylor, Tech..even Oklahoma don't have overall facilities like TCU. You're a young guy and obviously inexperienced in being a journalist....so a little tip...stick with the facts and your arguments will go a lot further.

David Ubben: Facts, you say? Who, dare I ask, would agree that a school with a 44,000-seat football stadium and a 7,100-seat basketball arena is among the top 10 facilities in the nation?

Really?

Talk about indoor facilities and weight rooms all you want, but none of that matters when you're talking about dollars. Renovate the football stadium all you want, but I don't see any teams in the Big 12 going undefeated and failing to sell out said 44,000-seat football stadium. The Frogs averaged fewer than 43,000 fans per game this past season.

I've been to TCU's football, basketball and baseball stadiums. Football, obviously, is in the process of getting a nice facelift, but like I said, if a 13-0 team can't sell it out every week, what can?

Baseball is already a gorgeous venue, but the Big 12 isn't handing out invites based on baseball stadiums. Basketball went seven years between sellouts this year, and when it did, the stadium was overrun with BYU fans. That program, with its impending entrance into the Big East, better brace for some rough nights in the coming years.

Hey, I'm as big of a proponent of TCU's football team as the next guy. I had it over Boise State on my top 25 ballot all year, and I'd have loved to see the Frogs get a shot at Auburn. That would have been a toss-up, and the Frogs were as good as anyone when they took the field this year. It's just a shame the fans didn't want to come see it.

Just having a good football team isn't enough to warrant inclusion into the Big 12. More than anything, it boils down to enrollment, which, over time, equals alumni. TCU has fewer than 9,000 students.

Baylor is the smallest school in the Big 12, and it has almost 14,000. The next smallest school in the conference? Oklahoma State, with just over 23,000 students.

So, there's some facts for you. Could, in theory, the Big 12 take a risk and invite TCU, hoping that the school and program rises with the Big 12's tide? Sure. But why take that risk? No one wants more than 10 teams right now, and the league is doing better than ever financially. There's no reason to add another mouth to feed that may not add enough value to the league in the future. Fox seemed to be just fine with the number of attractive matchups in the future.

But just remember, Horned Frogs, I only relay these facts because I hate TCU. No really, I hate it.

---

Filemon in College Station, Texas, asks: Now that Bevo is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESPN, what is your quota for UT stories?

DU: A minimum of 15 per week, with bonuses for hyperbole and overhyping.

---

Joe in Houston asks: Hey, Dubs. who you got for most underated player going in to next year?

DU: I may have a post on this in the future. For last year, it was, by far, Rodney Stewart, the running back from Colorado. Going into next season, though? I'll say Texas A&M receiver Ryan Swope. Not freakishly athletic, but he's got great hands, doesn't drop the ball, and he's such an important part of that offense. He put up big numbers himself (72 rec., 825 yards, 4 TD, eighth in the Big 12), but because of what he does to defenses, it draws a lot of focus off Jeff Fuller, and was a big reason he had the first 1,000-yard season in school history last year.

Beyond him, people didn't quite appreciate what James Sims did at Kansas last year, either.

---

Asad in Missouri asks: Will Mizzou's offense look different depending on who is QB? If so what will be different?

DU: No, not really. If Tyler Gabbert wins the job, I think we'll see a good portion of James Franklin as a runner and somewhat of a passer. I think he'll have a bit larger role than he had last year. He's a much, much more powerful runner than Gabbert, who is hardly a statue, but there's not another quarterback on Missouri's roster who can move the pile like Franklin did.

Offensive coordinator David Yost actually compared that ability to that of a young man named Tim Tebow.

If Franklin wins the job, though, I don't think we'll see Gabbert get off the bench much unless Franklin struggles. They're pretty even as passers. It'll be close come fall. But Missouri won't be reverting back to the Brad Smith "snap it and run!" offense with either guy. It'll still be a spread predicated on getting the ball to playmakers like T.J. Moe and Michael Egnew.

---

Kyle in Norman, Okla., asks: Hey David, tough break DeMarco Murray didn't get on the cover of the new EA Sports NCAA Football 12 game, but this game is something I look forward to every July, will you be picking up a copy this year?

DU: Most definitely. I've bought that game every year since my boy Chris Weinke was on the cover in 2002.

---

Scott in Lubbock, Texas, asks: We all know that the biggest thing that separates the SEC from the rest of College Football is the talent and depth on the defensive line.With guys like Delvon Simmons, Leon Mackey, Scott Smith, Pearlie Graves, Chris Perry, and Jackson Richards, is Tommy Tuberville quitely putting together the best defensive line in the Big 12?

DU: Not right away, but the potential is there. Guys like Simmons are especially rare in this league, versus the SEC, where there's usually a few greats, like Marcel Dareus, Nick Fairley and Drake Nevis. Smith still has to get back on the field. Tuberville told me he's still in his doghouse.

If one or two of those guys become real game-changers, though? Whoa, look out.

---

Brett in Kansas City ask: David, how many wins do you think Texas needs to ensure that Mack Brown is back in 2012?

DU: Four. For those keeping score, that's the same number of BCS bowls he's been to since 2004, and one more win than he has in those BCS games. How quickly we forget. The idea of Mack Brown being on a real hot seat in the eyes of people with real decision-making power is comical. After said four-win season, though? Giving him nine wins in two seasons? The heat would definitely be on then.

---

Hunter in Aggieland, Texas, writes: "Softly call the Muster, let comrade answer 'Here'..." Especially proud to call myself an Aggie today. Support our troops and God bless.

DU: I'm not an Aggie, but Aggie Muster seems like one of the most special traditions of any university anywhere. A good friend of mine was at the big one in College Station last night and made the family trip over from Dallas, proud to honor their grandfather, among other fallen Aggies, the same way their previous generations did. I don't think there are many other traditions like it anywhere.

---

Big Bear in San Antonio, Texas, writes: Baylor, though almost as deep as anyone in the country at WR, looks to be fairly thin at RB. You have to have a good running game to offset/open up your passing game & of course that starts upfront, but you have to have decent backs to. Who do you see worthy of a starting RB position in the Big 12 out of our backfield? Should we be hoping the Allen, and Selders come right on in as freshman to help out?

DU: I don't agree with that at all. I really think Baylor should be pretty deep at running back next season. I like the complementary duo of Terrance Ganaway and Jarred Salubi a whole lot, and Glasco Martin looked pretty good this spring when I was in Waco. They're definitely good enough to be effective. I don't see either guy topping 1,000 yards this year, but together, they should do it easily.

You also have to remember, with Robert Griffin III attracting so much attention in the zone read and Baylor's high-powered passing game, it's not like these guys are running against nine guys in the box. They don't need to be Adrian Peterson. There will be plenty of room for them to run, and Salubi and Ganaway should take advantage.

---

Ben in Atlanta asks: Ubben, I'm totally on board with your idea of getting Arizona and Arizona State in the Big 12, but don't you think they'd be just as attached to the California schools as OU and Okie State are to the Texas schools? The money should be pretty close to even when the new TV deals are signed, so what could we offer them besides shedding the "west coast bias" label?

DU: Well, my biggest theory behind why both schools would leave is pretty simple: They've only been in the Pac-12 since 1978. That's not a ton of history. For fans of both teams, I don't see a lot of rivalries besides the one that with each other, that fans would be furious about ending.

To your other question, you're right: The money should be pretty similar in per school revenue (remember, even if the Pac-12 deal is worth more money than the Big 12's, which it likely will be, they're splitting it 12 ways). But the thing that now separates the Big 12 is those third-tier rights. If schools start making a lot of money off those (and this early, it's too difficult to tell how much they will), that's definitely something to offer both schools. At the core, these decisions are about money, and that's the only thing the Big 12 can do to convince them to leave: Convince them that there's a lot more money to be had in the Big 12. That may not be the case right now. In the future, it might be.

Again, the Big 12 isn't looking for membership, but if a situation in the future necessitates it, I don't see anyone other realistic option that would qualify as a huge get. Now, there's that little problem we call New Mexico that would make adding both schools a bit of a geographic stretch, but if there are suddenly superconferences sprouting up, that wouldn't be a huge issue.

Good chat today, everybody. If you missed it, here's the full transcript. And a few highlights:

Jose in Stockton asked: do you see the big 12 as the second best conference ?

David Ubben: It was last year, but with Nebraska's move, I think you've got to go with the Big Ten as the second-best league entering next season. Big 12 could maybe make a case with big years from Baylor and/or Texas, but the Big Ten should be pretty solid.

Kevin in Norman, OK asked: Can we please hear more about saxeT in the blog? There seems to be a dearth of reporting on them. I know that few, if any, other teams are holding their spring practices. And few, if any, other fans care to hear about any other team than saxeT, so it seems like there should be more reporting on saxeT.

DU: Seems like Texas, though, had a pretty public and pretty telling game two days ago though, no? Considering almost everyone else has closed practices (OU, OSU), Texas provided quite a bit to talk about this weekend. Meanwhile, Texas A&M is pretty much just solid. We'll have plenty on them tomorrow, but there aren't too many huge storylines there this spring. A perennial title contender trying to bounce back from a 5-7 season with an all-new coaching staff under a long-time head coach is pretty fascinating. When was the last time anyone tried that?

Cowboys Fan in Ohio asked: If Hubert Anyiam re-emerges as a playmaker, how scary will OSU's passing game be? If he gets back to the same level he played at in 2009, how do you think OSU will utilize him? Opposite Blackmon as a second deep threat?

DU: Oh yeah, he's such an X-factor. Think they were good last year? With another big target like Anyiam, they could even better. A lot of that depends on Monken, like we talked about earlier, but Oklahoma State isn't short on offensive talent. Think Texas would like to borrow a few of those guys? Seems like the Cowboys have 2-3 of everything and six great linemen.

Thomas in CoMo asked: Does a big deep threat WR dramatically help Mizzou's W/L in 2011? If Marcus Lucas fills those shoes are we more on par with TAMU/Oki State

DU: Yeah, that has to happen. That's something I spent a good while talking to Missouri's OC, David Yost, about during my visit. Lucas is one player who could be that guy, but that's the big thing Missouri's offense is missing. Without it late in the season, defenses really clamped down on Egnew and Moe. Make them respect the deep ball, and absolutely everything opens up for Missouri. Definitely a title contender if they can hit some big shots early in the season.

Andrew in Lubbock asked: What do you think of Texas Tech's chances in Austin this year?

DU: Pretty good, but you bring up an interesting question, something I talked with Tommy Tuberville about during my visit. What if, last year, Texas Tech had played Texas late in the season? How different would that game have been? Almost kind of hard to believe, looking back, that Texas won that game. Remember, that put Texas in the top 5 and at 3-0. A week later, they got run by UCLA in Austin. It's actually kind of amazing. As poorly as Texas played at home, they had a pair of really good road wins: Nebraska and Texas Tech. It's really tough to win at both places.

John in College Station asked: Will Texas Longhorns not hit a 10 win season for the second season straight?

DU: I'm definitely betting a no on that. They're good enough to win 7-8 games, but I could see 5 or 6 wins again, considering how difficult the schedule is. Don't forget, BYU and UCLA are on the schedule this year, plus a nine-game conference schedule in a league where Texas may only be favored to begin the season in 3-4 of those games.

Missouri's quarterback race has officially heated up.

Tyler Gabbert outperformed his competition, Ashton Glaser and James Franklin, at the first scrimmage of the spring for Missouri on Saturday, and as a result, debuted on Tuesday as the co-No. 1 quarterback with Franklin.

Last spring, Gabbert was the No. 5 quarterback when he enrolled early along with Franklin as a freshman. Franklin won the No. 2 job and played while Gabbert redshirted and started the spring at No. 3 behind Franklin and Glaser.

Now, it looks like he's neck-and-neck with Franklin to succeed Blaine Gabbert as Missouri's quarterback.

Coach Gary Pinkel downplayed the move, but it's obvious Gabbert has made an impression early.

"We looked at all the practices and scrimmages," Pinkel told reporters after Tuesday's practice, downplaying the big-picture impact of Gabbert's performance on Saturday. "There’s a lot of competition. That’s good. It’s going to be very competitive. Someone’s going to have to pull away. But there’s a long way to go here, you know. A lot of things are going to happen. They’re all great competitors."

What looked like an interesting spring in Columbia has lived up to its billing. Even if Gabbert wins the race, I'd still expect Franklin to get a good amount of playing time. As a freshman, Franklin spelled Blaine Gabbert in a role as a runner.

Chase Daniel did the same for Brad Smith as a freshman and Gabbert did the same for Daniel when he was a freshman in 2008.

That's consistent with what offensive coordinator David Yost told me during my visit to Missouri earlier this month. If a backup quarterback offers something the starter can't duplicate, it's worth getting them on the field. Daniel was a more accurate passer than Smith. Franklin was a much better runner between the tackles than Blaine Gabbert. Yost, in fact, compared him to Tim Tebow. The comparison stretched only as far as Franklin's ability to move the pile as a powerful runner and find creases between the tackles, but even though all three quarterbacks have decent wheels, Franklin, at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, has size and power the other two lack.

Like Pinkel said, there's a long, long way to go. At this point, it seems unlikely that Missouri will definitively settle much at the position by the end of spring, but like you read last week, the players will decide.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- I hope you've enjoyed our coverage from Mizzou the past few days. If you aren't one of my most faithful readers, here's a refresher.

• Continuing the QB tradition at Mizzou
• Missouri DE Madison an unlikely star
• Tigers continue growth in secondary
• Video: QB James Franklin
• Video: WR T.J. Moe
• Notes and observations from practice

But not everything fit neatly into those stories. I've got plenty more on the Tigers from my visit to Columbia.

Quarterbacks are the focus of spring for the Tigers, but there's no doubt, it's going to be a bit of an adjustment if James Franklin wins the job. That's no guarantee, and Tyler Gabbert has come on strong this spring, but Franklin is just a completely different type of person than the fiery Chase Daniel or uber-competitive Blaine Gabbert. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing. Offensive coordinator David Yost told me he wants each new quarterback doing things his own way, and that includes his demeanor and actions off the field.

"Blaine and Chase were different, and Blaine did a good job of not just copying Chase. He took what Chase did and tried to make it fit him and how he dealt with players, getting himself ready to play," Yost said.

Franklin will have to do something similar. Tyler Gabbert, who has come on strong of late in practices, is a much more heated competitor. "Sometimes you have to calm him down because he gets very, very 'on,'" Yost said. "He wants to make every throw. It’s great to have that, but you can’t let that affect the next play, so he’s kind of learning that."

Franklin is a much more easy-going type of guy. He's nowhere near as outspoken. It'll just be different. I believe it was Rene Descartes who said, "Different strokes for different folks." Seems to fit this scenario.

"I’m not too vocal as a quarterback. As a person, I talk a lot, but once I come on the field, I’m not as vocal. It’s something I hadn’t really done in the past, so it’s something I need to adjust to," Franklin said.

Coaches have told him that sometimes his silence, especially after negative plays, can come off as bad body language, so even if his head is clear, his actions have to communicate positive messages to teammates. Sometimes his quiet demeanor meant his teammates didn't even realize who had thrown them the ball in practice.

"They’d come back and say 'Hey, nice throw James' or 'Good call,' and I’m like, 'That wasn’t me, that was Ashton or that was Tyler," Franklin said. "To me, I’m thinking, 'How could they not know?' For one, I’m just a little bit taller and my skin is like 50 shades darker. But they’re just kind of in the zone, so if I’m more vocal and demanding of them, they kind of recognize 'hey, that was me.'"

The thing is, he has to do it naturally, and managing that balance will be a key for all three quarterbacks' development. Franklin can't just turn into an animated screamer overnight. That would only come off as disingenuous and be more counterproductive than anything.

"Being more vocal will help. Not only as a quarterback, but also as a person, because it should show you leadership and you demand things out of your offense.

• You get the sense Yost could talk about Blaine Gabbert and what he's meant to the program for hours. I'm sure he could. But when it comes to influencing younger quarterbacks, it's easy to see why. "You’d go up for room check [the night before road games] and Blaine’s sitting in his bed with his iPod in and his computer on his lap watching cut-ups," Yost said. "Every week. That'd be at 11 o'clock and at meetings the next day I’d ask what he watched, and he'd tell me. I'd ask when he got to bed, and he’d say, 'Ah, it was about 1:30.'" Franklin roomed with Gabbert on the road, and his younger brother surely saw some of that.
• Passing down lessons like that is nothing new. When Blaine Gabbert came into the program, he'd spend about two hours a day during the summer as a freshman with Chase Daniel watching tape. He wasn't watching the offense by then. He was looking at the defense. "Where are they moving? Backing up? Where can I get throws? When this guy does this, this opens up," Yost said. And because of those summer film sessions, "Blaine was way ahead of where Chase was in understanding defenses at the same spot in camp their sophomore years," he said. The idea, of course, is that continues with the younger quarterbacks.
• Speaking of Gabbert, Yost loved how he blossomed into a "quarterback" after coming to Mizzou as a "thrower." "He was a tremendous, highly recruited thrower out of high school, but he bought into becoming a great quarterback," Yost said. He did it by first learning how to study film from Daniel and carrying it on once Daniel left and he became a starter. "People look and say, 'Well, his passing yards are down,'" Yost said. "But he became more of a quarterback because of how he prepared each week."
• Part of the reason for that dip was Missouri's lack of a vertical passing game in 2010, which is are of focus this spring. Tyler Gabbert has the arm strength. Yost likes Franklin's deep ball a lot. But somebody's got to catch it. I did think it was funny that Yost cited my look at explosive plays across the Big 12 in our conversation. The number of plays longer than 20 yards didn't drop much for Missouri (73 in '08, 66 in '09 and 63 in '10), but the longer plays did. "We were still getting our 20-yard plays, but instead of having Danario [Alexander] take a 20 yarder to a 60-yarder, we were getting that 24-yarder. Even when you go back to 2008 when we had Maclin, the numbers were a lot higher than last year," he said. "Anytime you can get those, it takes off so much pressure. You could feel it last year. Guys were tightening up on us. We didn’t hit a lot downfield last year, and that was more disappointing than anything. We took some shots, and there were some games when we’d be at halftime and we’ve thrown the ball downfield eight times and we’re 0-for-8. Either we could have thrown it better, could have caught it, protected better and given him a better chance, there was a multitude of things. It wasn’t just one reason. But you hit those, it changes a game."
• Jerrell Jackson and Wes Kemp have the ability to get vertical, even if they lack Alexander or Jeremy Maclin's straight-line speed. The potential is there for younger receivers such as Marcus Lucas and Wesley Leftwich, or older ones such as L'Damian Washington or Rolandis Woodland who have had modest careers thus far. But someone has to do it. Missouri has the rare opportunity to bring back every single receiver on its roster from last year, and it added Leftwich, who enrolled early and has 4.4 speed, according to Yost. But for Michael Egnew and T.J. Moe to be their most productive, someone has to stretch the defense.

• Dave Curtis at The Sporting News offers the priorities for each team in the Big 12 this spring.
• Here's what it's like to spend a practice with Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel mic'd up, and you can do the same with offensive coordinator David Yost.
• Here's some more information on receiver Sterling Shepard, one of Oklahoma's top commitments for 2012.
• Former Longhorn Aaron Ross took some time out to chat during a recent visit to Austin.
• Kansas defensive back Chris Harris' winding career prepared him well for pro day in Lawrence, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Two Big 12 players made the list of the greatest juco transfers of all-time.
• Iowa State's website previews the team's offensive line in advance of spring practice.
• A famous former Sooner died last week, one of the stars of Oklahoma's teams in the 1940s.
• Former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson used an unfortunate choice of words to make a point about the current NFL labor situation.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost sat down in the quarterbacks' meeting room, pulled out his cell phone and fired off a text to his former quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, alerting the soon-to-be first-round draft pick that Missouri's first spring practice was hours away.

"You'd make my life a lot easier if you were sitting here on the right side of me in meetings," Yost wrote.

But Gabbert isn't. He's been preparing for the draft, and Yost -- the Tigers' third-year offensive coordinator -- is preparing for his first season running Missouri's offense without Gabbert behind center.

For Missouri, whose quarterbacks have been coached by Yost since Gary Pinkel and his staff arrived in 2001, it's the first real quarterback competition since some redshirt freshman named Brad Smith beat out senior Kirk Farmer to win the job in 2002.

"Each guy kind of has his own thing that he does really well, but they’re all alike enough, and they can all throw the ball really well, and for the most part, the offense won’t majorly change for whoever wins the job," Yost said.

Sophomore James Franklin is the front-runner after winning the No. 2 job as a true freshman last season and earning spot duty as a runner between the tackles and in short-yardage situations.

Sophomore Ashton Glaser has the No. 2 spot currently after enrolling early in spring 2009 and spending two seasons in the program.

Blaine Gabbert's younger brother, redshirt freshman Tyler Gabbert, entered spring as the No. 3, but possesses the strongest arm in the group, Yost says.

"They’re going to decide it," Yost said. "If one guy would separate themselves, that’d be good, but it’d still probably continue on throughout the summer."

Though the specific experience of a quarterback competition is foreign, Pinkel maintains that competition isn't.

"There’s no difference if we’re talking about this position or if we’re talking about the offensive guard," Pinkel said. "You’ve got to perform and you’ve got to perform consistently, and you’ve got to play better than the guy in front of you. That’s how it works."

Casual Missouri fans may think of Franklin as a runner. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound quarterback did run well last season, albeit with power and shiftiness as opposed to the blinding speed of Smith, who started four seasons at Missouri. But Franklin is plenty more, and now is his chance to showcase it.

"Not that James couldn’t throw it, but we thought, well, if we’re going to throw it, we better let No. 11 [Gabbert] throw it," Yost said. "There's a reason why he was so talented."

A player's potential does nothing to influence the coach's decision. As much as the staff would like one player to separate himself, if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.

Want the job? Show them who you are. Who a quarterback could be doesn't matter at Missouri.

"That’s the beauty of how we do it," Pinkel said, "and the reason we don’t -- I don’t think as coaches, I don’t do it and our coaches don’t do it -- we don’t think in our head, 'Well, this guy might be The Guy, or I might think that guy might be The Guy.' And the reason we don’t is it taints your evaluation. Let the players decide what’s going to happen and we’ll just see it and evaluate it."

As freshmen, Gabbert and his predecessor, Chase Daniel, had potential and talents that differed enough from the starter that they earned meaningful playing time. But once the torch was passed in the spring, they were clearly better than the passers below them on the depth chart.

This time around, it hasn't happened yet. But regardless of how far the separation is, Missouri will have a No. 1, a No.2 and a No. 3 quarterback leaving spring, just like it did to begin spring practice.

"We’re trying to get better because we all want the spot. Even though I'm in the No. 1 spot right now, that doesn’t mean I’m going to keep it," Franklin said. "I know that’s what a lot of people expect, and that’s what their guess is, but that doesn’t mean anything."

He says he feels the added pressure of those expectations, but he also felt more comfortable this spring after getting a chance to adjust to the speed of the college game with an early spring and a season on the field already under his belt.

"It’s kind of hard not to think, 'Oh, I’ve got all this pressure, I’m supposed to be the starter and this and that,'" Franklin said. "I just think it’ll help me have that edge."

He threw just 14 passes last season, completing 11 for 106 yards and a touchdown, in addition to running 23 times for 116 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including one in Missouri's win over then-No. 1 Oklahoma.

Those 14 passes in real games, though, are 14 more than Tyler Gabbert and Glaser have thrown in their careers combined.

"Everyone messes up, but when I go out there, it should look like someone that’s gone through it before," Franklin said. "I don't want to have thoughts like, 'Hey, well, this guy is a sophomore or a freshman and he’s going to make those mistakes,' so I should look maybe not on the level of a veteran, but closer to that than a rookie."

The coaches wanted this competition. They signed two quarterbacks in the 2010 class so this would be a three-man battle instead of a two-man battle. Now, they've got it. All that's left is for someone to win it.

"I think we’re going to be pretty good at quarterback," Yost said. "He’s going to be the least experienced member of our offense, a lot of other guys will be counted on, but I think we’re going to be fine at that position with whichever guy separates himself whenever that happens."

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A chilly, blustery day meant practice indoors for Missouri on Thursday, where the Tigers took the field in shorts and helmets for about two hours. Here are a few notes and observations from what I saw:

It's so early in the competition, and I saw just a small portion of what the coaches will ultimately use to make the decision, so it's not prudent to make any sweeping generalizations about the quarterbacks at Missouri. There's no question that James Franklin is a step ahead of the other two at this point, and looked the part on Thursday.

That said, Missouri has three quarterbacks who look capable of running its offense well enough to win games. You look around the Big 12 and not many schools can say that. At least a few schools don't even have one.

They all had some forgettable throws in team drills; bad decisions, a ball behind a receiver, etc. But all three showed flashes of what they could be. Franklin looks sharp on tight out routes and finding seams down the middle. Offensive coordinator David Yost also was complimentary of his deep ball, which he didn't show off a ton in practice. All three have the physical tools to make all the throws, but consistency is what will set them apart. I'll have more on the race next week with plenty of input from Yost, coach Gary Pinkel and Franklin, but it's still very, very early in the race.

Plenty of balls hit the ground, way more than you'd see in a practice with Chase Daniel or Blaine Gabbert, but that's what you'd expect at this point. There's lots of growth ready to happen for the Tigers' quarterbacks, and for the coaching staff, there's certainly some excitement at getting to see that happen.

• Kendial Lawrence looked like the most polished route-runner of the running backs. Missouri doesn't throw to its running backs very often, but that's encouraging, and for a young quarterback, an additional short option could be a nice asset. The linebackers had a ton of trouble covering Lawrence, and that could mean more touches in situations where the running back's main function is catching passes, which could be valuable in a crowded Missouri backfield. Like I said a couple days ago, my money is still on sophomore Henry Josey to become the team's leading rusher, but offering something different could be a big boost.
• For what it's worth, Missouri has a fresh Big 12 North champions banner hanging in its indoor facility. Facts are facts, and Missouri finished first in the Big 12 North last year, but considering all the talk on this blog lately about things along those lines, my thoughts on the issue are pretty clear. I'm sure any Nebraska fans who come across this post will be thrilled to hear about the banner.
• It's comical to see Zaviar Gooden run with the rest of the linebackers on the field. The difference in speed between him and others is wide. "I don't think there's anyone in our league that can run as fast as he can, at linebacker," Pinkel said. As someone who's seen a lot of linebackers across the Big 12 last season, I'd agree. The hard part for Gooden, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound converted safety who finished the year with 30 tackles, comes now. "He's got that tremendous speed. Now you've got to see it carry over to the field," Pinkel said. The potential for a big year is there, and Gooden could blossom into a star this season, but he'll have to solidify a starting spot and make plays to do it. He doesn't have the instinct and nose for the ball of a Lavonte David, but the physical tools are there to make him one of the league's rare talents. How much of that talent becomes production is up to him.

Thanks for all the questions this week. Looking forward to next time.

Matt in Austin, Texas, writes: Hey David, [insert generic compliment to increase chances of this getting posted]. What do you think about K-State's bowl prospects for next year?

David Ubben: [insert generic thanks for compliment after posting], Matt. Flattery aside, I don't feel great about K-State's chances. I'm not ruling them out, but without Daniel Thomas and adding a ninth conference game, it's going to be a tough road for the Wildcats. There's a lot of excitement about the Brown Brothers, but I'm going to wait until they show us something concrete on something other than a high school field before I start buying into the idea that they're going to carry Kansas State at all, much less carry them to a season better than last year.

You never know what you're going to get with juco players, so there's a lot of potential in a guy like Justin Tuggle who's played at this level before back at BC, but there are so many other teams in the Big 12 that are more established and set up for success next year than Kansas State. I think they'll be about the seventh or eighth team in the Big 12 next year. They'll probably be better than Iowa State and Kansas, but anything beyond that will be overachieving a bit, unless Tuggle and the Brown Brothers exceed everyone's expectations a la Oklahoma State in 2010 with Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon.

---

Ryan in Sallisaw, Okla., writes: David, I love all the preseason hype my Sooners are getting. Although I don't want to be negative, but National Championship teams seem to always have the ability to run power football betweent the tackles to ice those close games. I just haven't seen the Sooners able to blow an opposing defensive line off the ball since 08. My question is what do you think the chances of the Sooners winning it all without this very important piece of the puzzle, or am I not giving the O-line enough credit?

DU: Blowing people off the line during the '08 season? Did you watch the national championship? Seemed like that was the exact reason why they lost. They did it well with that crazy-good O-line during the Big 12 season, but failures on the goal line doomed them against Florida.

The constant failures on the goal line against Texas A&M least season are definitely a concern, though. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Oklahoma lost a game due to the same reasons in 2011, but the Sooners are good enough everywhere else that it might not matter outside of a few occasions. Execute and convert in those spots and these conversations wouldn't happen.

---

Matt in Texas asked: What do you think the chances of my four on four flag football team getting picked up for the new look big 12 are?

DU: Not good. I'll put you in touch with the Big East, though. They're aggressively expanding into Texas.

---

Andrew in St. Louis asks: Who needs a haircut worse, Blaine Gabbert or Dave Yost?

DU: Ha, I actually am a big fan of the Yost cut. It gives Missouri's staff a little personality, something severely lacking in college football these days. Gabbert's 'do has progressed into something fairly mane-like by now, but to each his own, I guess. They can both keep it in my book.

Also, in writing this post, I discovered that Missouri's offensive coordinator shares a name with the Blue Ranger from the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers of my youth. This is my favorite discovery of the offseason so far.

---

Andrew in College Station asks: The Aggies are off to an incredible start for 2012 recruiting with 14 commitments, 7 from the ESPNU 150 watch list. While this is all great, is there a point when they need to slow down and save room for players who don't become well know until they actually play their senior season? Or should they keep their momentum going and lock up as many good players as possible right now?

DU: Ha, this is where it's a bit of a double-edged sword. People criticize Texas for racking up high-level recruits this early like they normally do, a practice they curtailed for the 2012 class because some of those high-level recruits didn't turn into high-level Big 12 players. But when those guys commit early to schools that aren't traditionally in the national top 10 for recruiting, fans know it feels pretty good. Can't have it both ways. There's a lot that goes into making that leap from star recruit to star player, but if you have guys you know you want, get them when you can. As it stands right now, Texas A&M's recruiting class, according to our rankings, can compete with about anyone's. What does that mean? Well, I hope you learned recently that it might mean a lot, or it might mean not much at all.

---

Patrick in Lawrence, Kansas writes: Please stop talking about the state of Texas...we are all getting annoyed. Thanks! and love reading ya daily.

DU: Nah.

So I turn around, I flex my left pec. Then I flex my right pec, and I say to the guy, "Leggo my Eggo." And you know what he does? He lets go of my Eggo!

• Bob Stoops says there was nothing unusual about his recruitment of Cam Newton over the offseason.
• Teammates are rallying around Rex Burkhead after his face mask was wrenched by Iowa State linebacker A.J. Klein, writes Mike Sherman of the Omaha World-Herald.
• Paul Rhoads' players love his maverick style of coaching, writes Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register.
• Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson says he has no interest in the Colorado opening.
• Texas Tech running back Baron Batch explains what wearing jerseys to honor wounded warriors meant to him this week in his journal entry for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost is the antithesis of the modern college coach, writes Dave Matter of the Columbia Tribune.
• Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins says his dad will be with him on Senior Day later this year.
• Kansas is still trying to comprehend its "surreal" win on Saturday, writes Tully Corcoran of the Topeka Capital-Journal.
• Nebraska AD Tom Osborne and Kansas coach Turner Gill's relationship is going to make Saturday's game like a boxing match between brothers.
• Austin Meek of the Topeka Capital-Journal examines Kansas State's bowl future.
• Colleague Ivan Maisel checks in with Jerrod Johnson and new Colorado interim coach Brian Cabral in today's 3-point stance.
• Baylor is moving on after a disappointing performance against Oklahoma State, writes Kate Hairopaulos of the Dallas Morning News.
• Brandon Chatmon of The Oklahoman takes the pulse of the Oklahoma State fan base and sees excitement, but also unease.

With spring practice set to begin soon -- Texas opens its camp on March 2 -- here’s a quick look at how I have the teams ranked heading into spring practice. In formulating my rankings, I took into account returning players, transfers, arriving freshmen and a teams’ schedules.

1. Texas (14 starters back: 6 offensive, 7 defensive, 1 special teams). Garrett Gilbert got a head start on replacing Colt McCoy with his considerable playing time in the national title game, an invaluable learning experience for a young player. The Longhorns return most of the defense that improved in its second season under Will Muschamp. The biggest chores will be for offensive coordinator Greg Davis, who has to boost running game production and find a replacement for record-breaking wide receiver Jordan Shipley.

2. Nebraska (18 starters back: 8 offensive, 8 defensive, 2 special teams). Bo Pelini has the Cornhuskers positioned for a potential top-10 preseason ranking. Most of the offensive weapons will be back from a unit that sputtered down the stretch before breaking out in the Holiday Bowl victory. Quarterback Zac Lee will miss some of spring practice as he recovers from postseason surgery. Cody Green and Kody Spano will get most of the work until Lee returns. Nebraska coaches think the defense can be better this season, even without the up-the-middle strength of Ndamukong Suh, Phillip Dillard, Larry Asante and Matt O’Hanlon.

3. Oklahoma (15 starters back: 9 offensive, 4 defensive, 2 special teams). The Sooners overcame a debilitating run of injuries last season to finish with a flourish, knocking Oklahoma State out of a BCS game and winning the Sun Bowl in their final two games. Landry Jones will be infinitely better in his second season as a starter and Ryan Broyles and DeMarco Murray may be the best one-two receiving/running back combination in the conference. Bob Stoops will be facing a big renovation on defense where key players like Gerald McCoy and Dominique Franks left early for the NFL draft. Look for Travis Lewis to be the key to a defense that will need to improve by the time Big 12 play begins if the Sooners are to have any hope of claiming a seventh Big 12 title this season.

4. Missouri (19 starters back: 9 offensive, 9 defensive, 1 special teams). The Tigers will miss Danario Alexander and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who were arguably the best players at their positions in the conference last season. But Blaine Gabbert is back for a second season as starting quarterback and some talented recruits are expected to emerge on defense. A key for the Tigers’ success will be a more productive running game and consistency from the offensive line. Improvement on both will be critical for coordinator David Yost during the spring.

5. Texas Tech (15 starters back: 7 offensive, 6 defensive, 2 special teams). New coach Tommy Tuberville immediately will have to sort through a potentially difficult decision at quarterback between Taylor Potts and fan favorite Steven Sheffield. New coordinator James Willis hopes to install a 3-4 defense that should be a haven for athletic linebackers. But the group’s success will hinge on replacing Jamar Wall at cornerback and finding some pass-rushing threats to replace Brandon Sharpe, Richard Jones and Daniel Howard along the front.

6. Texas A&M (19 starters back: 8 offensive, 9 defensive, 2 special teams). With Jerrod Johnson, Jeff Fuller, Uzoma Nwachukwu and Christine Michael back, the Aggies shouldn’t have trouble scoring points, although the line needs to do a better job of protecting Johnson. But the Aggies’ success will depend on the returning starters quickly taking to new coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s teachings. The group was blistered for at least 35 points in seven games last season and allowed at least 30 points in two other games. So needless to say that even with nine starters back, DeRuyter has his work cut out.

7. Kansas (16 starters back: 7 offensive, 7 defensive, 2 special teams). New coach Turner Gill inherits an uncertain quarterback situation, but has the framework for a strong running attack with all of his starting linemen back, along with Toben Opurum and heralded back Brandon Bourbon as running threats. The Jayhawks will need to fill in for the loss of Darrell Stuckey in the secondary, but new coordinator Carl Torbush should find the elements for a blitzing, attacking defense among the returnees. But the biggest reason the Jayhawks might be bound for a bowl game in Gill’s first season is swapping Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma for Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Baylor in their cross-divisional schedule.

8. Iowa State (13 starters back: 8 offensive, 4 defensive, 1 special teams). Paul Rhoads returns most of the offensive weapons that led the Cyclones to the Insight Bowl, most notably quarterback Austen Arnaud and running back Alexander Robinson. But the team loses all of its starting linebackers; veteran coordinator Wally Burnham will be challenged to cobble together a serviceable unit. The Cyclones could actually be a better team in 2010 but post a worse record. A tougher schedule featuring nonconference games against Utah, Iowa and Northern Illinois and the addition of South Division powers Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech will make last season’s bowl trip much tougher to duplicate.

9. Oklahoma State (10 starters back: 4 offensive, 4 defensive, 2 special teams). The Cowboys must find replacements for key players like Zac Robinson, Keith Tosten, four offensive linemen (including Outland finalist Russell Okung) and six of their back seven on defense. New offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen finds an uncertain quarterback situation but will lean heavily on a healthy Kendall Hunter. A manageable nonconference schedule should have them in bowl contention, but this should be a step back from Mike Gundy’s last two teams.

10. Kansas State (15 starters back: 7 offensive, 6 defensive, 2 special teams). The Wildcats missed out on a bowl trip last season only because they scheduled two FCS teams, but they surprisingly challenged for the Big 12 North title up to their last game of the season. It might be tougher to do that this season, although Daniel Thomas will provide the foundation on offense. Carson Coffman has the inside track at quarterback, but keep an eye out for Oregon transfer Chris Harper at either that position or wide receiver. Players like Jeffrey Fitzgerald and John Houlik will be missed on defense, but all four starters are back in the secondary.

11. Colorado (16 starters back: 8 offensive, 7 defensive, 1 special teams). Dan Hawkins’ seat is the hottest in the Big 12 and arguably in college football after missing a bowl for a second straight season last year. Tyler Hansen returns as the starting quarterback, but the Buffaloes need to find some help in the backfield with only three scholarship backs in spring practice. The defense was young last season and should be improved, but will miss the leadership provided by Jeff Smart and Cha’pelle Brown. A bowl trip likely will be necessary to save Hawkins’ job and a tough nonconference schedule featuring games at California and against Hawaii and Georgia will prove troublesome even before Big 12 play begins.

12. Baylor (14 starters back: 6 offensive, 6 defensive, 2 special teams). The Bears’ hopes of stopping the conference’s longest bowl drought will hinge largely on the health of Robert Griffin, who is recovering from knee surgery that forced him to miss the final nine games of the 2009 season. New offensive lineman “Big” Robert Griffin will have to protect his quarterback if coach Art Briles has any hope of making a bowl trip. Jay Finley and Kendall Wright are underrated offensive threats, but the Bears will miss key defensive leaders like Joe Pawelek and Jordan Lake who were stalwarts for several years.