Big 12: Drew Allen
2011 overall record: 10-3
2011 conference record: 6-3 (T-3rd)
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 2
Top returners
QB Landry Jones, RB Dominique Whaley, FB Trey Millard, WR Kenny Stills, OG Gabe Ikard, LB Tom Wort, CB Demontre Hurst, CB/S Aaron Colvin, FS Tony Jefferson
Key losses
WR Ryan Broyles, LT Donald Stephenson, TE James Hanna, DE Ronnell Lewis, DE Frank Alexander, LB Travis Lewis, CB Jamell Fleming
2011 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Dominique Whaley* (627 yards)
Passing: Landry Jones* (4,463 yards)
Receiving: Ryan Broyles (1,157 yards)
Tackles: Travis Lewis and Aaron Colvin* (84)
Sacks: Frank Alexander (8.5)
Interceptions: Tony Jefferson* (4)
Spring answers
1. Trey Metoyer is the real deal: The true freshman had the best spring of any wide receiver on the OU roster, then capped it by leading the Sooners in receiving in the spring game. Metoyer has all but solidified a starting spot at wide receiver, and should help fill the massive production gap left by the graduation of Ryan Broyles.
2. Secondary on right path: Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops wasted no time revamping the secondary, sliding Tony Jefferson to free safety while inserting Javon Harris back into the starting lineup at strong safety. Stoops liked what he saw there in the spring, and if Harris can continue to bounce back from a shaky 2011 season, Stoops will have the flexibility of bumping Aaron Colvin to cornerback opposite three-year starter Demontre Hurst, solidifying the Sooners there, too.
3. O-line could be OU’s best in years: Not since 2008 have the Sooners been this deep and talented on the offensive line. Even with center Ben Habern rehabbing from offseason neck surgery, the line didn’t miss a beat grinding out OU’s defensive front most of the spring. Gabe Ikard has proved he can excel at either guard or center, guard Tyler Evans is entering his fourth year as a starter, and Adam Shead could be OU’s top interior run-blocker since All-America Duke Robinson. The tackles remain a little bit of a question mark. But Daryl Williams all but locked down the starting job on the right side with a great spring. On the left side, Tyrus Thompson is pushing to beat out 2011 starting right tackle Lane Johnson.
Fall questions
1. The No. 2 QB battle: Head coach Bob Stoops is no hurry to name a backup quarterback, a competition that figures to extend through August. Blake Bell, who shined running the ball out of the Belldozer formation last season, outplayed Drew Allen in the spring game, but Allen had his moments, too, and has another year of experience in the offense. Whoever wins the No. 2 job could have a leg up on the 2013 derby to replace Landry Jones.
2. The defensive line: Bob Stoops has had a first-team all-Big 12 defensive lineman every year since 1999. That streak, however, could be in jeopardy. Gone are sack machines Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis, leaving the Sooners without a proven difference-maker up front. The top five players in the rotation across the front will all be seniors, making it the most experienced in the conference. But for the Sooners to win the Big 12 and contend for a national title, someone must emerge as that difference-maker.
3. The backfield rotation: The Sooners have options in the backfield, but it’s unclear how running backs coach Cale Gundy will use them. It’s also unclear how effective 2011 leading rusher Dominique Whaley will be after missing half of last season with a fractured ankle. Roy Finch can be electric with the ball, but has not earned the trust of the coaching staff in his pass protection. Brennan Clay, banged up the past two seasons, finally looks healthy and had a solid spring. Then there’s touted junior-college transfer Damien Williams, who was also recruited by USC, and fullback Trey Millard, who warrants at least a handful of carries a game. Will someone emerge as the feature back? Or will Gundy go with a backfield by committee?
2011 conference record: 6-3 (T-3rd)
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 2
Top returners
QB Landry Jones, RB Dominique Whaley, FB Trey Millard, WR Kenny Stills, OG Gabe Ikard, LB Tom Wort, CB Demontre Hurst, CB/S Aaron Colvin, FS Tony Jefferson
Key losses
WR Ryan Broyles, LT Donald Stephenson, TE James Hanna, DE Ronnell Lewis, DE Frank Alexander, LB Travis Lewis, CB Jamell Fleming
2011 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Dominique Whaley* (627 yards)
Passing: Landry Jones* (4,463 yards)
Receiving: Ryan Broyles (1,157 yards)
Tackles: Travis Lewis and Aaron Colvin* (84)
Sacks: Frank Alexander (8.5)
Interceptions: Tony Jefferson* (4)
Spring answers
1. Trey Metoyer is the real deal: The true freshman had the best spring of any wide receiver on the OU roster, then capped it by leading the Sooners in receiving in the spring game. Metoyer has all but solidified a starting spot at wide receiver, and should help fill the massive production gap left by the graduation of Ryan Broyles.
2. Secondary on right path: Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops wasted no time revamping the secondary, sliding Tony Jefferson to free safety while inserting Javon Harris back into the starting lineup at strong safety. Stoops liked what he saw there in the spring, and if Harris can continue to bounce back from a shaky 2011 season, Stoops will have the flexibility of bumping Aaron Colvin to cornerback opposite three-year starter Demontre Hurst, solidifying the Sooners there, too.
3. O-line could be OU’s best in years: Not since 2008 have the Sooners been this deep and talented on the offensive line. Even with center Ben Habern rehabbing from offseason neck surgery, the line didn’t miss a beat grinding out OU’s defensive front most of the spring. Gabe Ikard has proved he can excel at either guard or center, guard Tyler Evans is entering his fourth year as a starter, and Adam Shead could be OU’s top interior run-blocker since All-America Duke Robinson. The tackles remain a little bit of a question mark. But Daryl Williams all but locked down the starting job on the right side with a great spring. On the left side, Tyrus Thompson is pushing to beat out 2011 starting right tackle Lane Johnson.
Fall questions
1. The No. 2 QB battle: Head coach Bob Stoops is no hurry to name a backup quarterback, a competition that figures to extend through August. Blake Bell, who shined running the ball out of the Belldozer formation last season, outplayed Drew Allen in the spring game, but Allen had his moments, too, and has another year of experience in the offense. Whoever wins the No. 2 job could have a leg up on the 2013 derby to replace Landry Jones.
2. The defensive line: Bob Stoops has had a first-team all-Big 12 defensive lineman every year since 1999. That streak, however, could be in jeopardy. Gone are sack machines Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis, leaving the Sooners without a proven difference-maker up front. The top five players in the rotation across the front will all be seniors, making it the most experienced in the conference. But for the Sooners to win the Big 12 and contend for a national title, someone must emerge as that difference-maker.
3. The backfield rotation: The Sooners have options in the backfield, but it’s unclear how running backs coach Cale Gundy will use them. It’s also unclear how effective 2011 leading rusher Dominique Whaley will be after missing half of last season with a fractured ankle. Roy Finch can be electric with the ball, but has not earned the trust of the coaching staff in his pass protection. Brennan Clay, banged up the past two seasons, finally looks healthy and had a solid spring. Then there’s touted junior-college transfer Damien Williams, who was also recruited by USC, and fullback Trey Millard, who warrants at least a handful of carries a game. Will someone emerge as the feature back? Or will Gundy go with a backfield by committee?
The spring is nearing its end with just a little over a week remaining for some.
Oklahoma State and West Virginia will wrap up their spring practices this weekend. Until then, it's time to break down where we stand in the quarterback competitions around the league.
Baylor: Bears coach Art Briles said it was Nick Florence's job to lose entering the spring, and Florence did nothing to let Briles down. Instead, he seized the job ahead of talented backup Bryce Petty, who has a bright future ahead of himself. Florence gave up his redshirt last season by playing the second half against Texas Tech, but he'll try to make his senior season count. For now, this is his team.
Iowa State: Nothing's been settled after Iowa State's spring game last Saturday. Steele Jantz got back into the race when Jared Barnett struggled in the bowl game, and the competition was too close to call at the end of spring. ISU coach Paul Rhoads even said redshirt freshman Sam Richardson isn't out of the race. Former QB Jerome Tiller is, though. He was in the four-man competition last spring, which Jantz eventually won, but missed the season because of academic issues. He's a receiver now, and doing well at the position.
Kansas: Charlie Weis brought in his guy, Dayne Crist, from Notre Dame, and last year's starter, Jordan Webb, transferred. Crist has entrenched himself as the starter midway through spring practice, which ends with the spring game on April 28. BYU transfer Jake Heaps is taking reps with the second team now, but he'll be phased out in the fall while he sits out his NCAA-mandated redshirt season after transferring.
Kansas State: Collin Klein is still developing as a passer, but he is K-State's offense. Moving on ...
Oklahoma: Landry Jones returned for his senior season, but with a healthy set of running backs, the Belldozer, a power formation named after big-bodied backup Blake Bell, may be phased out this season. Bell, though, showcased his arm in the spring game and outperformed the older Drew Allen. The backup QB race should be interesting to watch this fall.
Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy really wanted to name a starter by the end of spring, but it doesn't look likely to happen. No quarterback has established any distance, but they'll have a huge chance in Saturday's spring game. For now, true freshman Wes Lunt is still in the race, though dual-threat man J.W. Walsh may be the favorite ahead of junior Clint Chelf, who has some game experience the past two seasons. This is the league's best race, but also its most difficult to predict. Just about anything could happen.
Texas: Coach Mack Brown isn't making anything official, but sophomore David Ash was getting nearly all the first-team reps in the spring, ahead of Case McCoy. There's no official title yet, but there would be major shock if anyone but Ash starts the season opener. Now, if Ash struggles...
TCU: Casey Pachall had a great first year, and brings back his top three targets in Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter. The sky is the limit for Pachall.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' staff liked what Seth Doege did as a first-year starter, but the defense and injuries to his offense put too much strain on him in 2011. He'll look a lot better if his receivers and running backs can stay healthy.
West Virginia: Geno Smith may be the league's best quarterback, and coach Dana Holgorsen can't quit calling him "special." That's not to say he should. It could be a special season for him and the Mountaineers as they join the Big 12.
Oklahoma State and West Virginia will wrap up their spring practices this weekend. Until then, it's time to break down where we stand in the quarterback competitions around the league.
Baylor: Bears coach Art Briles said it was Nick Florence's job to lose entering the spring, and Florence did nothing to let Briles down. Instead, he seized the job ahead of talented backup Bryce Petty, who has a bright future ahead of himself. Florence gave up his redshirt last season by playing the second half against Texas Tech, but he'll try to make his senior season count. For now, this is his team.
Iowa State: Nothing's been settled after Iowa State's spring game last Saturday. Steele Jantz got back into the race when Jared Barnett struggled in the bowl game, and the competition was too close to call at the end of spring. ISU coach Paul Rhoads even said redshirt freshman Sam Richardson isn't out of the race. Former QB Jerome Tiller is, though. He was in the four-man competition last spring, which Jantz eventually won, but missed the season because of academic issues. He's a receiver now, and doing well at the position.
Kansas: Charlie Weis brought in his guy, Dayne Crist, from Notre Dame, and last year's starter, Jordan Webb, transferred. Crist has entrenched himself as the starter midway through spring practice, which ends with the spring game on April 28. BYU transfer Jake Heaps is taking reps with the second team now, but he'll be phased out in the fall while he sits out his NCAA-mandated redshirt season after transferring.
Kansas State: Collin Klein is still developing as a passer, but he is K-State's offense. Moving on ...
Oklahoma: Landry Jones returned for his senior season, but with a healthy set of running backs, the Belldozer, a power formation named after big-bodied backup Blake Bell, may be phased out this season. Bell, though, showcased his arm in the spring game and outperformed the older Drew Allen. The backup QB race should be interesting to watch this fall.
Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy really wanted to name a starter by the end of spring, but it doesn't look likely to happen. No quarterback has established any distance, but they'll have a huge chance in Saturday's spring game. For now, true freshman Wes Lunt is still in the race, though dual-threat man J.W. Walsh may be the favorite ahead of junior Clint Chelf, who has some game experience the past two seasons. This is the league's best race, but also its most difficult to predict. Just about anything could happen.
Texas: Coach Mack Brown isn't making anything official, but sophomore David Ash was getting nearly all the first-team reps in the spring, ahead of Case McCoy. There's no official title yet, but there would be major shock if anyone but Ash starts the season opener. Now, if Ash struggles...
TCU: Casey Pachall had a great first year, and brings back his top three targets in Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter. The sky is the limit for Pachall.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' staff liked what Seth Doege did as a first-year starter, but the defense and injuries to his offense put too much strain on him in 2011. He'll look a lot better if his receivers and running backs can stay healthy.
West Virginia: Geno Smith may be the league's best quarterback, and coach Dana Holgorsen can't quit calling him "special." That's not to say he should. It could be a special season for him and the Mountaineers as they join the Big 12.
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Record: 9-3 (6-3)
Oklahoma embraced the preseason expectations and didn't shy away from any talk of a national title. Before the season, coach Bob Stoops even told an audience of boosters it was "about time" the Sooners nabbed their eighth national title, first since 2000 and second under Stoops. Oklahoma didn't really even come close to making it happen. Texas Tech embarrassed the Sooners on their home field, ending a 39-game win streak at Owen Field, the nation's longest and one that dated back to 2005. That offered the first evidence that the Sooners weren't the juggernaut they looked in the preseason. Tech finished 5-7 and the Sooners got a road win against a then-top 5 Florida State team, but the Seminoles fell to 8-4 and 5-3 in the weak ACC.
Oklahoma was hurt by late-season injuries to Ryan Broyles and Dominique Whaley, as well as a knee injury to Ronnell Lewis, but the Sooners lost two of their three final games and finished basically fourth in the Big 12, since Baylor holds the tiebreak over OU. The late-season swoon made the Sooners rival Texas A&M as one of the Big 12's biggest disappointments.
Offensive MVP: Landry Jones, quarterback. Jones' career, which may be over if he enters the NFL draft, is a bit unfortunate. He's always been undervalued by Oklahoma fans and really, most everyone. That's what happens when you follow Sam Bradford, a Heisman winner and No. 1 draft pick and make a few mistakes in big spots. Jones struggled at times as a freshman (he's the only guy to ever do that, right?), but he's been outstanding the past two years. His numbers regressed this year, but he still threw for 4,302 yards, 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Defensive MVP: Frank Alexander, defensive end. Easy pick here. Alexander's been the Big 12's best defender, and a huge disruptive force for every offense in the Big 12. He led the league with 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. He had 51 tackles and also grabbed an interception.
Turning point: Broyles' injury. The FBS leader in career receptions went down with a torn ACL against Texas A&M, and from that moment on, three games and a quarter-plus against Texas A&M, Jones didn't throw another touchdown pass and the Sooners lost two of three games. Broyles was missed in a big way, and though the Sooners improved in the short yardage by bringing in quarterback Blake Bell in the "BellDozer" formation, Oklahoma didn't rebound from the loss of Broyles.
What’s next: In the immediate future, Oklahoma faces Iowa, Bob Stoops' alma mater, in the Insight Bowl. After that, it's decision time. The defense loses Alexander, Ronnell Lewis and Travis Lewis, but brings back a lot of talent with guys like Tony Jefferson, Aaron Colvin and Tom Wort. Offensively, if Jones returns, the Sooners could be in for a 10-win season in 2012 with a bit of upside. If Jones leaves, the Big 12 is wide open in 2012 and Oklahoma will have a quarterback competition between Bell and Drew Allen on tap for the spring. Running back Dominique Whaley will be back with Brennan Clay and Roy Finch, but the Sooners will be without a lot of experience if Jones leaves.
Record: 9-3 (6-3)
Oklahoma embraced the preseason expectations and didn't shy away from any talk of a national title. Before the season, coach Bob Stoops even told an audience of boosters it was "about time" the Sooners nabbed their eighth national title, first since 2000 and second under Stoops. Oklahoma didn't really even come close to making it happen. Texas Tech embarrassed the Sooners on their home field, ending a 39-game win streak at Owen Field, the nation's longest and one that dated back to 2005. That offered the first evidence that the Sooners weren't the juggernaut they looked in the preseason. Tech finished 5-7 and the Sooners got a road win against a then-top 5 Florida State team, but the Seminoles fell to 8-4 and 5-3 in the weak ACC.
Oklahoma was hurt by late-season injuries to Ryan Broyles and Dominique Whaley, as well as a knee injury to Ronnell Lewis, but the Sooners lost two of their three final games and finished basically fourth in the Big 12, since Baylor holds the tiebreak over OU. The late-season swoon made the Sooners rival Texas A&M as one of the Big 12's biggest disappointments.
Offensive MVP: Landry Jones, quarterback. Jones' career, which may be over if he enters the NFL draft, is a bit unfortunate. He's always been undervalued by Oklahoma fans and really, most everyone. That's what happens when you follow Sam Bradford, a Heisman winner and No. 1 draft pick and make a few mistakes in big spots. Jones struggled at times as a freshman (he's the only guy to ever do that, right?), but he's been outstanding the past two years. His numbers regressed this year, but he still threw for 4,302 yards, 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Defensive MVP: Frank Alexander, defensive end. Easy pick here. Alexander's been the Big 12's best defender, and a huge disruptive force for every offense in the Big 12. He led the league with 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. He had 51 tackles and also grabbed an interception.
Turning point: Broyles' injury. The FBS leader in career receptions went down with a torn ACL against Texas A&M, and from that moment on, three games and a quarter-plus against Texas A&M, Jones didn't throw another touchdown pass and the Sooners lost two of three games. Broyles was missed in a big way, and though the Sooners improved in the short yardage by bringing in quarterback Blake Bell in the "BellDozer" formation, Oklahoma didn't rebound from the loss of Broyles.
What’s next: In the immediate future, Oklahoma faces Iowa, Bob Stoops' alma mater, in the Insight Bowl. After that, it's decision time. The defense loses Alexander, Ronnell Lewis and Travis Lewis, but brings back a lot of talent with guys like Tony Jefferson, Aaron Colvin and Tom Wort. Offensively, if Jones returns, the Sooners could be in for a 10-win season in 2012 with a bit of upside. If Jones leaves, the Big 12 is wide open in 2012 and Oklahoma will have a quarterback competition between Bell and Drew Allen on tap for the spring. Running back Dominique Whaley will be back with Brennan Clay and Roy Finch, but the Sooners will be without a lot of experience if Jones leaves.
The Big 12 Twitter must-follows for 2011
August, 25, 2011
8/25/11
1:15
PM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
The season is upon us, and things have started heating up everywhere. That includes cyberspace, too. Not just the gridiron. For those of you on Twitter (which really, should be all of you) here are the best Tweeters in the Big 12, in no particular order.
You can, of course, follow me on Twitter here.
Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State (@bweeden3)
Weeden, a walk-on for the Cowboys top-tier golf program, will periodically make you jealous with tweets from the golf course during the middle of the week in the offseason. He'll also make you laugh more than most in the league and tweets back at his fans constantly. Also, his dog is awesome, and is known to sport his owner's OSU jersey.
Sample tweet: Me & the Duke man have the place to ourselves this weekend. @MelanieWeeden is n Vegas so were gonna hold the fort down! http://yfrog.com/kfb6fsbj
Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma (@TonyJefferson1)
Jefferson will make you laugh, too, and he's been known to (somewhat harmlessly) stir the pot with his tweets from time to time, specifically with a few aimed in Oklahoma State's direction.
Sample tweet: It's not fun being broke. But it's crazy how yu fight through and try to find ways to make it work. Mamma always told me work with wat u got
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (@JustBlack81)
Unlike his efforts on the field, Blackmon isn't the most consistent tweeter, but you've got to get a look inside the life of the game's best receiver, right?
Sample tweet: 1st day of class...hope all my #OkState fam has a good 1st day
T.J. Moe, WR, Missouri (@TJMoe28)
Moe is a good mix of insight, life lessons and comedy, mixed with general observations of college life and football. Check him out.
Sample tweet: I try to stay away from desserts, but when there is carrot cake in the dining hall, I have no hope.
Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma (@KStills4)
Stills endured a Bob Stoops-induced hiatus from the site in the offseason, but he's back with an entertaining vengeance this fall. His argument on the site that his teammate, Ryan Broyles, was a better receiver than Justin Blackmon got blown completely out of proportion, but he's not shy about his opinions, and loves saying hello to his best friends on campus: Compliance.
Sample tweet: Got some twitter tips for student athletes in my locker.. Lol the last tip is dont let the rules prevent you from having fun w your twitter.
By the way, here's that list, if you're curious. All good advice.
Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M (@CyrusGray32)
Gray's got the best avatar of the bunch, a styling photo from a trip with former teammate Von Miller to the NFL draft in April. He'll retweet fans that tweet at him more than any other player in the league.
Sample tweet: Find something that pushes you harder each day! Before you have Pleasure you got to go through Pain!
Drew Allen, QB, Oklahoma (@DrewAllen1)
Allen is Landry Jones' backup, but his account far surpasses that of the Sooners' starter. (That's @LandryJones12, by the way.) Allen's got a strong case as the league's most humorous tweeter.
Sample tweet 1: My teacher... Mr. Swagg http://lockerz.com/s/132495156
Sample tweet 2: For obvious reasons RT @txsportzfan: @DrewAllen1 why did you take a pic of your teacher?
Trent Hunter, S, Texas A&M (@TrentHunter01)
Hunter is good about giving fans a look inside the life of a senior Aggie, and hey, it doesn't hurt when he retweets articles from yours truly.
Sample tweet: Day 1 starts in 10 minutes. I can't even think about sleep right now lol
Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State (@jknott20)
Knott's account requires him to approve you to follow him, but he's still one of the league's most entertaining tweeters.
Sample tweet (from before Big 12 Media Days): all members of the media sporting any ISU gear will have an in n out burger in their hands by the end of the day.
The remains of AJ Steward (@Jizzle_11) and Daymond Patterson (@DP4Heisman), Kansas receivers
Both players are off the site per team rules, and Patterson's account is suspended. However, their offseason video efforts (and ensuing Twitter promotional blitz) landed the pair on College Football Live.
Sample tweet: The person I'm looking most forward to going up against during camp is @TOTrey5. Gotta love a good challenge. We'll make each other better
Elvis Fisher, LT, Missouri (@ElvisFisher72)
Fisher is out for the season with a knee injury, but he's most likely to carry on the Missouri tradition of tweeting photos of himself after he's caught a fish, a Blaine Gabbert Twitter staple.
Sample tweet: My college degree! http://twitpic.com/65kpbl
Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas (@qdiggs28)
Diggs, a true freshman, could be a rising star in this league. For now, he gives you a look inside what it's like being a freshman Longhorn.
Sample tweet: Just had a nice karaoke night with the team! I love our team!
Eric Stephens, RB, Texas Tech (@EricStephens24)
Stephens may be a household name in the Big 12 this time next year. You'd be best served to follow him while he does it.
Sample tweet: I need to find something else I love to do besides football
You can, of course, follow me on Twitter here.
Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State (@bweeden3)
Weeden, a walk-on for the Cowboys top-tier golf program, will periodically make you jealous with tweets from the golf course during the middle of the week in the offseason. He'll also make you laugh more than most in the league and tweets back at his fans constantly. Also, his dog is awesome, and is known to sport his owner's OSU jersey.
Sample tweet: Me & the Duke man have the place to ourselves this weekend. @MelanieWeeden is n Vegas so were gonna hold the fort down! http://yfrog.com/kfb6fsbj
Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma (@TonyJefferson1)
Jefferson will make you laugh, too, and he's been known to (somewhat harmlessly) stir the pot with his tweets from time to time, specifically with a few aimed in Oklahoma State's direction.
Sample tweet: It's not fun being broke. But it's crazy how yu fight through and try to find ways to make it work. Mamma always told me work with wat u got
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (@JustBlack81)
Unlike his efforts on the field, Blackmon isn't the most consistent tweeter, but you've got to get a look inside the life of the game's best receiver, right?
Sample tweet: 1st day of class...hope all my #OkState fam has a good 1st day
T.J. Moe, WR, Missouri (@TJMoe28)
Moe is a good mix of insight, life lessons and comedy, mixed with general observations of college life and football. Check him out.
Sample tweet: I try to stay away from desserts, but when there is carrot cake in the dining hall, I have no hope.
Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma (@KStills4)
Stills endured a Bob Stoops-induced hiatus from the site in the offseason, but he's back with an entertaining vengeance this fall. His argument on the site that his teammate, Ryan Broyles, was a better receiver than Justin Blackmon got blown completely out of proportion, but he's not shy about his opinions, and loves saying hello to his best friends on campus: Compliance.
Sample tweet: Got some twitter tips for student athletes in my locker.. Lol the last tip is dont let the rules prevent you from having fun w your twitter.
By the way, here's that list, if you're curious. All good advice.
Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M (@CyrusGray32)
Gray's got the best avatar of the bunch, a styling photo from a trip with former teammate Von Miller to the NFL draft in April. He'll retweet fans that tweet at him more than any other player in the league.
Sample tweet: Find something that pushes you harder each day! Before you have Pleasure you got to go through Pain!
Drew Allen, QB, Oklahoma (@DrewAllen1)
Allen is Landry Jones' backup, but his account far surpasses that of the Sooners' starter. (That's @LandryJones12, by the way.) Allen's got a strong case as the league's most humorous tweeter.
Sample tweet 1: My teacher... Mr. Swagg http://lockerz.com/s/132495156
Sample tweet 2: For obvious reasons RT @txsportzfan: @DrewAllen1 why did you take a pic of your teacher?
Trent Hunter, S, Texas A&M (@TrentHunter01)
Hunter is good about giving fans a look inside the life of a senior Aggie, and hey, it doesn't hurt when he retweets articles from yours truly.
Sample tweet: Day 1 starts in 10 minutes. I can't even think about sleep right now lol
Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State (@jknott20)
Knott's account requires him to approve you to follow him, but he's still one of the league's most entertaining tweeters.
Sample tweet (from before Big 12 Media Days): all members of the media sporting any ISU gear will have an in n out burger in their hands by the end of the day.
The remains of AJ Steward (@Jizzle_11) and Daymond Patterson (@DP4Heisman), Kansas receivers
Both players are off the site per team rules, and Patterson's account is suspended. However, their offseason video efforts (and ensuing Twitter promotional blitz) landed the pair on College Football Live.
Sample tweet: The person I'm looking most forward to going up against during camp is @TOTrey5. Gotta love a good challenge. We'll make each other better
Elvis Fisher, LT, Missouri (@ElvisFisher72)
Fisher is out for the season with a knee injury, but he's most likely to carry on the Missouri tradition of tweeting photos of himself after he's caught a fish, a Blaine Gabbert Twitter staple.
Sample tweet: My college degree! http://twitpic.com/65kpbl
Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas (@qdiggs28)
Diggs, a true freshman, could be a rising star in this league. For now, he gives you a look inside what it's like being a freshman Longhorn.
Sample tweet: Just had a nice karaoke night with the team! I love our team!
Eric Stephens, RB, Texas Tech (@EricStephens24)
Stephens may be a household name in the Big 12 this time next year. You'd be best served to follow him while he does it.
Sample tweet: I need to find something else I love to do besides football
We'll kick off our look today at the position rankings for each team in the Big 12 before looping back around to rank the top 10 at every position in the Big 12.
We'll start at the most obvious position: Quarterback, a position that I'd argue is more important in the Big 12 than in any other conference.
Depth will be a huge factor in these rankings, though at quarterback, it's the toughest to gauge, considering how little we see of backup quarterbacks.
Here's how each Big 12 team ranks at the quarterback position:
1. Oklahoma
Oklahoma learned the hard way in 2009 about the importance of the backup quarterback, but even in his limited experience, Drew Allen has impressed Bob Stoops after narrowly losing out on the backup job behind Sam Bradford in 2009. Landry Jones is a great one, and with his opportunities, has become a Heisman Trophy favorite. Could Allen have done the same if he had beaten out Jones in 2009? Blake Bell, the nation's No. 3 quarterback in the 2010 class, will likely be Oklahoma's No. 3 in 2011.
2. Oklahoma State
Brandon Weeden's profile spiked when he led the Cowboys to a comeback win over Colorado on a Thursday night game in 2009. He took over as the starter shortly after, but going into that game Weeden was a third-stringer. Alex Cate transferred after it became evident that Weeden would be the starter in 2010, and behind Weeden is Clint Chelf and two solid recruits: Johnny Deaton and J.W. Walsh, who was the nation's No. 10 QB (just outside the ESPNU 150) in 2011 and enrolled early.
3. Texas A&M
Ryan Tannehill is entrenched at the starting spot, with a lot of youth behind him. Matt Joeckel and Jameill Showers will try to hold off incoming freshman Johnny Manziel for the No. 2 spot this fall. Manziel was impressive during the spring, and will contend for the starting job in 2012, but he'll likely redshirt unless he wins the backup job.
4. Texas Tech
Seth Doege looks ready to grab the reins for two seasons, barring injury. Jacob Karam is probably ready to start in the Big 12 right now, he's just not as good as Doege. Behind them are two promising prospects with upside and development to do: Scotty Young and Michael Brewer. The Red Raiders are the last of the Big 12 teams who have truly solid depth at quarterback.
5. Baylor
Robert Griffin III will probably hold every school record for quarterbacks by the time he leaves Waco, but the Bears need to find a true replacement behind him. Nick Florence filled in well in 2009 when Griffin missed the final nine games with a knee injury, but he's a junior like Griffin and their eligibility will expire simultaneously. Redshirt freshman Bryce Petty and 2012 commit Jared Johnson could battle for the spot in 2013.
6. Missouri
The Tigers depth took a hit after Tyler Gabbert's transfer following spring practice, but expectations are high for sophomore James Franklin, who got a bit of experience in 2010 behind Blaine Gabbert. Senior Jimmy Costello quit the team after last season to focus on an impending fall enlistment in the Army, but rejoined after the Gabbert brothers' departures from Columbia. He's likely to be the backup, with Ashton Glaser and walk-on Ryan Howerton filling out the rest of the quarterback spots. Corbin Berkstresser, a 6-foot-3, 218-pound quarterback from Kansas City that ESPN ranked No. 43 at his position, will arrive in the fall, too.
7. Texas
How long until we see a quarterback make the kind of plays Garrett Gilbert made against Alabama in the national championship? Those kinds of long scores were rare last year, but the Longhorns will have a competition this fall that sounds like it's pretty open heading into camp. If Gilbert wins, he'll likely have a much shorter leash in 2011 than he did in 2010, before Case McCoy or Connor Wood gets a crack, and dark horse true freshman David Ash could make things interesting, too.
8. Kansas State
Collin Klein made a nice move toward winning the job with a strong spring game performance. But coach Bill Snyder says he still didn't see a ton of separation between Klein and his backups, Sammuel Lamur and Boston College transfer Justin Tuggle, who spent last year replacing Cam Newton at Blinn College in Texas.
9. Iowa State
James Capello transferred after the spring, but Iowa State's race has likely boiled down to two men: Jerome Tiller and Steele Jantz. Jantz, a juco transfer, is the wild card and Tiller will need to show that his struggles in spot duty last season were temporary. He didn't show the progress you'd expect from a maturing player when he played for an injured Austen Arnaud in a few games early and late in 2010. Jared Barnett is still battling in Ames, but him winning the job would be a huge upset.
10. Kansas
The Jayhawks could use a couple more years of Todd Reesing. The Jayhawks saw a huge drop off at the quarterback position in 2010, as Jordan Webb, Quinn Mecham and Kale Pick all got time under center. Kansas will likely run its offense through a strong group of running backs, but unless newcomer Brock Berglund shows potential and proves he's the best of the group, expect Kansas to remain near the bottom of the Big 12 by the end of 2011.
We'll start at the most obvious position: Quarterback, a position that I'd argue is more important in the Big 12 than in any other conference.
Depth will be a huge factor in these rankings, though at quarterback, it's the toughest to gauge, considering how little we see of backup quarterbacks.
Here's how each Big 12 team ranks at the quarterback position:
[+] Enlarge
Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireLandry Jones leads the Big 12's deepest and best group of quarterbacks.
Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireLandry Jones leads the Big 12's deepest and best group of quarterbacks.Oklahoma learned the hard way in 2009 about the importance of the backup quarterback, but even in his limited experience, Drew Allen has impressed Bob Stoops after narrowly losing out on the backup job behind Sam Bradford in 2009. Landry Jones is a great one, and with his opportunities, has become a Heisman Trophy favorite. Could Allen have done the same if he had beaten out Jones in 2009? Blake Bell, the nation's No. 3 quarterback in the 2010 class, will likely be Oklahoma's No. 3 in 2011.
2. Oklahoma State
Brandon Weeden's profile spiked when he led the Cowboys to a comeback win over Colorado on a Thursday night game in 2009. He took over as the starter shortly after, but going into that game Weeden was a third-stringer. Alex Cate transferred after it became evident that Weeden would be the starter in 2010, and behind Weeden is Clint Chelf and two solid recruits: Johnny Deaton and J.W. Walsh, who was the nation's No. 10 QB (just outside the ESPNU 150) in 2011 and enrolled early.
3. Texas A&M
Ryan Tannehill is entrenched at the starting spot, with a lot of youth behind him. Matt Joeckel and Jameill Showers will try to hold off incoming freshman Johnny Manziel for the No. 2 spot this fall. Manziel was impressive during the spring, and will contend for the starting job in 2012, but he'll likely redshirt unless he wins the backup job.
4. Texas Tech
Seth Doege looks ready to grab the reins for two seasons, barring injury. Jacob Karam is probably ready to start in the Big 12 right now, he's just not as good as Doege. Behind them are two promising prospects with upside and development to do: Scotty Young and Michael Brewer. The Red Raiders are the last of the Big 12 teams who have truly solid depth at quarterback.
5. Baylor
Robert Griffin III will probably hold every school record for quarterbacks by the time he leaves Waco, but the Bears need to find a true replacement behind him. Nick Florence filled in well in 2009 when Griffin missed the final nine games with a knee injury, but he's a junior like Griffin and their eligibility will expire simultaneously. Redshirt freshman Bryce Petty and 2012 commit Jared Johnson could battle for the spot in 2013.
6. Missouri
The Tigers depth took a hit after Tyler Gabbert's transfer following spring practice, but expectations are high for sophomore James Franklin, who got a bit of experience in 2010 behind Blaine Gabbert. Senior Jimmy Costello quit the team after last season to focus on an impending fall enlistment in the Army, but rejoined after the Gabbert brothers' departures from Columbia. He's likely to be the backup, with Ashton Glaser and walk-on Ryan Howerton filling out the rest of the quarterback spots. Corbin Berkstresser, a 6-foot-3, 218-pound quarterback from Kansas City that ESPN ranked No. 43 at his position, will arrive in the fall, too.
7. Texas
How long until we see a quarterback make the kind of plays Garrett Gilbert made against Alabama in the national championship? Those kinds of long scores were rare last year, but the Longhorns will have a competition this fall that sounds like it's pretty open heading into camp. If Gilbert wins, he'll likely have a much shorter leash in 2011 than he did in 2010, before Case McCoy or Connor Wood gets a crack, and dark horse true freshman David Ash could make things interesting, too.
8. Kansas State
Collin Klein made a nice move toward winning the job with a strong spring game performance. But coach Bill Snyder says he still didn't see a ton of separation between Klein and his backups, Sammuel Lamur and Boston College transfer Justin Tuggle, who spent last year replacing Cam Newton at Blinn College in Texas.
9. Iowa State
James Capello transferred after the spring, but Iowa State's race has likely boiled down to two men: Jerome Tiller and Steele Jantz. Jantz, a juco transfer, is the wild card and Tiller will need to show that his struggles in spot duty last season were temporary. He didn't show the progress you'd expect from a maturing player when he played for an injured Austen Arnaud in a few games early and late in 2010. Jared Barnett is still battling in Ames, but him winning the job would be a huge upset.
10. Kansas
The Jayhawks could use a couple more years of Todd Reesing. The Jayhawks saw a huge drop off at the quarterback position in 2010, as Jordan Webb, Quinn Mecham and Kale Pick all got time under center. Kansas will likely run its offense through a strong group of running backs, but unless newcomer Brock Berglund shows potential and proves he's the best of the group, expect Kansas to remain near the bottom of the Big 12 by the end of 2011.
What happened:
"I feel like we can be great. We can be one of the best secondaries in the country, but right now we still have a lot of improvement, a lot of things to work on. So I can’t talk about the positives right now because we still have some negatives to correct." -- Oklahoma safety Aaron Colvin.
More Big 12 spring game recaps:
- Landry Jones played sparingly and Ryan Broyles only fielded punts.
- Drew Allen led the Red team to a 20-14 win by completing 16-of-29 passes for 179 yards and a 16-yard touchdown to Dejuan Miller.
- Walk-on Dominique Whaley led all rushers with 65 yards on 10 carries.
- New safety Aaron Colvin led all tacklers with eight stops and had an interception.
- With the win, the Red team will enjoy a steak dinner, while the White team will deal with a dinner of hot dogs and baked beans.
- Generally, we'll learn a lot less about the better and more established teams during their spring games, and Oklahoma fits that mold. Coach Bob Stoops said Whaley, a transfer from NAIA Langston University, is in the mix for running back, but let's not forget that FB Marshall Musil led the Sooners in rushing during last season's spring game. He had two carries for 11 yards last season. Stoops doesn't sound like he plans to give a heap of touches to any of his backs, which doesn't bode well for any big numbers, but together, Roy Finch, Brennan Clay and Brandon Williams should be pretty stout.
- The last time Oklahoma was gunning for a national title, the preseason race for backup quarterback got relevant real quick. They'll be trying to avoid that this season, but Drew Allen looks like he's pulled ahead of Blake Bell for the spot, and inspired some confidence from the fans by a nice showing on Saturday. This won't be the last time you hear this, but Allen is, of course ... one play away.
- Lane Johnson, a converted tight end, looks like he'll stick at right tackle, where the Sooners had a big hole when Jarvis Jones went down early in the spring with a torn patellar tendon. "It’s going to work out wonderfully for him, and for us. Actually he’s going to end up being a really special player there whether left or right," Stoops said. Oklahoma converted last season's starter, Eric Mensik from tight end to right tackle, so this is hardly new territory. Oklahoma needed someone to fill Jones' role, considering he's likely to miss a few games to start the season, and it looks like Johnson's filled that void.
- Good to see Miller get back on the field and be effective after he missed the latter part of last season with a torn meniscus. He's a big receiver with a lot of potential, and he should be a nice part of a deep Oklahoma receiving corps. By all accounts, he had a fantastic spring.
"I feel like we can be great. We can be one of the best secondaries in the country, but right now we still have a lot of improvement, a lot of things to work on. So I can’t talk about the positives right now because we still have some negatives to correct." -- Oklahoma safety Aaron Colvin.
More Big 12 spring game recaps:
Ranking the quarterbacks across the Big 12
August, 13, 2010
8/13/10
11:00
AM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
If you haven't noticed just yet, Friday's college football content at ESPN.com is all about the quarterbacks. We've ranked the conference's top 5 individual quarterbacks, but now it's time to take a broader look at who's in good shape behind center and who's in trouble across the conference.
The discrepancy between the South's QBs and the North's is somewhat jarring, especially when you see it on paper (bandwidth?) like this. Only one North team made the top six, and the bottom five teams are all from the North.
Five schools (four in the North) still have their starters up in the air, and that makes this a little tricky, but here's how I'd rank them:
1. Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M: The Aggies boast the preseason player of the year at quarterback and the man at the top of our Big 12 player list from earlier this summer. I also got a few e-mail requests from some Aggies fans to stress -- once again -- that it's juh-RAHD, not Jared from Subway. Word has apparently not reached every corner of Big 12 country just yet. It might if the Aggies can win more than six games like they did in 2009. But Johnson broke out in a big way last season, throwing for 3,579 yards, 30 touchdowns and just six interceptions while also running for 506 yards and eight touchdowns.
2. Robert Griffin, Baylor: Trust in Griffin's knee lands the Bears here, significantly higher than they're used to considering the strong quarterback tradition across the Big 12 for the past decade. But Griffin will still have to regain his status as the conference's most electrifying player on a reconstructed knee after missing the final nine games of the previous season with a torn ACL. Baylor also has a nice situation at backup quarterback because of the injury with sophomore Nick Florence, who threw for 427 yards in Baylor's lone conference win -- at Missouri -- last season.
3. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri: Gabbert has a claim as the conference's best quarterback, and he'll try to snatch it as a junior after playing much of his sophomore season with a bum ankle, courtesy of a soggy Ndamukong Suh sack. Despite being hobbled for most of conference play, he still racked up 3,593 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. If he stays healthy, he might get a chance to showcase his underrated wheels, too. Freshman James Franklin is impressing in camp and hanging on to his job as Gabbert's backup over Jimmy Costello, Ashton Glaser and little brother Tyler Gabbert.
4. Landry Jones, Oklahoma: Jones should benefit from his first full spring and preseason camp taking the first-team reps, but he'll need a second reliable target opposite Ryan Broyles to emerge if he wants to improve on his 26 touchdowns and 3,198 yards as a redshirt freshman. Jones also needs to limit his turnovers after throwing a league-high 14 interceptions in 2009, but it's worth noting that seven of those came away from Owen Field against top-tier defenses in Texas and Nebraska. He didn't play a good defense in Norman, but he threw 18 touchdowns to just four interceptions and helped the Sooners stretch their home streak to 30 games. Backup Drew Allen is untested and inexperienced, but has potential and wouldn't inspire panic if Jones finds injury in 2010.
5. Steven Sheffield/Taylor Potts, Texas Tech: No team has two quarterbacks with as much skill and experience as Texas Tech, but unlike receivers or running backs, the Red Raiders can't play both of them. Regardless of who wins the competition in Lubbock, Texas Tech will be in great shape with Potts or Sheffield. You heard a few hundred words on the details of this race earlier this morning.
6. Garrett Gilbert, Texas: This may look silly in November, but it's tough to put Gilbert on top of anyone else on this list who has already proven themselves. Clearly, the potential is there, and he's inspired a lot of confidence from his coach and team, but making good on that potential will mean finding a solid target to replace the only player he's ever thrown a real touchdown to: Jordan Shipley. If Gilbert goes down, Texas would have to rely on a pair of true freshmen: Connor Wood or Case McCoy, Colt's little brother.
7. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State: This won't be the last time you hear about the Cowboys 26-year-old former minor leaguer. Just make good decisions, make easy throws to open receivers who make plays with the ball and he should put up big numbers in new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen's version of the Air Raid. Oklahoma State got to see Houston's offense in person last season and wanted it for themselves. Now they've got the man who coordinated the best offense in college football a year ago and an unquestioned, mature starter to run it. If he's injured, the Cowboys would have to rely on one of two freshmen, Clint Chelf or most likely Johnny Deaton, to run the offense.
8. Austen Arnaud, Iowa State: Coach Paul Rhoads says no player on his team has improved from Year 1 to Year 2 more than Arnaud, but he'll need to prove it on the field to move up this list. He's probably likely to improve on his 2,015 yards passing to go with 15 touchdowns, but he's right behind Jones in the interception column, with 13. That number has to shrink for the Cyclones to get back to a bowl game. Talented sophomore Jerome "JT" Tiller led the Cyclones to their marquee win over Nebraska and should take the reins next year. The future looks bright in Ames.
9. Tyler Hansen, Colorado: Hansen not emerging from preseason camp as the starter would be shocking, and he'll get a lot more help this year with a beefed-up receiving corps that's among the conference's most underrated. Newcomers Paul Richardson, Travon Patterson and preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Toney Clemons will join the reliable Scotty McKnight. If Hansen goes down, at least they'll have an experienced vet behind him in Cody Hawkins. Freshman Nick Hirschman looked good in the spring and provides some hope for the position in the future.
10. Zac Lee, Nebraska: A two-quarterback system is never ideal, but it might work for the Huskers. Lee is the best passer of the group competing for the starting job, but using the athletic Taylor Martinez or Cody Green in spot duty, similar to last year, could very well happen. But Bo Pelini would much prefer if one player -- most likely Lee, in my opinion -- would emerge and improve on his play from 2009, when he threw for 2,143 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
11. Kale Pick, Kansas: Pick is untested, and so are Jordan Webb and junior college transfer Quinn Mecham. Pick, however, seems like the favorite to win the job. The Jayhawks need a spark on offense, and Pick could provide it. He'll have some nice receivers to throw to in sophomore Bradley McDougald, senior Johnathan Wilson and tight end Tim Biere. Former cornerback Daymond Patterson looks ready for a good year in the slot.
12. Carson Coffman, Kansas State: Coffman needs to improve from his play last year that cost him his job early last season. Beating out Collin Klein and Sammuel Lamur won't be easy -- and the competition between the three is still pretty tight -- but Coffman's experience gives him a slight edge. Whoever wins the race will lean on the league's leading rusher, Daniel Thomas, and a revamped receiving corps with transfers Brodrick Smith from Minnesota and Chris Harper from Oregon. The Wildcats hope the duo will add the spark that was missing from the team's offense in 2009.
The discrepancy between the South's QBs and the North's is somewhat jarring, especially when you see it on paper (bandwidth?) like this. Only one North team made the top six, and the bottom five teams are all from the North.
Five schools (four in the North) still have their starters up in the air, and that makes this a little tricky, but here's how I'd rank them:
[+] Enlarge
Brett Davis/US PresswireJerrod Johnson is not only the best quarterback in the conference, he's also the best player.
Brett Davis/US PresswireJerrod Johnson is not only the best quarterback in the conference, he's also the best player.2. Robert Griffin, Baylor: Trust in Griffin's knee lands the Bears here, significantly higher than they're used to considering the strong quarterback tradition across the Big 12 for the past decade. But Griffin will still have to regain his status as the conference's most electrifying player on a reconstructed knee after missing the final nine games of the previous season with a torn ACL. Baylor also has a nice situation at backup quarterback because of the injury with sophomore Nick Florence, who threw for 427 yards in Baylor's lone conference win -- at Missouri -- last season.
3. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri: Gabbert has a claim as the conference's best quarterback, and he'll try to snatch it as a junior after playing much of his sophomore season with a bum ankle, courtesy of a soggy Ndamukong Suh sack. Despite being hobbled for most of conference play, he still racked up 3,593 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. If he stays healthy, he might get a chance to showcase his underrated wheels, too. Freshman James Franklin is impressing in camp and hanging on to his job as Gabbert's backup over Jimmy Costello, Ashton Glaser and little brother Tyler Gabbert.
4. Landry Jones, Oklahoma: Jones should benefit from his first full spring and preseason camp taking the first-team reps, but he'll need a second reliable target opposite Ryan Broyles to emerge if he wants to improve on his 26 touchdowns and 3,198 yards as a redshirt freshman. Jones also needs to limit his turnovers after throwing a league-high 14 interceptions in 2009, but it's worth noting that seven of those came away from Owen Field against top-tier defenses in Texas and Nebraska. He didn't play a good defense in Norman, but he threw 18 touchdowns to just four interceptions and helped the Sooners stretch their home streak to 30 games. Backup Drew Allen is untested and inexperienced, but has potential and wouldn't inspire panic if Jones finds injury in 2010.
5. Steven Sheffield/Taylor Potts, Texas Tech: No team has two quarterbacks with as much skill and experience as Texas Tech, but unlike receivers or running backs, the Red Raiders can't play both of them. Regardless of who wins the competition in Lubbock, Texas Tech will be in great shape with Potts or Sheffield. You heard a few hundred words on the details of this race earlier this morning.
6. Garrett Gilbert, Texas: This may look silly in November, but it's tough to put Gilbert on top of anyone else on this list who has already proven themselves. Clearly, the potential is there, and he's inspired a lot of confidence from his coach and team, but making good on that potential will mean finding a solid target to replace the only player he's ever thrown a real touchdown to: Jordan Shipley. If Gilbert goes down, Texas would have to rely on a pair of true freshmen: Connor Wood or Case McCoy, Colt's little brother.
7. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State: This won't be the last time you hear about the Cowboys 26-year-old former minor leaguer. Just make good decisions, make easy throws to open receivers who make plays with the ball and he should put up big numbers in new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen's version of the Air Raid. Oklahoma State got to see Houston's offense in person last season and wanted it for themselves. Now they've got the man who coordinated the best offense in college football a year ago and an unquestioned, mature starter to run it. If he's injured, the Cowboys would have to rely on one of two freshmen, Clint Chelf or most likely Johnny Deaton, to run the offense.
8. Austen Arnaud, Iowa State: Coach Paul Rhoads says no player on his team has improved from Year 1 to Year 2 more than Arnaud, but he'll need to prove it on the field to move up this list. He's probably likely to improve on his 2,015 yards passing to go with 15 touchdowns, but he's right behind Jones in the interception column, with 13. That number has to shrink for the Cyclones to get back to a bowl game. Talented sophomore Jerome "JT" Tiller led the Cyclones to their marquee win over Nebraska and should take the reins next year. The future looks bright in Ames.
9. Tyler Hansen, Colorado: Hansen not emerging from preseason camp as the starter would be shocking, and he'll get a lot more help this year with a beefed-up receiving corps that's among the conference's most underrated. Newcomers Paul Richardson, Travon Patterson and preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Toney Clemons will join the reliable Scotty McKnight. If Hansen goes down, at least they'll have an experienced vet behind him in Cody Hawkins. Freshman Nick Hirschman looked good in the spring and provides some hope for the position in the future.
10. Zac Lee, Nebraska: A two-quarterback system is never ideal, but it might work for the Huskers. Lee is the best passer of the group competing for the starting job, but using the athletic Taylor Martinez or Cody Green in spot duty, similar to last year, could very well happen. But Bo Pelini would much prefer if one player -- most likely Lee, in my opinion -- would emerge and improve on his play from 2009, when he threw for 2,143 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
11. Kale Pick, Kansas: Pick is untested, and so are Jordan Webb and junior college transfer Quinn Mecham. Pick, however, seems like the favorite to win the job. The Jayhawks need a spark on offense, and Pick could provide it. He'll have some nice receivers to throw to in sophomore Bradley McDougald, senior Johnathan Wilson and tight end Tim Biere. Former cornerback Daymond Patterson looks ready for a good year in the slot.
12. Carson Coffman, Kansas State: Coffman needs to improve from his play last year that cost him his job early last season. Beating out Collin Klein and Sammuel Lamur won't be easy -- and the competition between the three is still pretty tight -- but Coffman's experience gives him a slight edge. Whoever wins the race will lean on the league's leading rusher, Daniel Thomas, and a revamped receiving corps with transfers Brodrick Smith from Minnesota and Chris Harper from Oregon. The Wildcats hope the duo will add the spark that was missing from the team's offense in 2009.
Lots of good Oklahoma questions this week. Much appreciated. Had to cut out a bunch of solid ones.
Here's the rest of the teams we've covered so far: Timm Decker in Louisville, Ky. asks: Do you prefer OU or Texas' method of scheduling? OU takes risk and schedules some big names which can help out in tie breaker situations and overall status, but that doesn't help if you don't win those games. I contend that had OU scheduled like Texas and played cupcakes, then Bradford probably wouldn't have been hurt and they meet Texas undefeated. People rip Texas's schedule but that didn't seem to matter last year as they played for the title. Over the course of many years, I think you are more likely to gain from the benefits of a Texas-like schedule (small chance of non-conference losses) vs. the benefits of an OU-like schedule (advantage in team comparisons / tie-breakers). What are your thoughts?
TBowman88 in Derby, Kan. asks: Why does Bob Stoops and David Boren continue to make one of the toughest schedules for themselves year after year while watching the majority or the other Big 12 powers play a cream puff non-conference schedule which in UT's case has sometimes help them go to a BCS game.
David Ubben: I’m not sure you can definitively say one is better than the other. I don’t have a strong preference, although Oklahoma earns a lot more street cred in the way they schedule. With the strength of the Big 12 in the past few years, any extremely difficult nonconference games were just gravy, but the tough schedule definitely helped push Oklahoma into the title game in 2008.
Oklahoma’s reasoning for scheduling the way it does is a desire to put a quality product on the field for fans to watch, and it obviously helps in December, too. But like last year, playing teams like BYU and Miami early in the season can hurt you (and your quarterback) pretty badly. Oklahoma doesn’t sound like it has any intention of changing the way it schedules, and they’ve got games with Tennessee, Notre Dame and Ohio State on the schedule in the future, in addition to Florida State and Cincinnati this season.
The one thing you have to watch out for is if Texas gets left out of a championship game, and the nonconference schedule becomes a reason, their nonconference scheduling strategy might change playing in a Big 12 without Nebraska, even if they’re playing an additional conference game.
Coop-@-loop in McMinnville, Tenn. asks: So my wifes b-day is comin up, what should i get her, flowers and perfume or a #4 (Kenny Stills) jersey?
DU: Coop, I’m hardly an expert on the fairer sex, but you’d forever regret buying her a Kenny Stills jersey for her birthday. Trust me on this one.
Go with the classic Landry Jones QB jersey for the birthday. Save Stills for an anniversary. You know, a young guy with a future, just like your relationship.
Vgg in OK asks: Do you think OU is just kind of sitting back happily and listening to all this UT/NEB stuff, and just quietly going under the radar a little bit? I know everyone is on this NEB bandwagon and maybe rightfully so, and i know they arent on OU's schedule. But it took 5 picks at home to barely beat my sooners. my point is, i guess, is that the biggest game on texas' schedule is not nebraska nor is it the toughest game.
DU: In some ways, Oklahoma might be. But it’s clear (judging by Texas’ lack of a response to any of the Nebraska talk) that Nebraska is taking this game much more seriously than Texas is. That’s not to say Texas is taking Nebraska lightly, but when you’ve had so many recent, memorable close losses to one team and so much controversy at the top of the decision-making chain, that’s pretty natural on Nebraska’s end. It also helps that the game is in Lincoln, and it helps Nebraska to further hype the game to its fans. But Texas knows who its historical rival is, even if the Huskers are gunning for them in 2010. No one has to tell them they’re responsible for showing up to both.
Paul Johnstone in Chicago, Ill. writes: David: Many Sooner fans are concerned about the offensive line after last year. While it concerns me, with the rash of injuries, there was a new line every game last year giving the team as a unit this year invaluable experience. My real concern is breaking in 2 new CB's in a pass happy league. What is do you feel is the team's biggest question mark going into the 2010 season?
DU: Definitely the offensive line. They’ve got some talented guys in Stephen Good and Cory Brandon, but they really couldn’t ever put it together last year. In addition, they lose the three best blockers from last year’s team in Trent Williams, Brody Eldridge and Brian Simmons. The corners should do really well; they’ve got a lot of depth there. I expect Demontre Hurst to be everything Bob Stoops thinks he is. Jonathan Nelson and Jamell Fleming have a lot of game experience, especially Nelson, even if a lot of that experience came at safety last year for Nelson and on special teams for Fleming. Gabe Lynn has a lot of potential, too, and should get some valuable playing time this season.
Jacob in Nebraska asks: Are you as high on Oklahoma's depth at Wide out as I am? There is experience all the way from Broyles to Reynolds. Plus you add on young guy's like Mccay and Stills.
DU: I’m not. I don’t have a lot of faith in any of those guys. Ryan Broyles is obviously a superstar, but past him, Oklahoma had an ever-spinning rotation of No. 2 guys in 2009. Dejuan Miller looks like the most likely guy to step into that role after finishing strong last year, but him becoming a non-factor like he was for most of the first half of the season wouldn’t shock me. There’s a lot of potential there in guys like Miller and Jaz Reynolds and the young receivers like Kenny Stills and Justin McCay, but they have to prove they can be consistent contributors on the field before I start claiming Oklahoma has any depth at receiver. Brandon Caleb has been underwhelming, but as a senior, he might even end up being the guy who Jones can count on opposite Broyles.
Travis in Norman, Okla. asks: I'm hearing rumors that another quarterback (possibly Drew Allen) is the front-runner to become the Sooners' playmaker this fall. Any truth?
DU: Not much. It would take a monumental meltdown for Landry Jones to lose his starting job, but Drew Allen and incoming freshman Blake Bell should both be solid backups.
Jon in Dallas, Texas asks: How realistic was the possibility of Oklahoma joining the SEC during the realignment talks?
DU: President David Boren said the Sooners had an offer, but like I wrote earlier today, Oklahoma didn’t sound real eager to break up with Texas. It's what was best for both schools.
Here's the rest of the teams we've covered so far: Timm Decker in Louisville, Ky. asks: Do you prefer OU or Texas' method of scheduling? OU takes risk and schedules some big names which can help out in tie breaker situations and overall status, but that doesn't help if you don't win those games. I contend that had OU scheduled like Texas and played cupcakes, then Bradford probably wouldn't have been hurt and they meet Texas undefeated. People rip Texas's schedule but that didn't seem to matter last year as they played for the title. Over the course of many years, I think you are more likely to gain from the benefits of a Texas-like schedule (small chance of non-conference losses) vs. the benefits of an OU-like schedule (advantage in team comparisons / tie-breakers). What are your thoughts?
TBowman88 in Derby, Kan. asks: Why does Bob Stoops and David Boren continue to make one of the toughest schedules for themselves year after year while watching the majority or the other Big 12 powers play a cream puff non-conference schedule which in UT's case has sometimes help them go to a BCS game.
David Ubben: I’m not sure you can definitively say one is better than the other. I don’t have a strong preference, although Oklahoma earns a lot more street cred in the way they schedule. With the strength of the Big 12 in the past few years, any extremely difficult nonconference games were just gravy, but the tough schedule definitely helped push Oklahoma into the title game in 2008.
Oklahoma’s reasoning for scheduling the way it does is a desire to put a quality product on the field for fans to watch, and it obviously helps in December, too. But like last year, playing teams like BYU and Miami early in the season can hurt you (and your quarterback) pretty badly. Oklahoma doesn’t sound like it has any intention of changing the way it schedules, and they’ve got games with Tennessee, Notre Dame and Ohio State on the schedule in the future, in addition to Florida State and Cincinnati this season.
The one thing you have to watch out for is if Texas gets left out of a championship game, and the nonconference schedule becomes a reason, their nonconference scheduling strategy might change playing in a Big 12 without Nebraska, even if they’re playing an additional conference game.
Coop-@-loop in McMinnville, Tenn. asks: So my wifes b-day is comin up, what should i get her, flowers and perfume or a #4 (Kenny Stills) jersey?
DU: Coop, I’m hardly an expert on the fairer sex, but you’d forever regret buying her a Kenny Stills jersey for her birthday. Trust me on this one.
Go with the classic Landry Jones QB jersey for the birthday. Save Stills for an anniversary. You know, a young guy with a future, just like your relationship.
Vgg in OK asks: Do you think OU is just kind of sitting back happily and listening to all this UT/NEB stuff, and just quietly going under the radar a little bit? I know everyone is on this NEB bandwagon and maybe rightfully so, and i know they arent on OU's schedule. But it took 5 picks at home to barely beat my sooners. my point is, i guess, is that the biggest game on texas' schedule is not nebraska nor is it the toughest game.
DU: In some ways, Oklahoma might be. But it’s clear (judging by Texas’ lack of a response to any of the Nebraska talk) that Nebraska is taking this game much more seriously than Texas is. That’s not to say Texas is taking Nebraska lightly, but when you’ve had so many recent, memorable close losses to one team and so much controversy at the top of the decision-making chain, that’s pretty natural on Nebraska’s end. It also helps that the game is in Lincoln, and it helps Nebraska to further hype the game to its fans. But Texas knows who its historical rival is, even if the Huskers are gunning for them in 2010. No one has to tell them they’re responsible for showing up to both.
Paul Johnstone in Chicago, Ill. writes: David: Many Sooner fans are concerned about the offensive line after last year. While it concerns me, with the rash of injuries, there was a new line every game last year giving the team as a unit this year invaluable experience. My real concern is breaking in 2 new CB's in a pass happy league. What is do you feel is the team's biggest question mark going into the 2010 season?
DU: Definitely the offensive line. They’ve got some talented guys in Stephen Good and Cory Brandon, but they really couldn’t ever put it together last year. In addition, they lose the three best blockers from last year’s team in Trent Williams, Brody Eldridge and Brian Simmons. The corners should do really well; they’ve got a lot of depth there. I expect Demontre Hurst to be everything Bob Stoops thinks he is. Jonathan Nelson and Jamell Fleming have a lot of game experience, especially Nelson, even if a lot of that experience came at safety last year for Nelson and on special teams for Fleming. Gabe Lynn has a lot of potential, too, and should get some valuable playing time this season.
Jacob in Nebraska asks: Are you as high on Oklahoma's depth at Wide out as I am? There is experience all the way from Broyles to Reynolds. Plus you add on young guy's like Mccay and Stills.
DU: I’m not. I don’t have a lot of faith in any of those guys. Ryan Broyles is obviously a superstar, but past him, Oklahoma had an ever-spinning rotation of No. 2 guys in 2009. Dejuan Miller looks like the most likely guy to step into that role after finishing strong last year, but him becoming a non-factor like he was for most of the first half of the season wouldn’t shock me. There’s a lot of potential there in guys like Miller and Jaz Reynolds and the young receivers like Kenny Stills and Justin McCay, but they have to prove they can be consistent contributors on the field before I start claiming Oklahoma has any depth at receiver. Brandon Caleb has been underwhelming, but as a senior, he might even end up being the guy who Jones can count on opposite Broyles.
Travis in Norman, Okla. asks: I'm hearing rumors that another quarterback (possibly Drew Allen) is the front-runner to become the Sooners' playmaker this fall. Any truth?
DU: Not much. It would take a monumental meltdown for Landry Jones to lose his starting job, but Drew Allen and incoming freshman Blake Bell should both be solid backups.
Jon in Dallas, Texas asks: How realistic was the possibility of Oklahoma joining the SEC during the realignment talks?
DU: President David Boren said the Sooners had an offer, but like I wrote earlier today, Oklahoma didn’t sound real eager to break up with Texas. It's what was best for both schools.
ESPN's College Football Live named Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones a Big 12 representative as one of the nation's most irreplaceable players. Here's a story about his backup, Drew Allen. Tune into College Football Live at 3:30 p.m. ET to see more on Jones and Allen.
Bob Stoops doesn't have to imagine what it would be like to lose his starting quarterback for the season. That scenario became all too real when Heisman winner Sam Bradford was slammed into the Cowboys Stadium turf in the opener last season. He rolled over, immediately clutched his throwing shoulder in pain, and Oklahoma's season dramatically altered its course.
Been there, done that. Got five losses.
But before that -- the injuries, the losses, the growing pains -- there was a position battle of an importance few envisioned.
Sitting behind Bradford, Jones and Allen didn't expect to play, but they fought for the backup spot.
"They were both awfully young and still learning," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.
The rest of the story is well-told. Jones, with a redshirt year already behind him, won the backup battle. Allen, a true freshman, redshirted. Jones played -- and played well -- after Bradford went down.
So 2010 begins with Jones possessing a Bradford-like choke hold on the starting job. But if he falls to a fate similar to Bradford?
"I’d have to feel great, since that’s where we’re at. Just like I did a year ago," Stoops said. "But hopefully that scenario, we don’t have to do that again."
Allen came to Oklahoma via San Antonio's Alamo Heights High as the nation's No. 58 quarterback, and Stoops said yes to his impressive measureables.
"He’s similar to the style of guy we’re used to working with. He’s a big guy, has a good arm. He works really hard," Stoops said.
At 6-foot-5 and 224 pounds, Allen is built from the mold of the prototype quarterback. But there's still that nagging detail: He's never thrown a pass in a college football game. A year ago, neither had Jones.
Allen struggled in the rain during the Sooners' spring game, completing just 10 of 22 passes for 137 yards and a pair of interceptions. Stoops prefers to reserve his judgments for the Drew Allen he sees in practice every day.
"Like most guys that haven't played a ton, [he has to improve] decision making through experience and continue to improve accuracy. But he’s working hard on it," Stoops said. "I feel really good that he’s a guy that’s worked as hard as he can, and he’ll do a good job."
Bob Stoops doesn't have to imagine what it would be like to lose his starting quarterback for the season. That scenario became all too real when Heisman winner Sam Bradford was slammed into the Cowboys Stadium turf in the opener last season. He rolled over, immediately clutched his throwing shoulder in pain, and Oklahoma's season dramatically altered its course.
Been there, done that. Got five losses.
But before that -- the injuries, the losses, the growing pains -- there was a position battle of an importance few envisioned.
Sitting behind Bradford, Jones and Allen didn't expect to play, but they fought for the backup spot.
"They were both awfully young and still learning," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.
The rest of the story is well-told. Jones, with a redshirt year already behind him, won the backup battle. Allen, a true freshman, redshirted. Jones played -- and played well -- after Bradford went down.
So 2010 begins with Jones possessing a Bradford-like choke hold on the starting job. But if he falls to a fate similar to Bradford?
"I’d have to feel great, since that’s where we’re at. Just like I did a year ago," Stoops said. "But hopefully that scenario, we don’t have to do that again."
Allen came to Oklahoma via San Antonio's Alamo Heights High as the nation's No. 58 quarterback, and Stoops said yes to his impressive measureables.
"He’s similar to the style of guy we’re used to working with. He’s a big guy, has a good arm. He works really hard," Stoops said.
At 6-foot-5 and 224 pounds, Allen is built from the mold of the prototype quarterback. But there's still that nagging detail: He's never thrown a pass in a college football game. A year ago, neither had Jones.
Allen struggled in the rain during the Sooners' spring game, completing just 10 of 22 passes for 137 yards and a pair of interceptions. Stoops prefers to reserve his judgments for the Drew Allen he sees in practice every day.
"Like most guys that haven't played a ton, [he has to improve] decision making through experience and continue to improve accuracy. But he’s working hard on it," Stoops said. "I feel really good that he’s a guy that’s worked as hard as he can, and he’ll do a good job."
Big 12 lunch links: Get ready for football feast
November, 23, 2009
11/23/09
12:30
PM ET
By Tim Griffin | ESPN.com
It's about a short work week for many Big 12 teams as they get ready for early games across the conference.
Here are some stories to get you ready for a Thanksgiving week cornucopia of Big 12 football starting on Thursday night:
Here are some stories to get you ready for a Thanksgiving week cornucopia of Big 12 football starting on Thursday night:
- The Lincoln Journal-Star’s Steve Sipple explains why he thinks that Mack Brown in the Big 12’s coach of the year.
- The Austin American-Statesman’s Kirk Bohls opines about Mike Leach’s rationale for a move to Louisville and why returning Dan McCarney to the Big 12 would be a wise move for Kansas, among other topics in his weekly nine things and one crazy prediction about college football.
- Members of the 1999 Texas A&M team tell the Austin American-Statesman’s Randy Riggs some of their memories about the “Bonfire game” that season against Texas.
- The Tulsa World’s Bill Haisten discusses Oklahoma State’s BCS at-large possibilities.
- Bob Stoops tells John Hoover of the Tulsa World that backup quarterback Drew Allen's redshirt won’t be removed, despite the recent struggles of Landry Jones.
- The Associated Press' Ralph Russo explains why Stoops might consider moving to Notre Dame and why Texas is the most likely of the "Big Three" to lose this weekend.
- The Boulder Daily Camera’s Kyle Ringo compares Dan Hawkins' current coaching situation to that of Bill Callahan heading into the Colorado-Nebraska game two years ago.
- The Lawrence Journal-World’s Tom Keegan writes of the curious timing of the Kansas athletic department’s probe into Mark Mangino's coaching style.
- Bill Snyder provides some perspective to the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Austin Meek about his return to coaching at Kansas State.
- The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams analyzes Texas Tech’s bowl possibilities.
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
NORMAN, Okla. -- The closest that Sam Bradford has come to throwing a ball in practice came when he tossed a ball underhand to a sideline assistant a couple of minutes ago.
Bradford has taken snaps, backed up and handled the ball in every way imaginable.
And I still haven't seen him throw a pass in the last 30 minutes.
I still think he's starting, but I wonder if Bob Stoops will have him line up to hand the ball to DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown.
Or maybe he's on a pitch count and Stoops didn't want to waste them in pregame practice.
Bradford left his teammates in the middle of their pregame exercises to run back into the locker room.
Landry Jones, John Nimmo, Ben Sherrard and Drew Allen all have thrown passes so far.
Bradford hasn't.
Few Big 12 backup QBs have much experience
October, 2, 2009
10/02/09
8:00
AM ET
By Tim Griffin | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
Backup quarterbacks already played a big part in Big 12 play before October arrived.
Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford was idled with a sprained shoulder, paving the way for Landry Jones to take over for the Sooners for the last two games. And a season-ending knee injury for Baylor’s Robert Griffin last week has 2007 Baylor starter Blake Szymanski inserted back in the lineup – if he can overcome his own shoulder injury sustained in the same game in which Griffin went down.
Here’s a look at the backup quarterback situations around the Big 12 heading into this week’s games.
Ready to roll:
Kansas State: Behind starter Carson Coffman, the Wildcats have Grant Gregory, a fifth-year senior transfer from South Florida who has seen action in three games for KSU so far this season, rushing for 92 yards and passing for 21 yards. Gregory battled Matt Grothe for the starting job at South Florida and played in 21 games earlier in his career for the Bulls.
Has the hype:
Kansas: If Todd Reesing were sidelined, Kansas coach Mark Mangino finally feels comfortable enough to turn to redshirt freshman Kale Pick, who was Kansas’ offensive scout team player of the year last season. Pick is an adept runner who rushed for 47 yards against Northern Colorado, 87 yards against UTEP and an 18-yard scamper against Duke already this season. And Mangino could always turn to Kerry Meier, although he’s much more valuable now playing every down as a wide receiver.
Nebraska: Cody Green came into the Nebraska program with hype that he could see sizable playing time this season as a freshman. He graduated from high school early and arrived in the spring, but a hip injury set him back. But finally healthy, he’s shown flashes of brilliance early in his career. Green broke a 49-yard run on his first college carry and a 24-yard touchdown run last week against Louisiana-Lafayette. He’s also showing maturity as a passer after completing 12 of 17 passes in mop-up time in three games for the Cornhuskers.
Texas: Garrett Gilbert was the most heralded quarterback prospect in the nation after he was selected as the Gatorade and Parade national player of the year last season in high school. Mack Brown has wasted little time getting him game action as Gilbert has completed 11 of 14 passes for 110 yards in three games this season. And his confidence in the offense has grown in each game he’s played.
Texas A&M: Ryan Tannehill is listed as Jerrod Johnson’s backup and would likely be installed if Johnson was sidelined for a long period of time. But Tannehill’s first focus in the Aggies’ offense now is as a wide receiver where he’s produced 11 catches for a team-leading 201 receiving yards. But Tannehill aspires to play quarterback and got the first snaps at the position in the blowout victory over UAB last week when Johnson left the game. He waged a closer battle than expected this spring before Johnson claimed the starting job.
Who knows?
Baylor: With Griffin’s injury, Szymanski takes over. He’s more tested than most backups, considering he threw for a school-record 2,844 passing yards during his season as a starter in 2007 and accounted for 27 career touchdown passes in 22 college games. But behind him is freshman Nick Florence, whose experience consists of one college game -- last week against Northwestern State. If Szymanski isn’t ready to go Saturday night against Kent State, Florence would be entrusted with the starting job.
Colorado: Behind starter Cody Hawkins, the Buffaloes currently have rangy freshman Seth Lobato listed as his backup. They might be in better shape if Tyler Hansen chose to be available. But Hansen, who orchestrated a victory over Kansas State last season as a freshman, has stated he wants to redshirt this season unless there’s a season-ending injury for Hawkins.
Iowa State: Austen Arnaud is one of the most durable starters in the league. But behind him, Paul Rhoads has gotten freshman backup Jerome Tiller playing time in the first three 2009 games. Tiller showed flashes in spring practice, but still would be an inexperienced alternative.
Missouri: Blaine Gabbert is entrenched as the starter. Jimmy Costello has assumed the backup position and has played in two games this season with scant action in garbage time. Coaches like his live arm and feel for the Missouri offense, despite his lack of game experience.
Oklahoma: After Bradford’s injury, Jones was immediately thrust into the lineup and he’s played well, including a school-record six touchdown passes against Tulsa. Freshman Drew Allen is the backup behind him, but coach Bob Stoops has avoided playing him yet with hopes of preserving a redshirt season if Bradford can return to the starting lineup quickly.
Oklahoma State: Alex Cate and Brandon Weeden staged a tight battle to back up Zac Robinson throughout preseason practice. Cate, a redshirt junior, won the No. 2 job but struggled in brief early playing time this season. He was outplayed last week by Weeden, a 26-year-old former minor-league baseball pitcher who rifled a pair of garbage-time touchdown passes against Grambling last week. But neither has much actual game experience with Cate playing in six career games and Weeden in two games.
Texas Tech: Behind Taylor Potts, the Red Raiders have junior Steven Sheffield, who passed for 52 yards and threw a touchdown pass against Rice in the only live action for a Tech backup quarterback this season. Sheffield would be an inexperienced alternative if Potts can’t play.
Jones facing challenge to juice OU's offense
September, 9, 2009
9/09/09
2:41
PM ET
By Tim Griffin | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
Despite the dire straits their team is facing, Oklahoma players still can joke with new starting quarterback Landry Jones about the growing fame of he and his mustache.
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|
| Tim Heitman/US Presswire | |
| If Landry Jones was nervous about taking over for Sam Bradford, he didn't show it versus BYU. |
The redshirt freshman will replace Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford for the foreseeable future. And the Sooners' new quarterback’s facial hair is providing some levity for his teammates following the loss of Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham.
“We tease him about the mustache all the time,” Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams said. “I’m predicting before the year is over, he’ll shave that thing off.”
His teammates have quickly gravitated to the redshirt freshman who has been pressed into duty after Bradford’s shoulder injury last week against BYU.
Despite Bradford's absence, Jones is confident in his abilities for as long as he is needed.
“It's very unfortunate, but right now we have to move on and I have some huge shoes to fill,” Jones told reporters earlier this week. “So I have to pick my game up as well.”
His teammates have said that Jones reminds them of Bradford when he was younger because of his size, football acumen and his demeanor around his teammates.
“Landry is a laid-back dude,” senior wide receiver Adron Tennell said. “He’s a very easy-going guy. And with him now, when he talks we all listen.”
Jones’ first taste of action was a mixed mag in the Sooners’ season-opening loss to BYU, as he completed only 6 of 12 passes for 51 yards. But the Sooners didn’t turn the ball over with him in charge and he didn’t make a bad throw.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was particularly pleased with Jones’ reaction after he took over the team.
“He couldn’t have handled it better,” Stoops said. “I didn’t see him flinch once.”
During a heralded career at Artesia (N.M.) High School, Jones led his school to two state championships and threw 89 touchdown passes in his two seasons as a starter. He was an Under Armour ESPN All-American, a Parade All-American and the New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year.
He’s brings a similar skill set as Bradford, without nearly the experience. His work as a redshirt gave him a slight edge over freshman Drew Allen for the backup job in training camp.
“I have no doubt he’ll do a good job,” Tennell said. “No matter what quarterback is out there, we’ll try to make it easier for him. We’ve just got to do a better job of catching the ball.”
The Sooners likely won’t be tested as much against Idaho State, an FCS school that started the season with a 50-3 loss at Arizona State. But it will still test Jones’ confidence, which has grown with his experience.
“I feel really comfortable now,” Jones told reporters earlier this week. “I have a year under my belt. I kind of have all my checks down and have a feel for the tempo. So I feel really good.”
No coach in the Big 12 has traditionally been able to circle the wagons in times of adversity like Stoops.
The Sooners claimed the Big 12 championship in two of the last three seasons after early-season losses to Texas. In 2006, they overcame the training camp loss of Rhett Bomar after he was kicked off the team. Later that season, Stoops coached around the injury of Adrian Peterson for the second half of the season and still won the Big 12 championship.
“Our guys know we expect whoever’s out there to do well,” Stoops said. “You have to move forward and play with the guys you have. Just like with all of the other injuries, somebody’s got to step up and play. That’s what a team does.”
Big 12 mailbag: OSU playing 8 home games?
August, 21, 2009
8/21/09
6:21
PM ET
By Tim Griffin | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
Let's throw open the mailbag on a Friday afternoon and see what you the readers are thinking and asking me about.
W. Dawson of Dallas writes: Tim, have you looked at Oklahoma State's schedule yet? How can they get away with having eight home games? I can't believe the Big 12 allowed this to happen, much less their competition. This is an incredible advantage, especially given the narrow margins that separate various Big 12 foes. Talk about running downhill before anyone else has snapped the ball.
Tim Griffin: Obviously, Mike Holder and Mike Gundy can do anything they want with their schedule. And it's a good home schedule with the four Big 12 games and home non-conference games against Georgia, Houston, Grambling and Rice. I guess the risk/reward is this. Most coaches want their team to face a non-conference challenge of some kind before they head into conference play. It doesn't have to be especially taxing - Texas going to Wyoming, Kansas to UTEP -- but most coaches believe that kind of experience is good before they head into conference play.
Obviously, Gundy doesn't think like that. The Cowboys will get a huge boost after playing four home games, but he won't know much about how ready his team will be to play on the road for their first trip to Texas A&M on Oct. 10. If I was coaching, I'd like a little more piece of mind before that first conference road game. And I bet Gundy will be thinking that way the week before the game.
Ocean from Kemah, Texas, writes: Tim, I'm very interested to hear if there has been any shift of momentum due to freshman Chris Whaley's arrival this summer. Also an update on the other Big 12's other freshman prospects would be greatly appreciated.
Tim Griffin: Whaley has struggled keeping up with the other Texas backs after reporting to training camp with an ankle injury that was aggravated playing basketball before he ever arrived. It set him back in his battle for playing time in a crowded Longhorn backfield.
From what I'm hearing, Fozzy Whittaker will be the leading candidate to have more of the carries in the Texas backfield. But he's got to remain healthy, which is something he hasn't been able to do so far. Then, look for veteran Vondrell McGee to have the next shot. Cody Johnson will also be there along with Tre' Newton and Whaley. I look for Whaley to get more playing time as he shows coaches he is more comfortable with his role in the offense and particularly in pass-protection schemes. We'll see that later, rather than sooner for the Longhorns.
And also, look for a post early next week where I'll break down the conference's leading freshman producers so far in training camps.
Mark M. from Arlington, Texas, writes: I know Baylor is pegged as your eighth team in the conference, but I think even that might be overrated! Why is no one talking about how incredible of a job Jason Smith did protecting Robert Griffin last year? Without his protection, combined with a very challenging non-conference schedule, I think Griffin takes a lot more hits and goes through a sophomore slump. I think they finish last in the Big 12 South as a result. Am I wrong?
Tim Griffin: Your scenario could very easily happen, although I do have the Bears winning six games and making a bowl trip. But I think that watching the Bears' left tackle position will be one of the most interesting positions in the conference.
Obviously, Smith was the best lineman in the conference last season, as evidenced by his No. 2 selection in the NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. I've heard some great things about his replacement, muscular 6-foot-4, 315 pound former Canadian fireman Danny Watkins. But we won't know anything until he starts hooking up with players like Jeremy Beal, Sergio Kindle and all of the others.
Watkins' inexperience will be one of Baylor's biggest question marks. And one missed blitz assignment could end the Bears' season in a hurty. Coach Art Briles has to hope that Watkins is ready for the challenge.
But we'll see how he does. It might be the major factor if the Bears are able to go 6-6 and make that elusive bowl trip, or end up in the Big 12 cellar and you hint. The margin between the two is very slim - particularly with the balance in the Big 12.
Ross Jackman from Sioux Falls, S.D., writes: Tim, I saw the story you linked earlier this week about the conference's most underrated and overrated coaches from that guy in Lincoln. Who is your selection, as the most underrated head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator in the Big 12?
Tim Griffin: Ross, good question. For a head coach, I'll take Kansas' Mark Mangino, who quietly has taken the Jayhawks on their most successful, consistent run in school history. The Jayhawks made back-to-back bowl trips for the first time in school history the last two years and are poised for much more this season.
For my offensive coordinator, I'll take Nebraska's Shawn Watson. The work he did with Joe Ganz the last two seasons was simply phenomenal. Earlier work at Colorado with Gary Barnett's team was outstanding as well. Watson's past history is one of the reasons I think Zac Lee might be better than a lot of people expect for the Cornhuskers. I know he'll be ready, considering Watson's track record.
And for my most underrated defensive coordinator, I'll choose Texas Tech's Ruffin McNeill. The work he did with the Red Raiders to help develop their defense was a big reason the Red Raiders were able to forge a three-way tie for the South Division title last season. He'll have his work cut out trying to replace pass-rushing specialists like McKinner Dixon and Brandon Williams and safeties Darcel McBath and Daniel Charbonnet, but I expect McNeill will have another strong unit again this season.
Mitch Nelson from Kansas City, Mo., writes: Tim, the Big 12 has four high-profile quarterbacks this year in Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Zac Robinson and Todd Reesing who will probably finish their college careers after this season. Can you break down who their possible replacements will be and which team has the best chance to not miss a step with a new quarterback next year?
Tim Griffin: I really am hesitant to pick which team has the best quarterback situation in the future because so many of these players don't have any game action. I'd like to reserve my decisions until I get to see some of the young kids play in a little bit of game action. But here's how I see those four schools in the future.
Oklahoma: The leader as far as experience would appear to be redshirt freshman Landry Jones, along with junior John Nimmo and Ben Sherrard. I've heard some good things about Drew Allen, a tall 6-foot-6 thrower from San Antonio Alamo Heights High School. But especially keep an eye out for Blake Bell of Wichita, Kan., a dual-threat thrower/runner who is one of the prizes of the Sooners' 2010 recruiting class. He will be the most heralded quarterback to enter the Oklahoma program since Rhett Bomar.
Texas: As far as promise goes, the Longhorns would appear to have it with Garrett Gilbert who I expect to play as a freshman and beat out Sherrod Harris for the backup role this season. And they also have two more quarterbacks coming in the 2010 recruiting class - Connor Wood of Second Baptist High School in Houston and Case McCoy, the 6-foot-2, 169-pound little brother of Colt McCoy.
Oklahoma State: I know that Gundy actually wasn't that disappointed with Zac Robinson's injury last week because it forced the action in the backu quarterback battle
between junior Alex Case and sophomore Brandon Weeden. Gundy told me he was a little angry that one of the two players hadn't jumped out and taken the backup role. Whoever wins that would appear to be in line to replace Robinson.
Weeden has a little bit more maturity because of his five-season career in minor-league baseball. But Cate has more game experience and comfort in the OSU offense. And the Cowboys also have a commitment from 2010 recruit Johnny Deaton of Sand Spring, Okla., who might be their long-term answer.
Kansas: I think the fact that redshirt freshman Kale Pick has won the backup job is significant here. First, it will enable Kerry Meier to move to wide receiver full time. It will also get Pick more snaps in practice and have him ready in the spring when the opportunity to replace Reesing will materialize for him.
Mangino is also high on a couple of freshmen quarterbacks he has in Christian Matthews, a taller, skinner thrower and Jordan Webb, who kind of looks like Reesing and followed his route by graduating early and reporting to college a semester early to boost his early assimilation into Ed Warinner's offense.
That's all the questions I have time for this week.
Thanks again and have a great weekend.
Stoops says Bradford is playing better than before
August, 14, 2009
8/14/09
4:31
PM ET
By Tim Griffin | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops thinks that Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford has come back noticeably improved for his junior season.
Bradford broke Oklahoma single-season records with 50 touchdown passes and 4,720 passing yards last season, but he appears to have more confidence and a better deep arm after the first week of Oklahoma's practices.
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| AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki | |
| Sam Bradford has added 10 pounds on his frame since last season. |
"He's strong, he's quicker and the ball comes out that much faster," Stoops said. "With another year of experience out on the field, he'll think much quicker, too."
Bradford appears noticeably bigger after adding 10 pounds of muscle since the end of last year.
"Sam is getting better each and every day," senior wide receiver Adron Tennell said. "Throwing the ball, rolling out of the pocket, he's done it all. You can tell he's better than before."
Stoops said there's little separation between his backups who are playing behind Bradford at quarterback.Redshirt freshman Landry Jones was presumed to have the edge, but redshirt freshman Ben Sherrard, junior John Nimmo and freshman Drew Allen all are in the mix for playing time.
"Those guys are still splitting their reps," Stoops said. "We keep snapping the ball and giving them experience. They are working well together and doing a nice job."
- Sophomore defensive back Jamell Fleming has been hobbled by a back injury and sophomore defensive back Desmond Jackson "has an issue with academic misconduct" that he's working through, Stoops said.
- Oklahoma's special teams have looked strong in recent practices. Kicker Jimmy Stevens showed improved range at Thursday's open practice with field goals of 50 and 53 yards.
Stevens' length is a big development for the Sooners. His longest kick last season was 42 yards and he shanked five extra points.
Stoops playfully chided about 300 fans who attended the Sooners' open workout Thursday night that they weren't cheering loud enough for Stevens' big kicks.
"They only cheer when there's an offensive play," Stoops said. "When the defense intercepts the ball they are quiet over there or when the kicker gets a nice 53-yard field goal."
- One of the early revelations of fall practice has been wide receiver/punter Cameron Kenney, a transfer from Garden City Community College.
Kenney has jumped into the mix at wide receiver and also is challenging for the punting position against Tress Way. It's a weird combination of a speedy wide receiver who also is a strong punter.
"He's pretty good," Stoops said. "He's shows a lot of signs (as a receiver), but he needs to be more consistent, but he's doing a lot of good things.
"He's punted well, too. It's very rare because you don't see a lot of wide receivers who can punt the ball 40 yards like he can."
Oklahoma receivers coach Jay Norvell said that Kenney reminds him of former Oklahoma wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias because of his combination of size and strength.
"It's because of his quickness, his way of getting in and out of plays and the fact he's very strong to the ball," Norvell said. "Cameron can also run well after the catch. He's a hard worker and the guys who work the hardest get better faster."
- Despite the loss of key playmakers like Iglesias, Manny Johnson and Quentin Chaney from last season, Norvell thinks his current group has the chance to be better than last year's productive group.
The emergence of Kenney, Tennell, Ryan Broyles, Jameel Owens, Brandon Caleb, Dejuan Miller and Mossis Madu has provided the Sooners with a deep cast of productive receivers.
"I think we're more athletic and explosive than we were last year," Norvell said. "Whether that will correlate into productiveness, I'm not sure. But we have athletes and in that respect we probably have more deep threats than we did last year."
ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ubben
Ubben joined ESPN.com in March 2010 after covering Big 12 football for two seasons at the Columbia Missourian and The Oklahoman. Ubben, a native of Springdale, Ark., lives in Dallas.
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