ESPN College Football

The NFL Pro Bowl released its rosters on Tuesday, and seven players have their roots in the Big 12.

Texas

• Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas City
• Earl Thomas, S, Seattle (starter)

Missouri

• Justin Smith, DE, San Francisco (starter)

Oklahoma

• Davin Joseph, OG, Tampa Bay

Texas A&M

• Von Miller, LB, Denver (starter)
• Shane Lechler, P, Oakland

Texas Tech

• Wes Welker, WR, New England (starter)

For just the second time ever, the first round of the NFL draft will be the only part of the draft's first day, set for primetime on Thursday night.

This year, the Big 12 could have as many as five first-round picks, and five players from the league are in New York for the draft.

So, let's take a look back. Since the first NFL draft of the Big 12 era, who has the most first-rounders?

Texas: 16

• 2010: S Earl Thomas, 14th overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2009: DE Brian Orakpo, 13th overall, Washington Redskins
• 2007: S Michael Griffin, 19th overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2007: CB Aaron Ross, 20th overall, New York Giants
• 2006: QB Vince Young, third overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2006: CB Michael Huff, seventh overall, Oakland Raiders
• 2005: RB Cedric Benson, fourth overall, Chicago Bears
• 2005: LB Derrick Johnson, 15th overall, Kansas City Chiefs
• 2004: WR Roy Williams, seventh overall, Detroit Lions
• 2004: DT Marcus Tubbs, 23rd overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2002: OL Mike Williams, fourth overall, Buffalo Bills
• 2002: CB Quentin Jammer, fifth overall, San Diego Chargers
• 2001: OL Leonard Davis, second overall, Arizona Cardinals
• 2001: DT Casey Hampton, 19th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1999: RB Ricky Williams, fifth overall, New Orleans Saints
• 1997: CB Bryant Westbrook, fifth overall, Detroit Lions

Oklahoma: 12

• 2010: QB Sam Bradford, first overall, St. Louis Rams
• 2010: DT Gerald McCoy, third overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2010: OT Trent Williams, fourth overall, Washington Redskins
• 2010: TE Jermaine Gresham, 21st overall, Cincinnati Bengals
• 2007: RB Adrian Peterson, seventh overall, Minnesota Vikings
• 2006: OL Davin Joseph, 23rd overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2005: OL Jammal Brown, 13th overall, New Orleans Saints
• 2005: WR Mark Clayton, 22nd overall, Baltimore Ravens
• 2004: DT Tommie Harris, 14th overall, Chicago Bears
• 2003: CB Andre Woolfolk, 28th overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2002: S Roy Williams, eighth overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 2001: Stockar McDougle, 20th overall, Detroit Lions

Oklahoma State: 6

• 2010: OL Russell Okung, sixth overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2010: WR Dez Bryant, 24th overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 2009: TE Brandon Pettigrew, 20th overall, Detroit Lions
• 2004: WR Rashaun Woods, 31st overall, San Francisco 49ers
• 2003: DE Kevin Williams, ninth overall, Minnesota Vikings
• 1998: CB R.W. McQuarters, 28th overall, San Francisco 49ers

Missouri: 4

• 2010: LB Sean Weatherspoon, 19th overall, Atlanta Falcons
• 2009: WR Jeremy Maclin, 19th overall, Philadelphia Eagles
• 2009: DT Ziggy Hood, 32nd overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
• 2001: DE Justin Smith, fourth overall, Cincinnati Bengals

Kansas State: 3

• 2009: QB Josh Freeman, 17th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2003: CB Terence Newman, fifth overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 1997: DB Chris Canty, 29th overall, New England Patriots

Texas A&M: 2

• 2003: DT Ty Warren, 13th overall, New England Patriots
• 2003: DB Sammy Davis, 30th overall, San Diego Chargers

Texas Tech: 1

• 2009: WR Michael Crabtree, 10th overall, San Francisco 49ers

Kansas: 1

• 2008: CB Aqib Talib, 20th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baylor: 1

• 2009: OL Jason Smith, 2nd overall, St. Louis Rams

Iowa State: none since 1973 (George Amundson)

A few thoughts and observations:

• I doubt many would be surprised that this list is also a reasonably accurate reflection of overall success since the Big 12's inception in 1996. Obviously, Texas and Oklahoma have dominated. Since 2000, Texas has the nation's fourth-most first-rounders. Oklahoma is No. 6. Their success has paralleled that, along with recruiting rankings.
• In that same breath, it's impossible to look at this list and not once again be impressed with what Mike Leach did. He obviously has the reputation as an overachiever, but looking big picture, he was able to do it with one first-round pick. Nobody beat Texas and Oklahoma more and Leach helped put together what is still the Big 12's longest bowl streak.
• Texas' consistency sticks out, too. Since just 2001, Texas has had two first-rounders in six different seasons. If you've got two first-rounders on your team, you're probably going to be pretty good. The Longhorns, if you haven't noticed, have been. Those two first-rounders in six seasons are more or as many as half the league has in the history of the Big 12. What else you should note? Texas is unlikely to have a first rounder this year, and after Aaron Williams is drafted, Sam Acho probably will be the next to go, which won't be until the third or fourth round.
• Oklahoma State and Missouri's rise over the past three seasons has paid off in the NFL draft. Missouri had three first-rounders in the last two seasons and figures to add two more this year after having just one in the 12-year history of the league before 2009. That's quite a streak, and even more proof of what Gary Pinkel has built at Missouri. One more piece of evidence? Despite losing those two first-rounders, Missouri should be back in the preseason polls next year after losing two of its top players. That's definitely something new in Columbia. The Cowboys figure to add more soon with Justin Blackmon at least. As long as Pinkel and Gundy are at the helm for their respective programs, expect them to continue to rise.
• Don't be surprised by Texas A&M's swoon following R.C. Slocum's departure. From 1990-1998, the Aggies won nine games every season but one. From 1990-96, the Aggies had eight first-round picks. Since 1998? Two seasons with at least nine wins and just two first-round picks.
• More evidence you can't underestimate the importance of having first-round picks? None for Baylor in the history of the Big 12 before Art Briles. In just three years, Briles may have three if the Bears add two more this year with Phil Taylor and Danny Watkins. Taylor and Watkins both came from unlikely sources. Taylor was a Penn State transfer and Watkins a juco transfer that formerly worked as a fireman in Canada.

The Big 12 had a record-breaking performance in the 2010 NFL Draft, landing nine first-round picks and five of the first six picks.

A few of those picks have spent the first half of the season proving they were worth the hefty first-round price tag.

Scouts Inc. has updated its top 10 rookies rankings, and three of the top four are from the Big 12.

Analyst Matt Williamson is particularly impressed with former Nebraska star Ndamukong Suh, who is already eighth in the league with 6.5 sacks for the Detroit Lions and scored his first career touchdown on a fumble return in last week's game.

"Rarely do defensive tackles enter the league and make such a big impact right away. It is seldom discussed, but this is one of the hardest positions to become accustomed to at this level. The men blocking are much stronger and far more technically sound. Everything happens much faster in very tight quarters and reading the blocking schemes is much more difficult to do so quickly. But none of that has slowed down this marvelous player," Williamson writes. "As a run defender right now, Suh is only average, but he still demands a lot of attention from opposing blocking schemes. As a pass-rusher, he is out of this world. ... He sure looks like the Defensive Rookie of the Year to me."

Suh ranks No. 2 on Williamson's rookie rankings, behind former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, who has the St. Louis Rams at 4-4 in his first season.

Former Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant and current Dallas Cowboy ranks No. 4, after catching six passes for 84 yards against Jacksonville last week and scoring three touchdowns in a Monday night game against the New York Giants two weeks ago.

Former Texas safety Earl Thomas, ranks No. 7 as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks.

Texas defensive tackle Lamarr Houston (Oakland Raiders) and Oklahoma State cornerback Perrish Cox (Denver Broncos) are also listed among the notables.

Schedule: Practice started on Sunday

What’s new: The offense. Colt McCoy completing 70 percent of his passes meant a shift away from the Vince Young zone read to a pass-heavy spread offense that served the Longhorns well for McCoy's four seasons as starter. Now, they'll take the offense more under center to try and establish a downhill running game that's been missing since 2007, the last time Texas had a 1,000-yard rusher.

Key battle: Receiver. There might not be a more muddled group in the entire conference. Texas has a handful of receivers that could be capable of becoming the No. 1 target, but that status could fluctuate throughout the season and who ends up on top is anyone's guess. Malcolm Williams, James Kirkendoll and Marquise Goodwin are probably the safest bets, but there's a reason Texas brought in Darius White and Mike Davis, two of the top three receivers in the 2010 class.

We've already looked at the conference's best quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. Let's flip across the other side of the ball and take a look at the conference's top-10 linebackers.

Check out part one, featuring linebackers 6-10, from this morning.

1. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

There are disagreements about whether Lewis or Von Miller is the conference's top linebacker, and it's very, very close. But in the Big 12, the strength should be shifted slightly to the running game, especially among the conference's top-three teams --Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. In short, having a run-stopping linebacker is slightly more valuable than having a crazy-good pass rusher. That said, they're both -- by far -- the best at what they do. Lewis has 253 tackles in two seasons at Oklahoma and is entering only his junior year, while Miller has one season of excellence in three years at Texas A&M leading up to his senior season. Both were All-Big 12 first-teamers in 2009, and both should be again in 2010.

2. Von Miller, Texas A&M

Miller and Lewis are a step above the rest of the linebackers in the conference, and Miller has no returning contemporary when it comes to sacks. He had 5.5 more than any returning Big 12 player (Missouri DE Aldon Smith), and will play a position in new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter's 3-4 scheme built for his talents. The speedy, athletic 6-3, 240-pounder will be DeRuyter's "Joker," a hybrid defensive end/linebacker position.

3. Brian Duncan, Texas Tech

Duncan led the Red Raiders in tackles in 2009 with 87, and though he was held without a sack as a junior, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior may get big opportunities for game-changing plays in 2010. New defensive coordinator James Willis moved him to the outside of his 3-4, aggressive scheme, and Duncan should spend a lot more time in the offensive backfield with Willis' penchant for blitzing.

4. Keenan Robinson, Texas

Only two Longhorns had more tackles than Robinson's 63 from 2009, and both (Roddrick Muckelroy and Earl Thomas) were 2010 NFL draft picks. He'll be one of the leaders of a Texas defense that should be among the nation's best once again, with Robinson holding down one of the outside linebacker spots for the second season. His four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks earned him All-Big 12 honorable mention.

5. Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State

Lemon missed all of the 2009 season after tearing his ACL, but he's back this spring and sounds back on track. He was second on the team in tackles in 2008 with 90 stops, and this spring, defensive coordinator Bill Young said his linebacker was among the best middle linebackers in the country. Based on his placement on this list, I don't agree 100 percent, but he's definitely one of the best in the conference. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior's injury delayed his career, but it gives the Cowboys some much-needed maturity and leadership on a defense that lost seven starters from a season ago.

See Nos. 6-10 on our list.

Christian Scott, S

Looks likely to succeed Earl Thomas alongside Blake Gideon as Texas' second safety. Scott sat out the 2009 season--excluding the national title game -- because of unresolved eligibility issues that were resolved at the semester's end. A former ESPNU 150 recruit, Scott played in all 13 games for Texas as a sophomore, notching 15 tackles, including two in a win over Ohio State. He'll have competition from Kenny Vaccaro at safety, but if he holds him off, he could finish the season with great tackle and interception numbers in a loaded Longhorns secondary.

Dustin Earnest, LB

Scott isn't the only one filling a hole left by the NFL draft. Earnest should step into departed linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy's spot as a senior after sitting behind starter Muckelroy for two seasons. Like Scott, the talent around him should help. Fellow linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho look likely to earn All-Big 12 honors in 2010. When Earnest did get a chance to fill in for Muckelroy, he made 26 stops -- 17 without assistance -- and a sack. He's played in 38 of 40 games over the past three seasons, but he should finally be counted on for consistent playing time this season.


Barrett Matthews, TE

Matthews gave a nice preview of what could come later in the Longhorns' spring game, proving to be an effective safety blanket for fellow sophomore, quarterback Garrett Gilbert. Greg Smith started last season, but coach Mack Brown says if Matthews eliminates his inconsistencies in the passing game, Smith will move to H-back and be more of a blocker and utilized in short passing routes. Matthews, a former ESPNU 150 recruit who ESPN named as the nation's No. 3 tight end, caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown in the game. If Blaine Irby can get back to playing form after missing almost all of the past two seasons with a knee injury, and Texas has success establishing the run game, it would also have an impressive two-tight end formation to utilize in play-action and give Gilbert two good options in the middle of the field that defenses would be forced to account for.

More Fresh Faces:

• Texas Tech
• Texas A&M

Miss your team's mailbag? Here's the first two:

• Texas Tech
• Texas A&M

On with the show...

Dan in St. Peter, Minn. asks: Who do you think has/had more pressure put on them, Freshman Colt McCoy following VY's run into glory or Grapes (GG) following his...um...encounter with the Alabama Defense?Do you think the "lights will be to bright for him" as they were for Nebraska's Cody Green or will he deliver as a freshman?

DU: First off, Grapes is a fantastic nickname. Although, it opens up the Horns to some too-easy jokes every time he gets sacked about what’s eating him. And I can only assume you’d have to pay Johnny Depp some royalties. I’m sure no one wants to get into that.

But to your question: It’s Gilbert. The hopes were high for McCoy, but no one expected him to do what Vince did. Even though he never got that national title, he was arguably as good overall as Vince was, even though they were very different quarterbacks. Now, the folks in Austin have seen that legends can be replaced and that it’s possible for Gilbert to be as good as McCoy—and he might be. No pressure, just replace the quarterback with the most wins in the history of college football.

I don’t think “the lights will be too bright,” but like McCoy in his first year (Ohio State, Texas A&M), Gilbert’s going to have his bad days and forgettable games alongside his memorable ones. But unlike McCoy, he’ll have a top-notch defense to fall back on and help the Longhorns “down year” be pretty high. The Longhorn defense finished 24^th nationally in scoring and total defense when McCoy was a freshman. I’d be shocked if Texas was that low this year.

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Eric in Dallas, Texas asks: Which running back actually steps up to take some of the load off Gilbert, and will Texas stick with the running game if Gilbert proves he is consistent and reliable?...........Or will Texas ditch running the ball around the UCLA game, only to try and revive it after OU takes a halftime lead in the RRR?

DU: Tre’ Newton and Fozzy Whittaker should receive the bulk of the carries, but I think the distribution will vary game-to-game based solely on who’s being more productive. As for your second question, I think the reverse is more possible. They’ll keep running the ball and I don’t see Texas losing a game until maybe at Texas Tech in the third game but more likely the Red River Rivalry. If they’re down at the half, I could definitely see the running game scrapped and the game put in Gilbert’s hands, depending on how he’d played in the first four games. If he engineers a comeback and beats Oklahoma, thus reincarnating the spread in Austin, well… let the legend begin. He looked really good in the spring game, and I didn't see any real negatives in his Easter performance against his own defense. Obviously, that wasn't the case against Alabama, but he won't see defenses like that every week. We'll probably get a good read of what to expect from him this year by the end of the Texas Tech game.

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Bobby in Austin, Texas asks: Why did you not put Texas' three-headed monster on your list?? I mean, Texas has so much talent to be afraid of, it is ridiculous! Garrett Gilbert will be the best QB in the Big 12 this year with all his skill and leadership. He already has 2 Texas state championships to his credit and several Texas high school passing records. Fozzy Whitaker and/or Tre' Newton will have a big year in the new offense with Gilbert being more under center. They are fast and shifty and can make big plays. And Malcolm Williams and Marquise Goodwin will have a party on the field this year at receiver. The size and athleticism of Williams could rival anyone in the conference, while Goodwin is one of the fastest players in the nation and can jump farther than anyone (proven by his national championship in long jump). So what gives?

DU: Who would you kick off my list for a quarterback with zero career starts, two running backs who have never rushed for more than 600 yards in a season and two receivers who have also never touched that mark? Oklahoma State has a couple of those, but they also have a guy without a real ceiling in Kendall Hunter and a chance to put up crazy numbers offensively.

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Larry in Salina, Kansas asks: Does Texas pay you weekly or monthly for your services?

DU: Bi-weekly, with per-post bonuses.

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Cecil in Plano, Texas asks: Mack Brown and Co. have a lot of work to do this off season and once the season starts. What are the realistic expectations for the 2010 Horns and what will you be looking for in order for them to make a championship run this year or next?

DU: The defense will keep the Longhorns streak of winning 10 games for the past nine seasons alive. How many more they win is up to Gilbert. If he plays well, Texas could go undefeated. The defense won’t be able to beat teams like Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas A&M by itself. If he plays poorly in those games, the defense will need to make a couple big plays or force some timely turnovers to win.

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Kevin in Austin, Texas asks: David, love the blog. I have a feeling that the post-Earl Thomas era for UT's secondary is going to be BETTER than last year. I think the added experience of Aaron Williams, Chykie Brown, Curtis Brown and Blake Gideon, in a defense that snatched 17 non-Earl Thomas INTs in 2009, will mature into the scariest secondary in college football. Do you agree and should the rest of the conference decide to focus on the run game versus UT?...(uh oh...Acho brothers....)

DU: I agree completely. Texas should have the best secondary in the nation, and that front seven will help them do it. The Acho brothers, Sam and Emmanuel, LB Keenan Robinson and DT Kheeston Randall will put pressure on passers and keep teams from focusing on the run. The entire defense will have a hand in what should be a good turnover ratio and a great pass defense, but the talent and depth that Texas has on the defense’s back line is unrivaled.

Today begins our countdown of the Big 12's 25 best players entering the 2010 season. The full results are locked in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we'll be revealing one player per day until we reach the top of the list.

Don't confuse this for the top 25 NFL prospects in the league, because it's not. Rather, it's based on what the players have done in college football to this point, their potential for the 2010 season and the impact they have on their teams.

No. 25: Blake Gideon, S, Jr., Texas

2009 numbers: Tied for second in the Big 12 with six interceptions in 2009. Also made 62 tackles. Earned All-Big 12 honorable mention.

Most recent ranking: Gideon was not ranked in last offseason's ranking of the conference's top 40 players.

Making the case for Gideon: He has started all 27 games for the Longhorns in two seasons and has earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in both seasons, despite playing in a star-studded Texas secondary. He'll be without his partner, Earl Thomas, this season, but Gideon should be a big part of a Texas defense that should be among the best in the nation after holding opponents to just over 250 yards a game in 2009, good for third nationally and best in the Big 12. Gideon also came away with interceptions in the Big 12 and national championship games. With his extensive experience and prototypical size (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) for his position, he should be due for another big year in 2010.

There's no chat this week, so here's a mid-week mailbag. Send me your questions if you want to make an appearance in Friday's mailbag.

Dru in Oklahoma City, Okla. writes: Why are people giving Texas so much hype for next year? They have a quarterback who really hasn't proven anything, Texas lost most if not all of the major supporting cast for GG to throw to, and Texas has not had a running game since Jamaal Charles was in the backfield.

DU: The people giving Texas hype are the same ones looking at Mack Brown's track record, and not Texas' offensive depth chart. Nine consecutive 10-win seasons is tough to argue with, and he's had plenty of seasons with more turnover than the one he'll face in 2010. Part of the reason is how well (even if it's unfairly easy) Texas has recruited over the past decade. Texas doesn't have a lot of proven offensive talent, but they have guys you have to, at the very least, feel comfortable with, starting with Garrett Gilbert.

And I notice you didn't have much to say about the Longhorn defense. Nebraska taught us last season just how far you can get with a world-class defense: 10 wins. Even after Earl Thomas and Sergio Kindle's departure, among others, Texas will be fine. Don't expect the 10-win streak to end this season, and if you're winning 10 games, you're only a couple bounces of the ball away from tripping into the national title game, especially if you start the season in the top 10 like Texas will.

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Jonathan in Dallas,Texas writes: With Commissioner Beebe going on the offensive against the Big Ten and speaking specifically about why teams should stay in the Big 12, why didn't he once mention the uneven distribution of revenue amongst his conference members? Not once (since that's one of the key reasons, along with academics, that schools are looking to leave). How come?

DU: Probably because at the spring meetings two years ago, the Big 12's athletic directors voted to keep it. Now, it's a reason teams want to leave? The conference would require nine votes to change the policy, so it's possible Nebraska and Missouri were among those trying to change it, but it didn't happen. Former commissioner Kevin Weiberg said when he left his post in 2007 that revenue distribution could become a more contentious issue in the future. He sounds a bit like Nostradamus these days. But I don't think that alone is going to be a reason for teams to leave. In 2007, Texas made $10.2 million from the Big 12's revenue. Nebraska made $9.1 million. Missouri made $8.4 million. That's not a huge difference -- or at least one that's going to push them out the door. The difference they're leaving for is a reported $22 million payday from the Big Ten.

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Allan in Cambridge, Mass. writes: Where are Niles Paul and Roy Helu on the rankings for best fantasy players? Seems insane not to have them on there, especially seeing some of the guys who made it on the list. What's your take on why they're left off?

David Ubben: Even the Harvard folks can't get enough Husker football, I guess. I actually agree wholeheartedly with both, and I'll start with the simplest one: Niles Paul. He's a good receiver, sure. Almost 800 yards receiving, four touchdowns. Those are great numbers in the NFL. But he's not playing in the NFL. He's in college, and those numbers put him at No. 96 nationally last season, and No. 14 in the Big 12. Maybe if he has a big start, you could pick him up, but I'm not drafting him if I'm playing college fantasy. Twenty-nine players had 1,000 receiving yards last season.

As for Helu, I would have taken him early last season, and the Huskers could still have big problems at quarterback this year, making them rely on the running backs. But, note the word "backs" there. Helu isn't alone anymore, and nothing nosedives a running back's fantasy value more than a young upstart. Example: Felix Jones and Marion Barber III. Nebraska clearly has plans to use Rex Burkhead in a big way, and showed it late last season once he got healthy. I'd expect them to get equal carries, and that could mean neither of them hits -- or gets too far past -- the 1,000-yard barrier, a number 53 running backs crossed in 2009.

2009 overall record: 13-1

2009 conference record: 8-0

Returning starters: Offense (6), Defense(7) P/K (1)

Top returners: CB Chykie Brown, CB Aaron Williams, S Blake Gideon, WR James Kirkendoll, RB Tre’ Newton, DE Sam Acho, DT Eddie Jones, DT Kheeston Randall

Key losses: QB Colt McCoy, WR Jordan Shipley, DE Sergio Kindle, S Earl Thomas, DT Lamarr Houston, OL Adam Ulatowski, OL Charlie Tanner, LB Roddrick Muckelroy, WR Dan Buckner (transfer)

2009 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Tre’ Newton* (552 yards)

Passing: Colt McCoy (3,521 yards)

Receiving: Jordan Shipley (1,485 yards)

Tackles: Roddrick Muckelroy (84)

Sacks: Sam Acho* (7)

Interceptions: Earl Thomas (8)

Three spring answers

1. Check out the new style. Texas is going under center. And while offensive coordinator Greg Davis warns the style change isn’t as radical as some believe, it’s still a departure from the spread attack under the accurate Colt McCoy, which was a departure from the zone read scheme under the athletic Vince Young. If the running game materializes, everything else will come easier for the Longhorns.

2. National Championship was no fluke. The hype surrounding Garrett Gilbert’s impending ascension to starter this spring was expanded tenfold by his performance in the national championship game after McCoy was sidelined with a shoulder injury. This spring, as best he could, he validated that hype. He’s taken control of the team, and performed solidly all spring, capped off by an impressive 10-of-13 for 165 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game.

3. Secondary strengths. After this spring, Mack Brown believes his secondary has three NFL-bound defensive backs in Chykie Brown, Curtis Brown and Aaron Williams. They could terrorize Big 12 quarterbacks this season, even though they lost safety and first-round pick Earl Thomas to the NFL last season.

Three fall questions

1. Will the broken record fix itself? The past couple springs have been all about establishing the running game in Austin. The past two falls have come and gone without a solid, consistent runner for Texas. This year, Tre’ Newton and Fozzy Whittaker have separated from a talented group of running backs as the featured runners in the offense heading into fall. If they’re not productive, we’ll be right back here again next spring.

2. What receivers will fit where? Other than Jordan Shipley, no Texas receiver could be counted on for Colt McCoy. Now, players like Malcolm Williams, James Kirkendoll, DeSean Hales, Marquise Goodwin and John Chiles will try to change that. But when fall comes, so does the nation’s best receiving class. Texas signed two of the top three receivers and three of the top 11, as well as ATH Demarco Cobbs, who could also play receiver. Mike Davis, Darius White and Chris Jones will be nipping at the heels of any older receivers who slip up in preseason camp.

3. Will the dominance over Oklahoma continue? The Red River Rivalry has favored the south side, Texas, in four of the past five seasons. As usual, the Sooners and Longhorns will meet again at the Cotton Bowl in October, and Oklahoma will be hungry to reverse their fortunes against the burnt orange. How Texas responds will have a big impact on the South race, even though a victory in the 2008 game didn’t put the Longhorns into the Big 12 title game.

• Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World looks back on Turner Gill's day at the race track.
• Oklahoma fans got an inside look at the football facilities over the weekend, writes Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World.
• Prince Amukamara wanted to be a running back when he came to Nebraska. Obviously, moving to cornerback has worked out well, writes Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Former Baylor DL Trey Bryant signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
• Four Big 12 teams are in colleague Mark Schlabach's post-spring Top 25, including newcomer Texas A&M.

Realignment

• Austin Murphy pens a story for Sports Illustrated outlining three expansion scenarios.
• Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star says expansion could hurt Kansas and Kansas State the most.
• There are lots of expansion questions surrounding Nebraska, and Tom Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald is trying to answer them.
• Dave Sittler at the Tulsa World says commissioner Dan Beebe needs to fend off the conference's raiders, or else its fate won't be a good one.

A few reports from the rookie mini-camps that a couple of the Big 12's first-rounders attended over the weekend:

• Dez Bryant is ready to move on in Dallas after controversy about his pre-draft interview with the Dolphins.
• Bryant also turned his ankle yesterday in practice.
• Nicholas J. Cotsonika at the Detroit Free Press says the Lions' rookies need to get in shape. Except for one. You know who. Suh.
• Warren Sapp wants to help Gerald McCoy become a star.
• Matt Baker of the Tulsa World reports on Sam Bradford's debut in the blue and gold.
• Russell Okung and Earl Thomas are teammates in Seattle now.
• Hurricane Rita had a big impact on Falcons rookie Sean Weatherspoon, writes D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• Joe Reedy at the Cincinnati Enquirer reports Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has been impressed with the early effort of tight end Jermaine Gresham.

The Big 12 had 30 players drafted over the weekend, fifth most among the major six conferences.


Here's a look at who went where when:

First round (9):

1. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (St. Louis)

2. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska (Detroit)

3. Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma (Tampa Bay)

4. Trent Williams, OL, Oklahoma (Washington)

6. Russell Okung, OL, Oklahoma State (Seattle)

14. Earl Thomas, DB, Texas (Seattle)

19. Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri (Atlanta)

21. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma (Cincinnati)

24. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State (Dallas)

Second round (2):

43. Sergio Kindle, DE, Texas (Baltimore)

44. Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas (Oakland)

Third round (3):

80. J.D. Walton, C, Baylor (Denver)

84. Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas (Cincinnati)

85. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas (Cleveland)

Fourth round (4):

110. Darrell Stuckey, FS, Kansas (San Diego)

115. Phillip Dillard, LB, Nebraska (New York Giants)

121. Keenan Clayton, LB, Oklahoma (Philadelphia)

131. Roddrick Muckelroy, LB, Texas (Cincinnati)

Fifth round (6):

135. Dominique Franks, CB, Oklahoma (Atlanta)

137. Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State (Denver)

141. Joshua Moore, DB, Kansas State (Chicago)

160. Larry Asante, SS, Nebraska (Cleveland)

162. Brody Eldridge, TE, Oklahoma (Indianapolis)

165. Kerry Meier, WR, Kansas (Atlanta)

Sixth round (4):

191. Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas (Cincinnati)

196. Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech (Dallas)

198. David Gettis, WR, Baylor (Carolina)

202. Jordan Pugh, DB, Texas A&M (Carolina)

Seventh round (2):

228. Reggie Stephens, OL, Iowa State (Cincinnati)

250. Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State (New England)

When you arrange those by team, Oklahoma comes out on top, with seven selections.

1. Oklahoma (7)

2. Texas (6)

3. Oklahoma State (4)

T-4. Nebraska (3)

T-4. Kansas (3)

6. Baylor (2)

T-7. Iowa State (1)

T-7. Kansas State (1)

T-7. Missouri (1)

T-7. Texas Tech (1)

T-7. Texas A&M (1)

12. Colorado (0)

Thursday's first round was relatively free of surprises (apologies to Tyson Alualu and Jimmy Clausen) to Big 12 teams.

The first four picks came from the Big 12, three from Oklahoma, and the conference added five more through the rest of the first round.

"This was historic night, a statement for our program," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said in a release. "Everyone associated with our program should be proud of what was accomplished in this draft. I am just overwhelmed and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know these guys and coach them." Stoops also added a fourth first-rounder in Jermaine Gresham, who went to the Bengals at No. 21.

"To think that four guys who came in as members of the same recruiting class went in the first 21 picks is amazing."

The Sooners were the first team to have three of the first four picks since Notre Dame in 1946, which bodes well for the Sooners' future, even after losing its talent. The Fighting Irish won national titles in 1947 and 1949.

They also won in 1946 with their three draft picks, but the Sooners played most of 2009 without 2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford and Gresham.

Plenty of critics said Bradford made a mistake by coming back. Their volume only grew after Bradford suffered a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery in a season-opening loss, derailing the Sooners' second chance at a title. Thursday night, Bradford proved them wrong by becoming the first name off the board.

"I also want to salute these guys for staying in school," Stoops said, adding that each of the four players has or nearly has a degree. "I don’t know how you could look at this draft and think that these players did anything but improve themselves by staying for another year."

Here's where each of the Big 12's nine first-rounders were drafted.

1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

4. Washington Redskins: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

6. Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

14. Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas, DB, Texas

19. Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

24. Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

We're only a few hours away from tonight's first round of the NFL draft, one that could be unprecedented for the conference.

As many as five of the first six picks could come from the Big 12.

Oklahoma's Sam Bradford is the assumed first pick. Defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy should follow. As will offensive tackles Trent Williams (Oklahoma) and Russell Okung (Oklahoma State).

Considering where the conference has been in recent years, that's not a surprise to the coaches sending those players to the next level.

"I don’t think there’s any question it’s been excellent, evidenced by what, us and Texas in the last couple national championship games," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who was forced to play most of 2009 without Bradford, the 2008 Heisman winner. "And year in and year out we’ve been there. I’ve known that for a long time and it’s obvious the talent in this league is second to none and its throughout the league and it’s exciting."

Texas coach Mack Brown could also have a pair of Longhorns go in the first round: defensive back Earl Thomas and defensive end/linebacker Sergio Kindle. Both are Texas natives, with Thomas hailing from Orange and Kindle from Dallas.

"More of the kids are staying at home and wanting to play in the Big 12 area, where one of our schools is traditionally playing for the national championship, so we’re in the mix each year," Brown said. "And I also feel like since we’ve won in this league and we’ve been in the final game more often, that more national kids are starting to look at our schools more readily than before."

Missouri's program has reached new heights in the last few years, winning 12 games in 2007 and another 10 in 2008. Missouri's two first-round draft picks last season, receiver Jeremy Maclin and defensive tackle Ziggy Hood, helped make those seasons possible. The Tigers also had safety William Moore drafted in the second round of last year's draft.

"I remember Don James, my mentor who I worked for at Washington, he told me about three or four years ago, he says, ‘When you start getting more players drafted, a lot more high draft choices, you’re going to win a lot more games.’ And at this level, as it was at Washington, that’s the way it is," Pinkel said. "You’re not going to get six drafted every year, but certainly, if you’re going to win at this level, you’re going to get more players that go on and play in the NFL."

He could add another first-round pick, his third in two seasons, tonight in linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, giving the Big 12 as many as 10 selections among the first 32 picks.

"It shows schools are recruiting quality young men and good football players," said Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.

ESPN "Monday Night Football" analyst Jon Gruden sits down with another Texas draft prospect, defensive back Earl Thomas. Gruden isn't quite as hard on this Longhorn as he was on Colt McCoy.