ESPN College Football

I haven't been judged by this many people since I forgot my canvas bags at Whole Foods.

• Mike Gundy doesn't sound like he'll make an exception to his program's rule and allow true freshman quarterback Wes Lunt to speak with the media.
• Texas coach Mack Brown says he took his players' recent arrests seriously, and took "very stiff action," reports Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman.
• Florida State and the Big 12 have not discussed the Seminoles' possible future membership, reports Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News. Florida State, meanwhile, says it's "committed to the ACC."
• A stipend from the NCAA could have prevented this week's player arrests at West Virginia, writes Bob Hertzel of the Times West Virginian.
• Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville says he's hopeful Eric Stephens will be running full speed by June, and gives an update on discipline for TE Jace Amaro and RB Kenny Williams.
• Louisville seems like it wants out of the Big East. Is there room in the Big 12?
• Kansas coach Charlie Weis opened up about his player dismissals at a recent stop in Salina, Kansas.
• Will Baylor replace Texas A&M as the biggest thorn in Texas' side?
• K-State fans: Your opening-week opponent kicked its starting QB off the team.
• Could a Big 12 coach take the job at Arkansas? Stewart Mandel of SI.com addresses the possibility.
• Kansas fan in Missouri? You could soon get a Jayhawk on your license plate.

We're moving on in our series on the Big 12 Blog pegging the single player each team in the Big 12 can't afford to lose. He's also the player that will be most responsible for the team's ultimate success.

Next up, the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Find more indispensable players here.

Most indispensable player: RB Eric Stephens

2011 stats: 108 carries, 565 yards, 8 TDs. 16 receptions, 133 yards.

Why Texas Tech can't afford to lose him: This was a really, really difficult call. I'm not sure Texas Tech has one player you could truly say is indispensable, but based on what we saw in 2011, you could rule out literally everyone on the defense.

Offensively, Tech has a deep stable of receivers, and the passing game remained productive even as the receivers fought injuries. That leaves QB Seth Doege and Stephens.

We already got a preview of what life without Stephens would be like, and it wasn't pretty. Stephens was a productive runner, on track to become the first Red Raider to rush for 1,000 yards since 1998, but his season ended with an ugly hit in a close loss to Texas A&M that dislocated his knee and ended his season. He's still not guaranteed to return in 2012.

But even with that production, offensive coordinator Neal Brown told me this offseason that his value to the team was still underrated. Texas Tech has a lot of backs on its roster who can look good with the ball in their hands. It doesn't have one who can pass block anything close to the way Stephens could. Being able to chip a linebacker and buy a few extra seconds for Doege will pay off in a lot of spots throughout a season. The Red Raiders lost that late in the season. DeAndre Washington played well, but Stephens' experience helped him develop that skill, and that experience can't be duplicated. We saw that much throughout 2011.

Texas Tech's running game wasn't as productive and the record went south quickly. Looking for the man Tech needs the most this fall? Stephens is your guy.

2011 overall record: 5-7
2011 conference record: 2-7
Returning starters: Offense (9), Defense (10), P/K (1)

Top returners: QB Seth Doege, S Cody Davis, WR Alex Torres, S D.J. Johnson, S Terrance Bullitt, RB Eric Stephens, WR Eric Ward, WR Darrin Moore

Key losses: DE Scott Smith, TE Adam James, DB Brett Dewhurst

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Eric Stephens* (565 yards)
Passing: Seth Doege* (4,004 yards)
Receiving: Eric Ward* (800 yards)
Tackles: Cody Davis* (93)
Sacks: Scott Smith (5.5)
Interceptions: D.J. Johnson* (2)

Three spring answers

1. An answer in the middle: When you recruit junior college talent, you never quite know what you're going to get. That was a good thing for Texas Tech this spring, which found a starting middle linebacker in Will Smith. He's already the team's best at the position, according to coach Tommy Tuberville. They found him while recruiting running back SaDale Foster in California, but Tech found a hidden gem that made a huge impact.

2. Depth developing at running back: Texas Tech was thin at running back during the spring with DeAndre Washington and Eric Stephens sidelined by knee injuries. Stephens' return in 2012 isn't guaranteed, but the spring gave Tech a nice chance to see what it had at running back. Newcomer SaDale Foster played well, as did Kenny Williams. The position's in good shape, even though Ronnie Daniels transferred.

3. Familiar unfamiliarity on defense: Art Kaufman arrived in Lubbock this spring to install his 4-3 defense, which on its own wouldn't be all that notable. What makes it notable? He's the fourth defensive coordinator in four years at Texas Tech. The biggest task in front of him is building depth and developing his linebackers, who were among the Big 12's worst in 2011, ranking dead last nationally in rush defense.

Three fall questions

1. Will Eric Stephens be back in time? Stephens' dislocated knee against Texas A&M looked ugly, but the impact was even bigger than anyone could have imagined. Stephens had tons of experience, and was not only the team's best runner, but was the best pass-blocking back (a huge deal in Tech's offense) and pass-catching back. Tech is hopeful he'll be back by the beginning of the season, but he'll be limited in fall camp.

2. Who's the top receiver? Is Eric Ward the most talented receiver on the team? I'd vote more for Alex Torres and Darrin Moore. Still, you can't deny Ward's production in Torres' and Moore's absence with injuries in 2011. They'll be in a derby this fall to catch passes from Doege, and look out for guys like Tyson Williams and Marcus Kennard, too. Hyped freshmen Dominique Wheeler and Reginald Davis are on the way, too.

3. Can Texas Tech stay healthy? Nothing's hurt Tech more the past two seasons than injury. They've been everywhere on defense, and last year, the team's top two receivers and running backs both suffered big injuries. There hasn't been a clear reason Tech seems to have been snake bitten so badly, but the injuries exposed the lack of depth in 2011. Reasons aside, Tech has to stay healthy to get back into a bowl after ending a nearly two-decade streak of winning seasons with the 5-7 campaign in 2011.

Thanks for all the emails this week. I heard from the WVU faithful a whole lot during my visit. It's appreciated. The response from the onslaught of Mountaineer coverage has been overwhelmingly positive. Here's where you can reach me if you have entertaining musings or questions that haven't been asked 72 times.

Zac in Manhattan, Kan., wrote: David why didnt you put K-State in the poll for the big 12's best offense? I mean we have several returners coming back(one of the teams with the most starters returning in the nation) so why no love for KSU? Yeah the offense isn't flashy, but for K-state the goal is win the Time Of Possession battle. I guess I just want to know where we rank offensively in the grand scheme of the Big 12 in your mind.

David Ubben: Well, it might have something to do with the fact that K-State ranked ninth in the Big 12 in total offense, ahead of only Kansas.

Hey, I get it. I've written about it plenty. K-State's offense is the antithesis of every well-earned Big 12 stereotype about offense. The offense is effective. It wins games.

Ultimately, though, it doesn't scare anyone. It might if Collin Klein starts slinging it with the best of them, but offenses like West Virginia, Oklahoma and Baylor/Oklahoma State last year scare the heck out of people. Those guys could hang insane numbers of yards and points. Ultimately, it comes down to that. Excuse me for equating the "best offenses" with the offenses that score the most "points" and gain the most "yards."

It dominated the time of possession stat last year, too. That's aided by snapping the ball with less than 5-10 seconds left on the play clock while others in the Big 12 like to do it with 25-35 seconds left. I'm not that impressed by that stat.

K-State's offense fits what it wants to do and it wins. That's fine. It's not in the conversation as the league's best offense.

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Jeremy Dajao in Stafford, Texas, wrote: David,Really insulted you didn't put Tech up there in the which offense will be blah blah blah next year. Really? Baylor? Tech has an awesome returning QB and then Stephens should be back. Why?

DU: I actually heard from a whole lot of Tech fans on this one. Truth be told, Tech would probably be the sixth team on my list. Complain all you want, but don't forget, Tech was sixth in the Big 12 in total offense last year. These are not your father's (or, I guess, older brother's) Red Raiders. Injuries hurt, but I feel pretty confident in both Oklahoma State and Baylor's offenses with new faces. Baylor has one of the league's best receiving corps, and Nick Florence is ready for the spotlight. Just because Tech has returning talent -- and I wouldn't guarantee Stephens just yet -- they're still a little unproven at receiver, especially compared to Baylor. I seem to remember Florence and his running backs doing quite alright against the Red Raiders last season, to the tune of 66 points.

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Glark Griswold in Norman, Okla., wrote: The 3-4 is perfect for the Big 12. It puts more speed on the field and creates more confusing blitz packages among many other advantages. OU used a similar set towards the end of 2010 with a lot of success. Why has the 3-4 not made much of an appearance in the Big 12 with the except of West Virginia making the switch this year?

DU: I'll be writing about this in the weeks to come, but more and more teams are experimenting with alignments that mock the 3-4, even if the personnel is far unlike what the 3-4 looks like in the NFL. Those outside linebacker spots are the linchpin. Getting a good pass rush in the Big 12 is huge, and those versatile linebacker spots make it difficult on offensive lines and chipping running backs to know where the additional pressure is going to come from.

It's made more of an appearance than you'd think, but a lot of teams just don't identify themselves as "3-4" defenses.

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Cody in Mustang, Okla., wrote: Hey Dubbs, love the blog. Why has Tannehill flown up everybody's draft boards? To me he is overrated especially compared to Weeden. Everyone before the '11-'12 season had switched to liking A&M right before the season over OSU and look what happened. Weeden goes from being that top 20-25 pick to being early-mid second rounder due to whatever Tannehill showed. So I guess my question is what did he do in the pro day that accelerated this, because they sure didn't find anything on film after this past season. Thanks David.

DU: Well, there's no question in my mind that Weeden is currently in another league than Tannehill. I can buy Tannehill's upside, but I don't buy him as a top-10 pick. I can see maybe late first round, but Tannehill could theoretically go as high as No. 3. He's a fine person and his physical skills scream NFL, but his production and decision-making ought to provide plenty of question marks for NFL types.

All those second-half collapses? Tannehill was a turnover machine in some really bad spots, and played a huge part in A&M going from Big 12 title contender to 6-6 disappointment.

I was talking to a lot of folks around the Big 12 about Tannehill, and one coach in the league had this to say on the rise: "I don't get it. If a guy's throwing a lot of INTs, there's a problem." Tannehill tied Oklahoma's Landry Jones for the most with 15 interceptions last season.

Weeden threw 13 interceptions on 81 more attempts, but also completed 11 percent more of his passes and had nearly 1,000 more yards.

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Mark Stryker in Houston wrote: Hi David,Just wanted to say thanks for the great WVU football coverage! It was very complimentary (so of course I'm going to like it) AND the message itself is a great introduction to our new Big 12 Family. There's are many reasons that WVU alumni are so rabidly supportive of our alma mater, and you did a great job of describing our physical connection to the picturesque landscape that lives so close to our hearts.I think our new conference compatriots will be pleasantly surprised (at least in terms of ticket sales) at the amount of blue and gold they will see in the stands on game day.Our local alumni association here in Houston has nearly 400 members (nearly 1,200 when you take full family size into account), and we expect nearly everyone to make the trip. Hotel rooms in Austin for the October 6 weekend are nearly sold out. Nearly to a person our members believe that the move to the Big 12 is going to be a huge win the conference and for WVU. Thanks again! All the best, Mark

DU: Much appreciated, WVU. You guys have a gorgeous place to live. Glad you enjoyed the coverage. There's lots more coming.

Very cool tidbit about the hotel rooms in Austin.

Thanks for all the emails this week. It's been fun.

On a related note, our bracket winner, wvewe1, has been MIA. I've emailed and tried to contact, but haven't gotten a response. You're missing out. We'll try to get in touch for next week's mailbag. If not, second-place finisher MonsterBack24 should contact me here and you can post whatever you'd like in next week's mailbag.

On to this week's mailbag:

Jeff Slayer in Wilmington, N.C., asked: UBBS! Everybody is talking about the possible expansion, but only when a new commissioner is set in stone. Have you heard any news on those possible candidates and any authentication on the rumors we have been hearing the past few months. Also if FSU was actually interested do you think they would leave their troublesome little brother in Miami? Thanks!

David Ubben: That's going to be a huge question for whoever steps into the role of commissioner in the coming months. Chuck Neinas will be gone on July 1 officially, but the new man could be on board before then. His opinion and stance on future expansion will be a huge question, the first big one he'll have to answer. The Big 12 is stabilized in the immediate future after the grant of rights.

It's important to note the Big 12 commissioner isn't quite as powerful as some in other leagues. He's mostly a representative of the membership more than a guy that calls the shots for the league like some of the others we've seen. That said, if he can sell the members on expansion (he may or may not try), it could become a possibility. That said, the Big 12's members haven't expressed much interest in expansion. That question will come up in the interview process, and the league's search committee would probably be tentative to bring aboard a commissioner who was fired up about expansion.

I just don't see any realistic scenario in which Florida State joins the Big 12, but like I've said before, Louisville and Cincinnati/BYU would probably make the most sense as the 11th and 12th members, but I don't really think it'll happen.

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Tyler S. in Red Bluff, Calif., wrote: No love for Bill Snyder and company! Ubbs, you may be new to the big 12, but there is one thing that all big 12 fans know. You underestimate Bill Snyder, you are going to get burned. Can you explain to me why, after 20 years of exceeding expectations, "experts" continue to put expectations so low for KSU and Bill Snyder?

DU: Yeah, I've talked a lot about K-State overachieving and doing it by the narrowest of margins last year, but no question, Snyder is the X-factor that makes me doubt a Wildcat recession.

K-State brings back so much talent from last year's team, and this is a Bill Snyder team. His entire program is based upon daily improvement, and he's proven he can get teams to do it so many times. I still think K-State is a 9-10 win team and I'll have them somewhere in the ballpark of the top 15 to start the season, but it's still hard for me to see the Wildcats actually winning the Big 12. Maybe I'm crazy. Either way, it'll be fun to watch. The Big 12 is really, really crowded at the top. OU, K-State, TCU and West Virginia are all legit contenders to win the league, and OSU and Texas could surprise some people and take the league, too.

And hey, for the record, I picked every K-State regular-season game correctly after the Baylor win.

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Dylan in Jacksonville wrote: Hey Ubbs great blog, but I have a really important question that I know all of Mountaineer nation wants to know. When do you plan on making your first trip to the mountain state since you said that you've never been? You've got the guide to our home turf, now you need to make a visit before football season starts so you get a taste of calm Morgantown. Do you plan on going for the spring game? A summer session? Or just the first week when you have us vs. our little sister Marsha as your Big 12 road trip that week?

DU: How's next week sound? This is where I would have a winking face, but I'll spare you all that one. See you soon, 'Eers.

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Robert Powell in El Paso, Texas,wrote: David,When Neal Brown was hired as Tech's OC, he was billed as "one of the top offensive minds in college football." After two seasons, I don't see it. First, neither Potts nor Sheffield had much success in his first year. Throw in a couple debacles like 150 total yards vs. UT, coupled with uninspired play versus Iowa State, aTm, and OU. Second, in 2011 Doege threw for 4,000 yards, but that's pretty commonplace anymore. And at least once a game, Brown substitutes players, and goes on a quick count to catch the defense unaware, but when the offense subs, the defense gets to sub as well, so the play is called back. Is Brown still highly thought of, or has everyone seen through the masquarade and figured out his predictability? Thanks!

DU: Well, let's step back and take a wide-angle look at this. One, the injuries last year have to be a factor. He lost his best back, Eric Stephens, and what I'd say are his two best receivers, Alex Torres and Darrin Moore last year. Torres was banged up in 2010, too.

But look at the numbers: Last season, Tech was 13th nationally in total offense. In 2010, the Red Raiders were 15th. They were in the top five in 2009, 2008 and 2007, but it wasn't a huge step back, and the talent Tech had in those seasons was more impressive.

Meanwhile, Tech was 114th last year in total defense, and ranked the same in 2010. In 2009, the Red Raiders were 49th in total defense and 80th in the previous season. They were up to 45th in 2007.

That should be obvious by now. It's really this simple. Tech's offense hasn't been good, but when it comes to losses, don't blame Neal Brown. He's been fine.

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Darren in Columbia, S.C., wrote: As a WVU fan, I am obviously excited and honored to be in the Big XII (or at least almost in the B12).As far as the ESPN blogs are concerned we are in a bit of a no-man's land, not quite in the B12, not quite out of the BE. Of course, understandably the BE blog isn't mentioning us at all now. I want to thank you for talking about the Eers as much as you are. You could completely ignore us, and it would be understandable if you did. Afterall, we are not really a B12 team yet. I and a whole helluva lotta other Eers are really looking forward to seeing the Flying WV logo appear on the right side of your blog page!

DU: Glad to have you, Darren. I'm pretty excited to learn about the new teams in the league and see them week to week. And, of course, interact with two brand-new fan bases.

Texas Tech needed help.

The team's top two running backs, Eric Stephens and DeAndre Washington, suffered major knee injuries during the 2011 season and the status of each for 2012 was in doubt.

There were talented freshmen behind them, but depth was needed whether Ronnie Daniels, Kenny Williams or Bradley Marquez were ready to contribute or not.

Daniels was suspended in January, then permanently removed from the team Tuesday.

Enter SaDale Foster.

"We didn’t know the situation at running back," Red Raiders coach Tommy Tuberville said. "We went out and took a chance on SaDale Foster, and man he’s been a blessing."

Marquez was moved to receiver; Williams is in limbo while legal issues surrounding an arrest earlier this month are sorted out.

Foster was needed, and he has excelled. Williams and Daniels practiced throughout the spring, but it is Foster, the newcomer, who tops the depth chart until Stephens and Washington prove they're healthy and can be more productive than the juco transfer.

"He can really play in this league. He can play in any league," Tuberville said. "He’s really going to help us."

Not only has he shown up and made an impact this spring, but the Red Raiders also stumbled upon their new top linebacker while recruiting him.

Tuberville and his coaches were eyeing Foster at Riverside (Calif.) Community College, but Will Smith, a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder, caught their attention, too.

"We were so short in depth in both of those positions, at linebacker and running back, we just hadn’t been very good. Bront Bird left and he was really the only true linebacker left on the team," Tuberville said. "We’ve gone out and recruited some guys, but they were so young. We needed immediate help. Your linebacker position is your quarterback on your defense. They’ve got to understand what’s going on at every position, get people lined up."

Smith stepped on campus in the winter, and by the end of Saturday's spring game, had proven himself to be the Raiders' best linebacker. Coaches originally played him outside, but knew that on passing downs, he'd be taken off the field for additional defensive backs.

The solution: Make him the team's starting middle linebacker.

"In this conference you’ve got to have people who can tackle in the open field. Most teams in this league run the spread, the short passing game," Tuberville said. "They get it to the quick receivers and if you don’t have quick linebackers who can tackle, you’ve got no chance."

Tuberville hopes Smith gives him that chance. The same is true of safety Chris Payne, who came to Texas Tech out of junior college, too. He's made an impact years after being recruited by Tuberville at Auburn, signing with South Carolina but taking the junior-college route to major college football after not making grades.

"That was kind of a no-brainer for me," Tuberville said. "I’ve coached linebackers most of my life and I knew he could play."

But Smith? Smith was a surprise, and one that brings a smile to his new coach's face.

"Will Smith has been kind of the find you always hope to run into. People slow-played him for some reason," Tuberville said. "We watched him, looked at him, and he fit the criteria of exactly what we needed. A smart guy, he’s a 3.0 student. He can change directions. He loves football and has great football instincts, but you don’t know that until you get on the team. And so, we just said, 'Hey, this guy looks the part, so let’s sign him, bring him in and we’ll see if he fits the part.' And he’s done that."

So did Foster. And come fall, Texas Tech will be cashing in on two quick fixes who could also be big fixes for the two positions of greatest need in Lubbock.

Anyone want to go to JJ's for some after dinner omelets?

• Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville filed to dismiss the complaint against him in the case involving him and former business partner John David Stroud and Stroud’s business entities. The argument lists nine reasons why it should be dismissed.
• How did TCU coach Gary Patterson spend his spring break? By boning up on his Big 12 game film, writes Brent Shirley of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• Neal Brown provided some insight into the rehab for Texas Tech running backs Eric Stephens and DeAndre Washington with Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Matt Crossman of Sporting News profiles Justin Blackmon after a day out on the golf course. Here's Blackmon on his favorite moment at OSU and why he stayed in Stillwater to train for the draft.
• Iowa State center Tom Farniok's first season on the field was an eye-opener. Andrew Logue of the Des Moines Register tells you how.
• Oklahoma's stadium may be getting an upgrade soon.
• Kansas opened spring practice on Tuesday, and Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star has the first look at what to expect from the Jayhawks.
• The change in head man is fairly obvious. Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World tells you how.
• West Virginia's new quarterback is adjusting to the speed of the college game.
• The Fiesta Bowl has elected a new chairman of the board of directors.
• R.J. Young of The Oklahoman has a Q&A with Oklahoma punter Tress Way.

Missed Texas Tech's spring game on Saturday? No worries, we've got you covered.

What happened:

• Red beat Black, 25-19, but players switched teams throughout the game. Note: This is not allowed during Big 12 play.
• Quarterback Seth Doege completed 25-of-39 passes for 217 yards, a touchdown, an interception and was sacked five times. Fellow QB Michael Brewer completed 21-of-28 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns.
• Running back SaDale Foster ran for 70 yards on nine carries.
• Fellow juco transfer Will Smith had a team-high six stops and an interception, the only turnover of the game. He also had a tackle for loss.
• Possible starters TE Jace Amaro and RB Kenny Williams were held out of the game after arrests this spring, but further punishment will be doled out as the legal process plays out, coach Tommy Tuberville said.

What we learned:

• If you paid attention, you heard the buzz surrounding Michael Brewer this spring, and Scotty Young's decision to transfer only further perked my ears. This is Seth Doege's job, but the future looks promising for Brewer, who has lots of targets to throw to in this offense, too. He had a great day, and here's a guess it'll be far from his last. Much of Brewer's production came against the No. 2 defense, but offensive coordinator Neal Brown said he wants him confident heading into the season. Mission accomplished.
• Even if Eric Stephens can't get back from his dislocated knee for 2012, you've got to feel good about the RB spot at Tech. Foster earned rave reviews this spring, as did Ronnie Daniels, and validated them in Saturday's game. Williams' status is in question after his arrest, but before that, he was the likely starter at the position. He's continued to practice with the team, but Williams or not, Tech should have some productive backs. The big question is can they replace the one thing no Red Raider could in 2012? Nobody pass blocked like Stephens.
• Speaking of hype, it's probably OK to get pretty excited about Will Smith. You heard it all spring and finally saw it on Saturday. He'll have to get used to the speed of the game once the actual games start, but he'll be one of a handful of big-impact juco transfers across the Big 12 this year. Look out for him, Brandon Moore at Texas and Calvin Barnett at Oklahoma State.
• Texas Tech is breaking in a new kicker, but the Red Raiders are really pleased with what Ryan Bustin did, and it's easy to see why. He missed a 52-yard kick short, but banged in kicks of 42 and 49 yards, as well as a 26-yarder. Tuberville called his performance "pretty impressive."

They said it:

"My goal when we kick off against Texas State is to have 100 percent confidence in Michael Brewer. ... If something happened to Seth Doege, Michael Brewer comes in and we don’t change anything. We’re not there yet, but today was a good step in that direction."

- Texas Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown

This wasn't the spring Texas Tech envisioned last fall, especially at running back.

On February 17, Texas Tech became the league's first team to strap on the pads for 15 offseason practices.

The Red Raiders were deep at running back last fall, and Eric Stephens could have been the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since Ricky Williams in 1998. But his 565-yard 2011 season ended far too soon with a dislocated knee in the Red Raiders' fifth game. His status for 2012 is still in flux.

Senior Aaron Crawford graduated. DeAndre Washington checked out of spring practice with a torn ACL.

One name is left at the top of the depth chart: Kenny Williams.

"Like coach says, 'It’s my job to lose,'" Williams said.

With Washington and Stephens sidelined, Williams took advantage of the touches he got late in the season. He averaged almost 5 yards a touch on his 14 carries in the season's final two games. Included in that was the first and second touchdowns of his career in a season-ending loss to Baylor at Cowboys Stadium.

"I didn’t start, but I played a lot," he said. "That was pretty wild."

Williams came to Tech as the nation's No. 14 running back in the 2011 class. Even for a player as highly recruited as Williams, Year 1 was a long line of lessons.

"The overall speed of the game, catching on our plays and pass schemes," Williams said. "The whole first year was a learning experience."

Coaches told him they expect him to be the team's most improved player from the end of the season to the spring's start. He's physically gifted, but that only takes a running back so far, especially at pass-happy Texas Tech, which threw the ball more than all but one team in college football in 2012.

Washington and Stephens are hurt, but they can help Williams master the mental and technical side of the position.

"We'll go over blitz schemes. That’s one of our running back coach’s big things," Williams said. "Every running back can run the ball. What’s going to separate you is, can you pick up the blitz?"

He's still learning. But this spring, he's had to start doing and doing it often.

"We kind of feed off each other’s energy when we’re all out here," Williams said of his injured teammates, "but I’ve got to find a way to make my own energy and just pick it up."

Fellow 2011 running back recruiting classmate Bradley Marquez was moved to receiver, but Williams still has to outpace juco transfer SaDale Foster and teammate Ronnie Daniels to win the job officially.

And once Stephens and Washington do return, Williams isn't looking to hand the job over to his older competition.

"I expect to be a starter," he said. "Nothing less. You can’t expect anything less for yourself, right?"

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

Here's a preview of what to expect:

BAYLOR BEARS

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

What to watch:

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

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

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

What to watch:

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

KANSAS JAYHAWKS

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

What to watch:

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

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

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

What to watch:

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

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

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

What to watch:

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

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

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

What to watch:

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

TEXAS LONGHORNS

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

What to watch:

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

TCU HORNED FROGS

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

What to watch:

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

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

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

What to watch:

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

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

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

What to watch:

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

Believe it or not, spring practice has arrived. Texas Tech will kick off spring practice Thursday.

We'll preview the league in full next week, but here's a look at the Red Raiders as they kick it off later today, the first team in the Big 12 to do so.

Schedule: Practice begins later today, and will conclude with the annual spring game on March 24.

What’s new: It's becoming a bit of a broken record, but the Red Raiders will try and adjust to a new defensive scheme. Art Kaufman comes to Texas Tech from North Carolina and brings a 4-3 scheme with him, a shift from Chad Glasgow's 4-2-5 last season. The Red Raiders dealt with lots of injuries and finished 114th nationally in total defense.

On the mend: Texas Tech will be missing 15 players this spring, including running backs Eric Stephens (dislocated knee) and DeAndre Washington (torn ACL). Receiver Alex Torres will also miss the spring with a torn ACL. Stephens' status for 2012 is still in flux, but Tech hopes to have him on the field by the season opener.

New faces: Kaufman isn't the only new face, especially on defense. Four new defensive coaches join the staff, though defensive line coach Terry Price came and went before spring even began. He took a new job at his alma mater, Texas A&M. Jim Turner did the same, but left for the Miami Dolphins. It's a bit confusing in Lubbock these days.

Additionally, the Red Raiders are looking for some immediate impact on the field. Nine of the 26 signees in 2012 were junior college transfers.

On the move: Cornerback (yes, cornerback) Cornelius Douglas is staying there. The former receiver was forced to move to defense because of injuries last year, but coach Tommy Tuberville loves Douglas' potential at his new spot, and is keeping him there. The Red Raiders are bringing on a few new receivers, too.

Question marks: The Red Raiders couldn't stop much of anything last year, but the center of the defense was a huge issue. A weak group of linebackers in 2011 didn't help, but we'll see if Kaufman can shore up the front seven this spring. Tech -- in the pass-heavy Big 12 -- gave up over 258 yards a game on the ground, the worst in college football by 12 yards per game. That can't continue if Tech wants to get back to its winning ways.

Breaking out: Receiver Darrin Moore has all the potential in the world -- like, Biletnikoff Award contender potential. Last year, he was slowed by injuries and the coaching staff wasn't happy with how he rehabbed those injuries. He was a non-factor until nearing top form late in the season, but this could be a big spring for the 6-foot-4, 215-pound target.

All eyes on: The defense. Seth Doege's pretty solid. The offense will be above average at worst. But the defense gave the Red Raiders no chance last year. Losing Stephens hurt, but Tech was still productive pretty often. The defense let the Red Raiders down, though. Tech gave up just under 40 points a game, 117th nationally. Kaufman's got his work cut out for him.

DALLAS — Had the privilege to spend some time with the Texas Tech coaching staff on Thursday, a day after it signed one of the best recruiting classes in school history, and a top 20 class after a 5-7 season.

Here's what I wrote about that.

But there was plenty more. Here's a bit of what didn't have a spot in the story.

No margin for error for Tech

Tech coach Tommy Tuberville isn't denying the role injuries played in the disappointing season, but even before that, with the inexperience on offense, the expectations for 2011 weren't high.

"We knew it was going to be a tough year to begin with," Tuberville said. "We felt like we could make it defensively with the high school guys that we'd recruited, and we took one junior college player, but if I had to do it over again, if I knew we'd lose 6,7,8 guys with injury, we had 15 total, but 3-4 of those guys were defensive guys. We just hit rock bottom."

That put pressure on an offense with a new quarterback and a new running back, but a team with prospects to win 7-9 games couldn't handle that kind of injury.

Stephens' value underrated, status uncertain

Texas Tech lost leading rusher Eric Stephens in the fifth game to a badly dislocated knee, but he was a lot more than just the team's top runner. Offensive coordinator Neal Brown noted that people forgot he was the team's No. 2 receiver and the best pass-blocking back, too.

Stephens is obviously out for the spring, but the coaching staff is considering using his remaining redshirt year this season. He should be available in limited capacity during fall camp, and Tuberville said the possible 1,000-yard rusher was on pace for a normal recovery so far, but would have to take it slow as the season approached. He could be eased into Tech's nonconference schedule, and be at 100 percent at midseason. That's still in flux as his rehab progresses, but the staff made it clear that they're prepared to use his redshirt year if the healing process is slowed for any reason or Stephens suffers a setback.

Douglas staying on defense

Tuberville lamented the fact the Red Raiders were forced to put a former receiver on Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon in a 66-6 loss to Oklahoma State, thanks to injuries.

That duty went to Cornelius Douglas, but Douglas isn't going back to offense after spending the last part of the season on the defensive side of the ball.

"I think he's got a future there, I think he got better," Tuberville said. "He did pretty well."

Will A&M's SEC exit open up Houston recruiting?

Texas A&M concluded its final season in the Big 12, but once they leave, Tuberville says the Aggies' recruiting stronghold in Houston could be up for grabs for teams in the Big 12.

"I think there's a lot of kids that's going to want to stay in the state of Texas and play, and that's going to be probably 10-12 guys that could have gone to A&M that stay in the state, so you're going to see a lot more teams go to that area, which we already do," Tuberville said, "but you're going to see more of a presence there."

The addition of another Texas team in the league, TCU, will only intensify recruiting battles in Texas, Tuberville said.

"It'll affect everybody. They'll be a force here in the metroplex. It just makes it that much harder for everybody, not just us," he said. "It makes it harder for Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, because it's another team from Texas."

What to expect from Darrin Moore

Darrin Moore made the biggest splash on the opening weekends of the 2011 season, catching 12 passes for 221 yards and adding nine catches for 118 yards and three scores the following week.

But on the second series against Nevada, he suffered the first of a handful of injuries throughout the season, and was what offensive coordinator Neal Brown described as a "nonfactor" until the final few games of 2011. Brown admitted they may have rushed him back, but said he was disappointed with how Moore worked in rehabbing those injuries.

The issue was discussed and the two sides came to an understanding, but the coaching staff is expecting Moore, a speedy, athletic 6-foot-4, 214-pounder to produce like he did early last season in 2012.

Prunty making a name for himself

Texas Tech defensive ends coach Robert Prunty has earned a reputation as one of the league's top recruiters, and continued it this year with another strong showing on the recruiting trail in just his second season at Texas Tech, joining the staff after a decade at Hargrave Military Academy.

"The big thing about recruiting is being able to evaluate good players, but he had to do it all when he was there. Chief, cook and bottle washer for 10 years," Tuberville said. "He had to do eligibility, recruiting, evaluating, the signing and all those things, so he's got a lot of experience, plus he's got a lot of contacts with coaches. He's just one of those guys that's well-connected to a lot of people.

"He can go to Crockett, Texas and recruit, or he can go to Pittsburgh and recruit. You've got to be able to communicate with different types of players in different communities and environments and settings, and I have fun with him. I recruit with him a lot. He does a great job. He presents himself well."

We ranked the top backfields in the Big 12 in 2011 last week. What about names will you need to know soon?

ESPN Insider KC Joyner named his top five in college football this year, and Texas' Malcolm Brown is the only Big 12 player on the list.

The Longhorns' schedule strength is based on a projection that could change somewhat as the Big 12 finalizes its 2012 slate, but it was still favorable enough to make colleague Ryan McGee's list of the top 10 early schedule winners of 2012.

Add that to the four returning starters on the offensive line and things would seem to look great for Brown the upcoming season.

Well, they would until one reviews Brown's YPC and GBYPA totals, both of which ranked dead last in this comparison. It's not as if the Longhorns had a bad run-blocking win rate, either, so some of this has to fall on Brown. If the schedule stays just as favorable and Brown can improve his yards per carry rates, an All-Big 12 conference honor could be in his near future.

So what about other backs in the Big 12?

Here's a few guys I'd keep an eye on:

Shontrelle Johnson, Iowa State: Johnson had a chance to break out in 2011, but suffered a neck injury early and missed the rest of the season. He's a shifty back with lots of speed, too. James White and Jeff Woody filled in well for Johnson this year, but Johnson is a highlight reel waiting to happen.

Eric Stephens, Texas Tech: Stephens was in the process of breaking out in 2011 before suffering a dislocated knee early in conference play and before the Red Raiders closed the season on a five-game losing streak. He's expected to return in 2012. He was easily on track to become the first Tech running back to rush for 1,000 yards before the injury.

Johnathan Gray, Texas: So, he's not a Longhorn just yet, but Texas has the nation's No. 1 running back coming to campus next year after reeling in Brown, the nation's No. 2 running back, in its 2011 class. Gray broke the national record with 209 career rushing touchdowns, and he figures to score a few times in his first year on campus, too. Carries will be hotly contested in Austin next year, but Mr. Football USA, according to ESPN HS, will try to earn his touches.

Lache Seastrunk/Glasco Martin, Baylor: Seastrunk was another highly recruited player (No. 6 RB in 2010 class), but transferred to Baylor from Oregon and had to sit out 2011. Martin's got plenty of talent, too. They'll join Jarred Salubi in 2012 to try and replace Terrance Ganaway. Baylor's had a 1,200-yard rusher in each of the past two seasons. You have to like one of those three players' chances to continue the streak in 2012.

We're continuing our look at the postseason rankings for each position in the Big 12. Here's a look back at where the running backs ranked in the preseason.

In this position, unlike quarterback, depth is a major, major factor in these rankings.

1. Texas A&M

The Aggies had the two most talented backs, and despite injuries to both, proved it through an otherwise frustrating 2011. Christine Michael suffered a torn ACL, but still managed 899 yards on just 149 carries. Cyrus Gray injured his shoulder late in the season, but secured his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and ranked third in the Big 12, despite carrying the ball just 198 times. This duo should have easily surpassed 1,000 yards, but even when they were injured, Ben Malena played well in the final two games.

2. Missouri

Mizzou dealt with injuries, too, first to Kendial Lawrence and De'Vion Moore. Cue Henry Josey. Josey became the best back in the Big 12 this year before suffering a major knee injury that included torn ligaments. He may not be back in 2012. His 1,168 yards were third most in the Big 12, despite carrying the ball just 145 times. Lawrence finished 12th with 566 yards.

3. Oklahoma State

Joseph Randle stole the show this year, rushing for 24 scores and ranking second in the Big 12 with 1,216 yards. Only Collin Klein ran for more touchdowns and Terrance Ganaway was the only player with more yardage. Still, Jeremy Smith had averaged more than 7 yards a carry, and he'd be able to start for anyone else in the league. Herschel Sims showed promise, too, with 242 yards on 31 carries.

4. Baylor

Ganaway led the Big 12 in rushing with huge performances late in the season, including a 200-yard, five-touchdown game in his final outing as a college athlete in the Alamo Bowl. He averaged more than 6 yards on his 250 carries and had 330 more yards than any other back in the league. Jarred Salubi added 331 yards, too.

5. Texas

Texas' Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron were banged-up late in the season, but Fozzy Whittaker played well until suffering a torn ACL against Missouri, too. Scatback D.J. Monroe was effective in the passing game as well. Four running backs topped 300 yards and Brown led the team with 742 yards, despite missing three games and having his carries limited early in the season.

6. Oklahoma

Oklahoma got great contributions from walk-on Dominique Whaley early on, and he proved to be the team's most effective runner and best runner between the tackles. He fractured his ankle in midseason, and finished with just 627 yards to lead the team. Roy Finch emerged late in the seasons after a quiet first half and added 605 yards.

7. Kansas

KU's James Sims led the team in rushing again with 727 yards. Darrian Miller was excellent, too, with 559 yards, though he was dismissed after the season. Freshmen Tony Pierson and Brandon Bourbon have plenty of promise, both averaging more than 5.5 yards a carry in 2011. The bad news: All their carries were limited by an awful defense that limited KU's chances to run the ball.

8. Kansas State

K-State's rushing attack centered around Klein, but John Hubert, a slippery back from Waco, Texas, had a good year. Hubert was seventh in the Big 12 with 970 yards. Bryce Brown offered basically nothing to K-State, and beyond Klein and Hubert, the Wildcats were pretty thin. Additionally, without Klein, would Hubert have duplicated his success?

9. Texas Tech

An awful knee injury derailed Eric Stephens' likely 1,000-yard season, and the rest of Texas Tech's backfield got banged-up, too. Stephens will probably return in 2012 from his dislocated knee, and finished with 565 yards, 17th in the Big 12. Aaron Crawford and DeAndre Washington both topped 300 yards.

10. Iowa State

ISU lost Shontrelle Johnson for the season early on, but James White filled in well. He finished with 743 yards, which ranked ninth in the Big 12. Jeff Woody had 380 yards and provided quality carries late, including the game-winning touchdown against Oklahoma State.

We'll start taking a look at what each program in the Big 12 needs to deal with during the offseason, whether it be in the spring, summer or fall preseason camp. Maybe all three! Who knows?

It's about to get crazy up in here.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are first.

Double-check the way the program is being run. Maybe they’ve all been freak incidents. At least a few were, especially some of the most notable ones like Eric Stephens’ knee injury against Texas A&M. But in each of the past two seasons, Texas Tech has dealt with more injuries than any other team in the Big 12. It has paid for it, too, especially with a five-win season in 2011. Now’s the time to examine practice habits and how hard players are being pushed before and during the season. Is that contributing to injuries? Only those deep inside the program would have a real idea, but the injuries can’t continue at this rate.

Figure out who’s in and who’s out at running back. Coach Tommy Tuberville recently expressed optimism that Eric Stephens would be able to return in 2012 from a serious knee dislocation he suffered in midseason 2011. What will his role be? DeAndre Washington also tore his ACL late in the season. It could be thin this spring in Lubbock at the positon, but figuring out that rotation in the fall could be pretty tricky.

Learn yet another defense. I don't envy Texas Tech defenders lately. When they're not getting injured, they're having to learn new system after new system. Art Kaufman was Tommy Tuberville's third defensive coordinator in three years, and once again, the Red Raiders will be learning a new system. It was a 3-4 in 2010 under James Willis and a 4-2-5 under Chad Glasgow last year. Now, it's a 4-3. That's not easy, and doesn't help a defense improve -- especially one that badly needs improvement after ranking eighth in the conference in total defense.