ESPN College Football

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

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

OFFENSE

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

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

DEFENSE

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

SPECIALISTS

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

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

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

FIRST TEAM

• Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

SECOND TEAM

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

THIRD TEAM

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

FOURTH TEAM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2011 overall record: 6-7

2011 conference record: 3-6
Returning starters: Offense (7), Defense (5), P/K (1)

Top returners: RB James White, LB A.J. Klein, LB Jake Knott, QB Jared Barnett, QB Steele Jantz, WR Josh Lenz, WR Aaron Horne

Key losses: OL Kelechi Osemele, WR Darius Reynolds, CB Leonard Johnson, DE Jake Lattimer, DL Stephen Ruempolhamer

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: James White* (743 yards)
Passing: Steele Jantz* (1,519 yards)
Receiving: Darius Reynolds (695 yards)
Tackles: A.J. Klein* (117)
Sacks: Patrick Neal (3.5)
Interceptions: Ter'Ran Benton (3)

Three spring answers

1. Jerome Tiller's not pouting: Tiller sat out 2011 after being academically ineligible, and as such, became a nonfactor in the quarterback race, even though he was the likely successor to Austen Arnaud. Tiller came back with a vengeance this spring ... at receiver. He caught five passes for 44 yards, but don't be surprised to see him put up those kinds of numbers during the season. Nice to see him bounce back.

2. The linebacker spot is in good hands: Jake Knott missed the spring after offseason shoulder surgery, but the linebackers put on a show during the spring. Jevohn Miller played well in Knott's absence, but Jeremiah George was one of the most improved players on the team during the spring. Knott and Klein will be senior stars, but Iowa State's linebacker tradition will carry on when they leave.

3. The offense isn't changing: Offensive coordinator Tom Herman left to take the same job at Ohio State, but replacement Courtney Messingham isn't messing with much in the offense. There will be subtle changes, sure, but mostly to suit whoever wins the QB job. The version of the spread ISU uses has a lot of zone read concepts, and that will continue with either. What the passing game looks like will be a little different.

Three fall questions

1. Who will be the quarterback? Jared Barnett and Steele Jantz both had their moments in 2011. Both went 3-0 in their first three starts. Jantz had three fourth-quarter comebacks and Barnett grabbed one of the biggest wins in school history against OSU to get ISU bowl eligible. Jantz was turnover-prone, however, and Barnett struggled with consistency. The competition is still wide open heading into fall camp.

2. What's the status of Shontrelle Johnson? Johnson's the biggest home run hitter on the offense, but he's been out since early last season with a neck injury. His status is still in doubt. James White filled in nicely last year, but Johnson can take the offense to another level. Iowa State hopes he can get back, but nothing's promised.

3. Who's the new No. 1 receiver? Jantz loved Darius Reynolds early in the season, but Aaron Horne and Josh Lenz were more productive with Barnett late in the season. Reynolds is gone, but who's the new go-to guy in the passing game? It could be either.

Thanks for all your questions in today's chat. It was a fun one. Here's the link to the full transcript.

Have more to say? Reach me here.

Time for a few highlights.

Daniel (Dodge City): What do you think of K-State this year? Is 8 or 9 wins just right or too much for them?

David Ubben: If I had to guess, I'd say nine wins, but I do that with a lot of reservation. I'm not quite sure what to think. I'm certainly skeptical of their ability to duplicate last year's results, but I'm also very leery of doubting a Bill Snyder team that brings back as much talent as this 2012 squad does. Not sure I have a great feel for the Cats this year.

Nick (Ames): Do you think AJ Klein and Jake Knott will translate to good NFL linebackers? How much harder is it to get recognized by nfl scouts at a school like Iowa State compared to a tradionally power football school like Texas?

David Ubben: These days, exposure isn't much of a problem. The only thing I question from those two is their speed and coverage ability. They're both sure tacklers and tough as nails. But is their athleticism up to par? I haven't talked to many scouts about them, but I'd like to get a sense of how NFL teams see them. Something for the future, I think.

Chris (Houston): What games does Texas lose this year? Why does Texas lose those games?

David Ubben: Oklahoma. West Virginia. Kansas State. Not enough offense in the first two. Kansas State's spell over the Longhorns in the third.

chris sunny south alabama [via mobile]: Hey Ubbs! I think the Texas Tech offense is going to be unstoppable this season. Neal Brown has added a few plays to the offense similar to the Oregon Ducks Offense. They are tryin to get the ball in the hands of the speedy guys like Ben McRoy and Jakeem Grant. Do you think this will make the offense better

David Ubben: I don't know about unstoppable, but I do like Tech's idea of using running backs like Oregon has used guys like DeAnthony Thomas. Those jet sweeps and shovels are really tough to defend when you get the ball to speedsters.

andy (texas): 2 years ago it was justin blackmon, last year it was collin klein, who's this years break out player on offense?

David Ubben: Nick Florence.

Chris (Dallas): David with the shift of power and the landscape in the conference, do you think it's safe to say that we wont see the same sort of dominance from the UT's and OU's of the world?

David Ubben: I'll be writing about that tomorrow. Stay tuned. It's a big, big day on the blog on Wednesday, actually. That's all I'll say for now.

Nemo Cowbell (Pasture, TX): Do you think Bob Bowlsby was the wisest choice for Big 12 Commissioner?

David Ubben: There's no way to know right now, but I like the move. He's proven himself in college athletics, though only John Swofford has a history as an AD among commissioners. He's a bright guy, but understanding the dynamics between schools might take a little bit of getting used to. Bringing in someone from the outside was the best move, but it's too early to get any real read on what will happen in his tenure.

Brent A. Carter (Victoria, TX): Do you agree with me that OSU is due for a massive letdown in 2012? They are a program that is barely .500 over the life of their program and I just believe in the law of averages.

David Ubben: No. 8-9 wins with upside for 10-11 wins.

Kenny Little Rock [via mobile]: Best special teams player in the conference? ,ost important?

David Ubben: 1) Quinn Sharp by a mile. 2) Quinn Sharp by a mile.

Devon Shes. (Austin, TX): What penalties are on the horizon for Vaccaro, Okafor and Matthews after this past arrest on 6th St.?

David Ubben: This deal sounds like a whole lot of nothing. Nothing worth legitimate punishment unless new information surfaces. Some extra running for letting it reach the point where cops had to be called, but take it and move on.

Ed (Houston): How long does the Big12 boycott last? Will Baylor break first? Is the money just too good?

David Ubben: Now this is a great, great question. Ultimately, I think the money will be too much. Texas isn't like Nebraska. They're too close to everyone. I'd say the scheduling boycott ends with an announcement in five years. Games in 7-8 years with somebody in the Big 12.

Rob (Boise, ID): Regarding an earlier question, what boycott are you talking about? I hadn't heard anything about any boycott surrounding the Big12. Maybe you could write an article about it.

David Ubben: It's not a "boycott" per se, but nobody from the Big 12 is real keen on scheduling A&M in football. That's basically what we're talking about.

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

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

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

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

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

Iowa State already played without linebacker Jake Knott all spring.

That's after losing its top running back, Shontrelle Johnson, with a neck injury early in the 2011 season.

Though it's been more than six months since the injury, Johnson's status is still in doubt.

"He’s not cleared, yet, to do anything football-wise,” coach Paul Rhoads said during the Big 12 coaches teleconference this week. "They will wait until July, when they take the final round of pictures and his surgeon sees those, and decides whether he’s going to sign off."

That's bad news for the Cyclones, though Rhoads' squad played well in the absence of the team's most electric runner. James White emerged to lead the team with 743 yards rushing, but getting Johnson back would be an obvious huge boost.

"Speculation is, probably, that he will get cleared," Rhoads said. "But until that final round of X-rays is taken and viewed, we’ll just sit back and wait and see. And let the young man train like he is going to play."

That's a tough spot for Rhoads, but Johnson isn't going to play if his health is in serious risk. With neck injuries, that's always possible.

The Cyclones are also waiting for receiver Aaron Horne to heal from a broken collarbone, but signs are good for him to return.

"I’m confident we’ll have Aaron back," Rhoads said.

That's especially good news for his junior-college teammate Steele Jantz, who's competing for the quarterback job with Jared Barnett this spring.

Horne's production waned after Jantz was benched in midseason. Horne caught 23 of his 38 balls in the season's first six games. He was held without a catch in the final two games of the regular season.

What's the bigger upset? KU winning the Big 12, considering its roster to start the season? Or KU winning tonight?

• West Virginia will be adding some sports some time, but which ones? AD Oliver Luck isn't so sure. "I think the conference office is probably grateful to us because it's forcing them to take a look at their bylaws," Luck said. "I don't think they'd paid much attention to some of the things that are in there." This is my unsurprised face.
• The Texas QBs? David Ash's chance to win the job this year looks as likely as Garrett Gilbert's did this time last year, writes Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman. And hey, why didn't UT attempt a field goal in the spring game?
• TCU is changing leagues, but its program's foundation is the same, writes Gil LeBreton of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal sorts out who'll be playing and who won't among Tech receivers.
• Luck talks more about the Big 12 transition, noting that Florida State is still on the 2013 schedule.
• Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads offers a beard update, and linebacker Jake Knott talks about spending time off the field with Andrew Logue of the Des Moines Register. He also offers a look at former quarterback Jerome Tiller, who sat out last season because of academic issues, but is making an impact at receiver.
• It's not a big change, but Bobby Jack Wright is in charge of special teams at Oklahoma. Mike Baldwin of The Oklahoman explains exactly what that means.
• Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman liked the physicality he saw from Texas in its spring game on Sunday.
• Former Baylor QB Robert Griffin III challenged Brittney Griner to a dunk contest. Hmm ... that sounds familiar.
• Texas unveiled its statue of Ricky Williams at the spring game on Sunday.
• The Sooners picked up a running back from Florida for the 2013 class.
• Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken talks about his preparation for Year 2 with Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman.
• Ahmad Rashad checks in with Robert Griffin III and his parents.
• Richard Tijerina of the Austin American-Statesman has a few spare thoughts from Texas' spring game.
• The Statesman's Suzanne Halliburton tracks Baylor's recent rise as part of the "Baylor 2012" program, which sought to make the Bears the Baptist version of Notre Dame.
• Oklahoma would like you to begin drooling over receiver Trey Metoyer. Onward to YouTube!
• John Hoover of the Tulsa World catches up with former Sooner Brian Simmons, who tells what life is like in the Canadian Football League.
• Is Texas Tech moving a safety to defensive end? Looks like it.

Iowa State linebacker A.J. Klein was a big reason for the Cyclones' six wins in 2011 and a second bowl bid in three years.

He was second in the Big 12 with 117 tackles and had 7.5 tackles for loss, returning his only interception for a score. For his efforts, the coaches awarded him a share of the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He talks about that surprise, as well as the changes this spring and some follicular chit chat, too.

How does spring practice when you make a bowl game compare to one when you're not in the postseason?

I really don't think our mentality really changes whether we make a bowl game or not. Athleticism-wise, in terms of being in shape, we're probably in the same shape. If you do make a bowl game you've got those three extra weeks of training underneath your belt, but as far as overall, I think we're at the same exact point we were in the year we didn't make a bowl game.

We do the same things in the offseason, so it's really no different.

What's it going to be like for you this spring playing without Jake Knott (shoulder surgery) on the field?

It's a little different. I know Jevohn (Miller) is in there, behind Jake. I know being a freshman working into his sophomore season, he's got a lot to learn but he's taking it day by day and trying to learn and improve every day. I know Jake sometimes is missed out there just in communication. Right now, we obviously have to communicate different with Jevohn on the field, but it's good for me because it also makes me take on that leadership role more and helping Jevohn adjust to everything that's going in and getting him ready to play.

You never know during the season what happens. We want Jake to stay healthy, obviously, but if an injury would occur, he's the next guy in line, so I think he's excited to get all these reps and develop as a player right now.

When you talk about communication being different, what's an example of where you'd see an explicit difference of communication between when Jake is out there and when Jevohn is out there?

It's just overall concepts and understanding a defense. I know Jevohn knows his assignments, but he still has yet to get to the point where he knows why he's doing his assignment. That's just a part of learning the game of football. I know me and Jake went through the same exact things when we were his age going into our sophomore season and being No. 1 guys.

With Jake, he understands everything. It's as simple of that. As I said before, it's just going to be a process for Jevohn to understand. Hopefully by the end of spring ball, he'll have everything down and we'll be able to keep our communication up and improve communication between each other.

With as much experience as you have, where can you get better this spring?

I can get better all over the field. I take it day by day and Coach (defensive coordinator Wally) Burnham has a saying: "If you get two percent better every day in some part of the game" -- and right now I want to work on tackling, which is obviously a big part of the game. It's important and again, though I'm a senior going into my last year and I understand the defense, I can always learn. I'm still learning as a football player and from Jevohn, he can understand the defense more, there's still things I don't understand that I can keep learning as spring goes on to put me ahead.

What was it like to find out you won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year?

It was amazing. I don't want to say I didn't necessarily think I had a chance to win it. Obviously, it's been a goal of mine to be noticed for performing well throughout the season. I was just really thankful. I know it's not just an individual award. It comes from the whole team. It's the whole defense working together and for me to get singled out I think is almost unfair to the rest of the defense.

My teammates know they're a big part of my success, though, and it'll continue to be that way.

How'd you find out?

I found out through my dad, actually. I was taking a nap after class before my next class and my dad actually called me. He woke me up and told me the news.

I was surprised, I'm not gonna lie. I'm just thankful that it happened. I'm looking to improve for next season and hopefully keep on my good streak of playing good football and hopefully get recognized again next year.

What was he like when he told you?

He was kind of mellow-toned. Just really, really calm and told me congratulations. He knows how much hard work I'd been putting in and to see it finally pay off was great.

He was a little emotional and so was I, but it was good to hear from him first. I would have rather heard from him first than anybody else.

When you made that push last year and qualified for a bowl, what'd you prove to the rest of the league?

Obviously that we're not the old Iowa State that was here four or five years ago before Coach Rhoads was here. We're a team that's going to compete every game. We play hard and we're striving to be the most physical team in the league. You can't count us out anymore, no matter what people say.

They can predict whatever they want, but we have our own goals and our own mentality. We know the kind of football we can play. It's just eliminating mistakes.

Coach Rhoads made a point of that at the start of spring ball. You win games by eliminating mistakes, and that's our main focus going into these next few practices we have, is eliminating mistakes so we can win not six games and get to a bowl, but 9-10 games. We want to win a championship here, and that's what we're striving for.

I became aware that Coach Rhoads was rocking a beard at the beginning of the spring. Is that thing still around?

I think it is.

There's been some debate on how often he breaks it out. I don't think I've seen it this full during the season. How often have you seen him with it? He'd be the only Big 12 coach with any facial hair, I'm fairly sure.

I think he's got a beard most of the time, at least some scruff. I think he still keeps it around a little bit when we go into the season.

Well, tell him to have that stick around for the season.

I'd enjoy it. I wouldn't complain.

Iowa State will be missing a familiar name when it begins spring practice on Tuesday.

Linebacker Jake Knott will miss the entire spring after having shoulder surgery this offseason. He'll recuperate this spring and be back in the fall.

The shoulder was banged up all season, and Knott played through pain for most of the year. He was expected to miss much of the spring, but the Cyclones will keep their three-year starter off the field until fall.

Knott made 114 tackles, including four for loss and two interceptions in 2011. He also forced three fumbles.

From Iowa State's release:

Knott fought through a shoulder injury throughout the season, magnifying his top-shelf performance level. He dislocated his shoulder twice during Iowa State’s game at Baylor last season. After the second time, he had [fellow linebacker A.J.] Klein squeeze it back into place on the field. His stat sheet in that game – 18 tackles, 12 solo stops.

Sophomore Jevohn Miller is expected to fill Knott's role this spring, along with reserve Matt Morton, a senior.

Cornerback Jeremy Reeves will be on the field this spring, but won't be going full contact alongside his teammates to protect his wrist, which was operated on after the season.

“We have a returning starter at corner in Jeremy Reeves, who is not going to be as active this spring as we would like as he comes off of surgery on his wrist," Rhoads said in the release."We are going to keep him really limited and protect what was done by the physicians this winter.

Senior defensive end Roosevelt Maggitt will also miss the spring with a knee injury.

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

More spring superlatives:

• Baylor

Strongest position: Linebacker

This one is clear. Iowa State topped our position rankings at linebacker, and for good reason. Or, perhaps more accurately, two good reasons.

Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year A.J. Klein and teammate Jake Knott make up the best 1-2 punch at linebacker of any team in the country, and sophomore C.J. Morgan should fill out the unit heading into the spring. Knott was banged up all over throughout the 2011 season, but he and Klein were still the most productive duo of any linebackers in the Big 12.

They combined for 231 tackles and finished second and fourth in the Big 12 in tackles. Even scarier for the rest of the Big 12? They'll both be back and be third-year starters in 2012. Look out, especially if Knott stays healthy during the season.

Weakest position: Defensive line

If you want to know why Iowa State had such trouble stopping opposing offenses last year, point to this unit. Additionally, its most productive members are gone after last season.

Patrick Neal and Jacob Lattimer combined for 6.5 sacks, and are gone. As is tackle Stephen Ruempolhamer, who added five tackles for loss and 2.5 more sacks.

End Roosevelt Maggitt returns, as does tackle Jake McDonough, but Iowa State has big holes in a trouble spot for the defense.

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

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

More postseason position rankings:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Receivers/tight ends

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

We're in the top 10 now, officially. That means it could be a little heated from here on. Got beef? Send it to my mailbag, and we'll have a later post logging and answering your complaints.

No. 9: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State

2011 numbers: Made 117 tackles (66 solo) and 7.5 tackles for loss. Made two sacks and broke up six passes. Returned his only interception 78 yards for a touchdown.

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

Making the case for Klein: Klein's partner in crime in Ames, Jake Knott, earned a bit more of the recognition in 2010, but Klein emerged as one of the league's best defenders this year.

Look no further than the upset win over Oklahoma State, an inspired performance by the entire Cyclones defense, but especially Klein, whose 14 tackles were his highest total of the regular season. You saw a lot of emotion in that game, and that's nothing new for Klein and Knott, the emotional leaders of the Cyclones' defense.

Klein was arguably the league's most productive defender. He always seemed to show up where the ball was during the year, and was rewarded by the league's coaches as the co-Defensive Player of the Year.

The rest of the list:

• No. 10: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M
• No. 11: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
• No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

No. 12: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State

2011 numbers: Made 114 tackles (73 solo) and four tackles for loss. Intercepted two passes. Also forced three fumbles and broke up two passes.

Most recent ranking: Knott was ranked No. 10 in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Knott: The Cyclones linebacker showed big promise as a freshman in 2009, and since taking over the starting job as a sophomore, has been one of the Big 12's most productive players. That didn't change this year, when he was the Big 12's No. 4 tackler. Since becoming the starter in 2010, he's made 244 tackles.

It wasn't widely reported, but Knott played all year with a painful, banged-up shoulder that popped out of place several times, including twice in a loss to Baylor. Knott, however, didn't miss a game and the 6-foot-2, 243-pounder had double-digit tackle totals in six games this year.

It's been touched on in this blog, but Knott just may be the toughest player in the entire league. Expect a big season in 2012 as Knott takes the field as a senior with legitimate defensive player of the year aspirations.

The rest of the list:

• No. 13: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
• No. 15: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 16: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• No. 17: Kelechi Osemele, LT, Iowa State
• No. 18: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 19: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Excluding the shy guys, most players love interviews at first. After time, though, it does get old. Still, these are the players who made stories like mine and others great throughout the season.

With a nod to our buddies in the SEC, here is the Big 12 All-Interview team.

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State: Weeden and the man below him on this team probably did more interviews than any player in the entire league in 2011. It was close for both. Through it all, though, Weeden showed up every week and held court, often for 30 minutes to an hour after games, offering up refreshing honesty and insight, as well as some good humor, often.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor: Speaking of humor, RG3 is more than a Heisman winner with catchy socks. He's always good for a one-liner and his relentless positivity is more than a shtick. It's a huge reason why his team rallied around him the past few seasons and why so many talented players came (and will come) to Baylor. If you saw his Heisman acceptance speech, it's easy to see why he's on this team.

Fozzy Whittaker, RB, Texas: Whittaker's been through it all at Texas. Injury after injury, including a devastating knee injury that ended his career at Texas. A national championship run -- and title-game loss. A losing season. Being replaced by a freshman at the top of the depth chart. Every step of the way, he answered questions with a smile on his face and intellect in his answers. His teammates gave him a standing ovation the week after his knee injury, and I wish this blog could do the same.

Ben Habern, C, Oklahoma: More often than not, offensive linemen are a team's best interview. Throughout his career, Habern's held that title, and that was the case this season. He's smart, and helps guys like us in the media better understand the game from the inside, much like some coordinators do. It's appreciated.

T.J. Moe, WR, Missouri: So, maybe Moe got out of hand once, but he's good for an honest answer and a catchy one-liner to put in a story pretty often.

Blake Gideon, S, Texas: Like Whittaker, Gideon's been through a lot, too. Almost every year, it seems he's willing to sit and answer questions about one of the most painful football moments of his life. It's not fun to talk about, but it endears him to fans and provides a compelling story. Gideon was also great for insight into Texas' changing defense (and offense) this season.

Steven Johnson, LB, Kansas: Johnson, a former walk-on turned Big 12 tackles leader, plays with an intensity and answers questions with a smile on his face that comes from being a guy who feels blessed to be where he is.

Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State: Knott gave some memorable interviews this season helping put into context two of the most emotionally rewarding wins in his career: Iowa and Oklahoma State. He's also good to tell fans what it's like to be the toughest guy in the Big 12.

James Franklin, QB, Missouri: Franklin doesn't have much in common with his predecessors, Chase Daniel and Blaine Gabbert, outside of starting his career with an eight-win season and looking like a player with tons of potential, much of which was realized in 2012. Along the way, he offered up lots of disarming honesty (perhaps too much at times) and a look back on his roots to help fans better understand who he is and what he's about.

Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State: Klein gets the award for maybe the most impressive thing I've ever heard in an interview. He's probably not the only one who can, but I've never heard anyone rip off Bill Snyder's 16 Goals for Success in about 10 seconds without so much as a pause. He's also great for a look inside the life of a QB who takes a beating every week and gets up hungry for more. The Big 12's version of the Honey Badger will be fun to watch and talk to in 2012.