ESPN College Football

Mike Gundy has been through this before.

After a 9-4 season in 2008, Oklahoma State brought back quarterback Zac Robinson and receiver Dez Bryant, one of the nation's best. The team also had an All-America running back coming off a 1,500-yard season.

The Cowboys opened the season at No. 8 and rose to the top five after a season-opening victory over Georgia in one of the most anticipated season openers in school history.

Oklahoma State's opener isn't quite as attractive this year, but the build-up to the season?

"Very similar," Gundy said.

Oklahoma State won a school-record 11 games in 2010 and returns one of the nation's best quarterbacks, Brandon Weeden. Justin Blackmon exceeded anything Bryant ever did, leading the nation with 20 receiving touchdowns. He also had 1,782 yards on 111 catches to win the Biletnikoff Award.

Hunter is gone, but in his place, a capable duo with loads of potential in Jeremy Smith and Joseph Randle.

In a recent preseason poll by "College Football Live," the Cowboys rolled in at No. 8.

"We’re so well-received across the country right now and hopefully, the experience we had in the summer prior to 2009 will help our players understand the importance of staying focused and getting ready for a good season," Gundy said.

But back in 2009, after the win over Georgia, the Cowboys' lofty hopes of a title crumbled with a series of setbacks. First, they suffered a loss to Houston the following week. An ankle injury slowed Hunter, and forced senior Keith Toston to fill his role. The NCAA suspended Bryant for the remainder of the season after three games for lying about his relationship with Deion Sanders.

Late in the year, a shoulder injury to Robinson contributed to the Cowboys getting shut out in a loss to Oklahoma and scoring just seven points in a Cotton Bowl loss to Ole Miss.

Two years later, they're trying to avoid the problems that arose during that 9-4 season in 2009, and apply the lessons learned.

"It takes a lot to maintain. They’ve worked extremely hard to raise the level to where they’re at now, but they have to stay focused and have a great offseason," Gundy said. "There’s so many distractions out there nowadays, and it’s important to avoid distractions and take care of everything that’s important off the field as well as on the field."

Last year, the Cowboys were picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 South after losing Robinson, Bryant and four offensive linemen, but with the hype of this offseason, things will be different this fall.

"We’re not going to have the opportunity to sneak up on anybody," Gundy said. "People are obviously aware of who we are, and so we have to go back and earn our stripes each summer and prepare for kicking it off in September."

Kendall Hunter doesn't talk much, but he was talking before Saturday's game against Washington State. Even if his words were brief and quiet as usual.

"I'm ready, I'm ready," he kept telling his position coach.

If only Washington State, warming up across the field at Boone Pickens Stadium, knew just how ready Oklahoma State's running back really was. Hobbled by an ankle injury in 2009, Hunter missed five games and managed just 382 yards while attempting to play through the injury for most of the season.

His first carry went for 17 yards, his day developed into a 257-yard season debut, and now Hunter needs only 126 yards to surpass his output in all of 2009. After one week of football, he's the nation's leading rusher.

"Above average? Would that work?" said Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, describing Hunter's day. "He is the fifth-best back in the Big 12, right? Nah, he's obviously pretty good. Heck, you know, it’s all about what you do for me lately. I understand how the whole thing works. He was pretty good two years ago, he’s the type of kid who’s not going to sit there and pout and feel sorry for himself. He’s going to be motivated by things some people won’t be motivated by."

Hunter had to sit and watch while his teammate, Keith Toston, took his spot and rushed for 1,200 yards in one of the most anticipated seasons in school history. Hunter got just one carry while Texas beat the Cowboys 41-14 in Stillwater. Hunter might not say last season's frustrations weighed on him or were on his mind, but he ran like it in his triumphant return to the field for his senior season.

"As the game went on, I kept asking him if he was tired and he kept saying, 'I just want to keep playing,' said Robert Gillespie, Oklahoma State's running backs coach. "He wanted to get out there so bad and just have fun. It was taken away from him last year, so this whole offseason he’s been working to get stronger, faster and smarter to become a better player."

Gillespie came to Oklahoma State before 2009, excited to coach an All-American coming off a 1,555-yard season, after three years coaching backs at South Carolina. Gillespie was disappointed Hunter didn't spend the season as his featured back, but saw the work he put in despite the injury. Saturday night was a long time coming.

Gillespie says Holgorsen's offense, implemented during spring and preseason camp, should fit Hunter perfectly and set him up for success at the next level. Scouts have seen Hunter -- a "strange combination of quick, fast and powerful," Holgorsen says -- run around and over defenders. This year, he'll have more chances to show he won't allow defenders to return the favor in pass protection.

"The film don’t lie, and the tape don’t lie," Holgorsen said. "Hopefully we can win some games and he gets on TV and everybody can see what the kid’s capable of, because he’s the best one I’ve been around."

Oklahoma State's new Air Raid offense figured to be pass-happy as the name suggests, with Hunter getting plenty of receptions as the team's obvious best offensive talent. He carried the ball 21 times against Washington State, amassing an outlandish 12.2 yards per carry, but sat for much of the 65-17 blowout's second half. The Cowboys threw Hunter's way about four times, Holgorsen estimated, but failed to establish the screen game or short passing game. Hunter finished with three catches for minus-4 yards. So instead, they took the simpler route to getting their playmaker the ball: handing it to him.

"We’re going to face some pretty good teams, I’m not oblivious to that. Some pretty good defenses out there with the likes of Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Nebraska and Texas Tech that are going to have something to say about it. Everybody’s going to try to stop the run," Holgorsen said. "We're going to have to be able to execute that stuff to take some pressure off the running game. But that’s why I’m here, that’s why I’ve been hired."

Holgorsen knew the offense wouldn't be perfect on opening night. Far from it, he expected. He estimates it took two years before he got it to look "decent" at Texas Tech.

"Luckily we've got a guy like him," Holgorsen said. "We can hand it to him and he can make us all look good."

They'll do that plenty this year, and Hunter will keep making his offense look good with many more runs like he broke off against the Cougars. He finished with six runs of longer than 15 yards, including a 66-yarder and a 39-yarder for one of his four touchdowns.

"It's his time; he went through a lot last year," Gillespie said. "And he’s hungry."

We ranked the conference's top 5 quarterbacks last week, but we'll have a deeper look this afternoon at a position that requires more depth: running back.

1. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State

Thomas led the Big 12 in rushing without much of an offense around him. But the juco transfer preparing for his second season in the Big 12 is hardly a Cinderella story. Thomas, a former quarterback with still plenty of potential to fulfill, was a Florida commit before having to complete his academic requirements in junior college. Once completed, he enrolled at Kansas State and rolled to a Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award in 2009.

2. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

Murray lacks the staggering production of a few other backs on this list, but he doesn't lack the talent. He's surpassed 700 yards in all three seasons at Oklahoma and scored 43 touchdowns, while also establishing himself as a reliable pass-catching threat. This season, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says 1,900 yards is possible for his starter, who has shared carries for his entire career. The senior has a reputation for being injury-prone, but Murray's missed just six games in his career, including just one last season, although those six games have included two Big 12 Championships, a Fiesta Bowl and a national championship game.

3. Alexander Robinson, Iowa State

Robinson helped push the Cyclones to a 7-6 record last season, a five-game improvement from 2008. His 1,193 rushing yards were third-most in the Big 12 behind Thomas and Oklahoma State's Keith Toston, and paced Iowa State while quarterback Austen Arnaud struggled at times in 2009. The 5-foot-9, 187-pounder should challenge for the league rushing title in 2010 as the focus of the Cyclones offense.

4. Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska

A shoulder injury suffered late in a win over Missouri limited Helu at times last season, but he still managed to be one of just four backs in the Big 12 to top 1,000 yards. Helu Jr. surrendered carries late to star freshman Rex Burkhead, but he should get plenty of touches in 2010 behind the conference's best offensive line.

5. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State

Hunter is one of the league's most explosive backs, and is back to 100 percent after a nagging ankle injury that caused a frustrating 2009 season. He showed flashes in the season finale in the Cotton Bowl of the talent that contributed to his 1,555 yards in 2008, and if he plays like that in 2010, he'll put up big numbers again. His carries (241 in 2008) should go down, but his receptions will be way up in new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen's offensive scheme.

6. Baron Batch, Texas Tech

Batch's impressive 14 rushing touchdowns in 2009 were the league's most, and he also caught 57 passes for 395 yards. For Batch, it should be business as usual, but with a few more carries under new coach Tommy Tuberville. Batch should also help shepherd two young backs who could earn some time this season, Harrison Jeffers and Eric Stephens.

7. Christine Michael, Texas A&M

Michael has the potential to move way up this list after rushing for 844 yards as a freshman. He'll split carries with Cyrus Gray once again, but Michael, who came to Texas A&M as the nation's No. 4 running back, still has a lot of potential to fulfull. How much he taps into it will decide how many more carries he receives as a sophomore.

8. Rodney Stewart, Colorado

Stewart was one of the bright spots on an offense that struggled in 2009, scoring just over 20 points a game, second-fewest in the league. Stewart rushed for 804 yards -- fifth-most in the Big 12. Nicknamed "Speedy," the 5-foot-6, 170-pound Stewart should be the focus again of the Buffaloes offense after receiving 198 carries, also the fifth-most in the conference.

9. Derrick Washington, Missouri

Washington's numbers dipped in 2009, and he received more carries in an offense that lost playmakers like Jeremy Maclin, Chase Coffman and Chase Daniel. He scored seven fewer touchdowns (10) than in 2008 (17), and rushed for just 865 yards, 171 fewer than he did as a sophomore. But he still ranked sixth in the conference in rushing and should be the primary ball carrier for the third consecutive season for the Tigers.

10. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

Gray and the Aggies' offense must overcome three new starters on the offensive line, but he rushed for 757 yards in 2009, and the talent at receiver and quarterback for the Texas A&M limits the pressure to produce for Gray and Michael.

Today is Day 7 of our countdown of the Big 12's 25 best players entering the 2010 season. The full results are locked in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we'll be revealing one player per day until we reach the top of the list.

Remember, this isn't a list of the top-25 NFL prospects in the league. It's heavily weighted toward actual accomplishment in players' college careers, as well as the likely impact for their teams in the 2010 season.

No. 19: Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State

2009 numbers: Rushed for 381 yards and a touchdown on 89 carries. Also caught 11 passes for 83 yards.

Most recent ranking: Hunter was ranked No. 8 in last offseason's ranking of the conference's top-40 players.

Making the case for Hunter: He led the Big 12 in rushing in 2008 with 1,555 yards, over 300 more than any running back in the conference had in 2009. But his disappointing junior season means a slide down the rankings. He missed five games last season with an ankle injury and Keith Toston picked up the slack, rushing for 1,218 yards. But Hunter's back and healthy, and should be due for a big year--even if he'll do it differently. In the Cowboys' Air Raid offense, he'll get around 170-180 carries and 70-80 receptions and should be able to make plenty of tacklers miss in the open field.

The rest of the list:

• No. 20: Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 21: Tim Barnes, C, Missouri
• No. 22: Brian Duncan, LB, Texas Tech
• No. 23: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 24: Tanner Hawkinson, OT, Kansas
• No. 25: Blake Gideon, S, Texas

Here, we'll take a look at a couple of key players going, staying and coming for each team in the Big 12.

Going:

Zac Robinson, QB

Robinson had a firm grasp on the starting job for most of the past three seasons, and was drafted in the seventh round by the New England Patriots as one of the most productive quarterbacks in school history, running and passing for 7.7 yards per play over his career, second-most nationally. With 7,786 total yards, he was the school's career leader in total offense and scored 66 touchdowns. He rushed for 847 yards as a sophomore in 2007, but in 2008, had the fifth-highest passer rating at 166.8.


Russell Okung, OT

Like Robinson, Okung has been a staple of the Cowboy offense for the past few seasons. Okung was a four-year starter on the Oklahoma State offensive line, and his talent and experience -- along with his 6-foot-5, 307-pound frame -- convinced the Seattle Seahawks to draft him No. 6 overall in last month's draft. Okung landed was a first-team All-American at tackle for the past two seasons, and was named the Big 12's Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2009. After taking over a starting role as a freshman, Okung finished his career with an astounding 47 consecutive starts.

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Staying:

Kendall Hunter, RB

Hunter and the other player on this list might need their own "Returning" heading, rather than "Staying." An ankle injury kept Hunter out of five games, and by the time he returned, senior Keith Toston had proved to be more than a serviceable replacement. Though Hunter isn't likely to equal his 1,555 yards (sixth-most nationally) from 2007, he'll get plenty of touches in new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen's version of the "Air Raid" offense that racked up over 1,000 yards more than No. 2 offensive team. Hunter will still carry the ball, but might be more productive getting his touches in space, allowing him to use his lateral quickness to shake defenders.


Orie Lemon, LB

Lemon missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but impressed coordinator Bill Young enough this spring to have Young campaigning for Lemon as the nation's best middle linebacker. Along with defensive end Ugo Chinasa, Lemon will help give the Cowboys a good amount of talent in their front seven. In 2008, Lemon was second on the team in tackles in his first year as starter, with 90.

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Coming:

Shaun Lewis, LB

Lewis signed with Oklahoma State as its only ESPNU 150 member, but was ranked the No. 4 outside linebacker and the No. 75 overall prospect. Lewis, a Missouri City, Texas native, picked the Cowboys over Big 12 teams Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Nebraska, along with SEC powers Alabama, LSU and Florida.

Caleb Lavey and Kris Catlin, LBs

Lavey and Lewis, along with Kris Catlin, should add a solid influx of talent into Young's linebackers. Lavey ranked as the No. 9 inside linebacker and was rated by ESPNU as Oklahoma State's second-highest recruit. Catlin was the No. 13 inside linebacker and both bring impressive size to the middle of the defense as they learn from Lemon, possibly providing depth. Lavey measures at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, and Catlin is 215 pounds and stands 6-foot-2.

More Revolving Door:

• Baylor
• Colorado
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
  

2009 overall record: 9-4

2009 conference record: 6-2

Returning starters: Offense (4), Defense(4) P/K (2)

Top returners: DE Ugo Chinasa, RB Kendall Hunter, WR Hubert Anyiam, S Markelle Martin, K Dan Bailey, P Quinn Sharp

Key losses: QB Zac Robinson, OL Russell Okung, RB Keith Toston, WR Dez Bryant, LB Donald Booker, CB Perrish Cox, LB Andre Sexton, LB Patrick Lavine, S Lucien Antoine

2009 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Keith Toston (1,218 yards)

Passing: Zac Robinson (2,084 yards)

Receiving: Hubert Anyiam (515 yards)

Tackles: Donald Booker (99)

Sacks: Ugo Chinasa* (6.5)

Interceptions: Patrick Lavine (5)

Three spring answers

1. Learning the offense: Oklahoma State looks on schedule in learning new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen’s spread attack, one he used to coordinate the best offense in college football at Houston last season. Brandon Weeden is the unquestioned starter after the spring, including a nice finish in the spring game when the junior threw four touchdown passes.

2. Kendall Hunter: New ends, different means. Coach Mike Gundy estimates Hunter will touch the ball around 250 times next season, but he won’t be doing it on the ground. Instead, he’ll be catching the ball in space, using his shiftiness to make defenders miss and pile up yards for the Cowboys. Holgorsen says Hunter is even better than he thought, and they’ll both want to prove it in the fall after Hunter’s disappointing 2009 season.

3. He’s no Lemon. Defensive coordinator Bill Young believes linebacker Orie Lemon is the best middle linebacker in the country, and Lemon had one of the best springs of any player on the Cowboy defense. He missed the entire 2009 season after tearing his ACL in fall camp, and will be ready to get back on the field this fall.

Three fall questions

1. Will Weeden be the next Keenum? At Houston under Holgorsen, Case Keenum threw for almost 1,500 more yards than the second-best in football in 2009. No one’s expecting Weeden to throw for 5,600 yards in 2010 (or throw it almost 700 times), but if he can elevate his status to one of the conference’s best quarterbacks, Holgorsen will have another impressive bullet on his resume and the Cowboys will have a few more wins.

2. Can the O-line assert itself? Will it have to? The offensive line is replacing the NFL Draft’s No. 6 pick and four-year starter Russell Okung, along with three other starters. Will they be good enough to get Holgorsen’s offense humming? With the system’s quick-release passing, it might not have to hold for long.

3. Can the Cowboys exceed expectations in a rebuilding year? After falling short of the South title in 2009 with Zac Robinson, Dez Bryant (at least part of the time) and Okung, expectations are measured in what’s somewhat of a rebuilding year for the Cowboys. They have a great chance to parlay a 4-0 non-conference record into a bowl game, but how many more wins will the Cowboys have in conference? Only the fall knows.

Nine players from the Big 12 were drafted in the first round, but not everybody can make millions. Here's where a few notable Big 12ers ended up after going undrafted:

Baylor

• LB Joe Pawelek - Seattle

Four-time All-Big 12er will try to fit in with new coach Pete Carroll.

• S Jordan Lake - unsigned

Everyone respects Lake as a hitter, but a lack of speed will likely keep the Thorpe Award candidate from succeeding at the pro level.

Kansas

• QB Todd Reesing - unsigned

Might end up in Canada after struggling to show scouts he could compensate for his lack of height.

Kansas State

• TE Jeron Mastrud - Tampa Bay
• WR/KR Brandon Banks - unsigned

Banks ran a 4.43 at the combine, the fifth-fastest time recorded by a receiver, but his size will keep him from playing receiver at the next level. Some team will give him a shot as a return man eventually. What he does with it is up to him.

Missouri

• WR Danario Alexander - unsigned

NFL teams are waiting on Alexander to pass a physical after undergoing his fourth knee surgery in just over a year. The nation's receiving leader can't seem to catch a break.

• OL Kurtis Gregory - Carolina
• DT Jaron Baston - Denver

Baston and Gregory were second-team All-Big 12ers and Carolina began contacting Gregory during the sixth round, expressing its interest in signing him.

Nebraska

• DE Barry Turner - Chicago
• S Matt O'Hanlon - Carolina

Turner and O'Hanlon make five Blackshirts who ended up on NFL rosters after leaving Nebraska. DT Ndamukong Suh, S Larry Asante and LB Phillip Dillard were drafted.

Oklahoma

• DE Auston English - Cleveland

An ankle injury ended English's season early and any chance the defensive end, who was named to the All-Big 12 first team as a freshman, had of being drafted.

• DT DeMarcus Granger - Seattle

Former blue-chip recruit never recovered from offseason back surgery before last season and didn't play until the bowl game.

• RB Chris Brown - Denver

Solid runner led the Sooners in rushing the past two seasons. Might be able to slip into Josh McDaniels' uncertain situation at running back. Lesser accomplished backs have done it in Denver in the past, but that was under Mike Shanahan, who's now in Washington.

Oklahoma State

• RB Keith Toston - St. Louis

Toston stepped in after Kendall Hunter was injured and ran for over 1,000 yards.

• OL Andrew Lewis - Kansas City
• OL Brady Bond - San Diego

Lewis began the season on the cover of SI, and Bond came to Oklahoma State after playing eight-man football. Both are now on current NFL rosters.

Texas

• K Hunter Lawrence - Tampa Bay

The most accurate kicker in Texas history, Lawrence doesn't seem likely to beat out the solid Connor Barth, who took over the job midseason last year, for the starting job. But impress during minicamp, or stay on the roster through training camp, and other teams could take notice.

• OL Adam Ulatoski - Houston
• OL Charlie Tanner - New York Jets

Ulatoski has the size (6-foot-6, 310 pounds) to succeed in the NFL, he just has to prove it with the Texans. Tanner and Ulatoski have a handful of All-Big 12 honors heading into the next level.

Texas A&M

• TE/FB Jamie McCoy - St. Louis

McCoy caught 35 passes for 367 yards and two scores and made the All-Big 12 second team.

Texas Tech

• DE Brandon Sharpe - New Orleans

Sharpe finished second in the Big 12 with 15 sacks.

• OL Brandon Carter - New Orleans

Carter, most known for his hair and makeup, turned an All-Big 12 first-team effort in 2009 into a free-agent deal with the world champs.

It was a busy weekend at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, and several former Big 12 stars found themselves in the spotlight during the extensive evaluations.

Here's a quick look at the Big 12's top performers in the combine events (more events follow today and Tuesday):

40-Yard Dash

• Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State, third among quarterbacks (4.71 seconds)
• Colt McCoy, Texas, fifth among quarterbacks (4.79)
• Brandon Banks, Kansas State, fifth among wide receivers (4.43)
• Trent Williams, Oklahoma, second among offensive linemen (4.88)

Bench Press

• Keith Toston, Oklahoma State, tied for fourth among running backs (22 reps)
• Jordan Shipley, Texas, tied for eighth among wide receivers (16 reps)
• Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, tied for eighth among tight ends (20 reps)
• Russell Okung, Oklahoma State, second among offensive linemen (38 reps)
• Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, tied for sixth among defensive linemen (32 reps)
• Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri, second among linebackers (34 reps)
• Keenan Clayton, Oklahoma, tied for fifth among linebackers (27 reps)

Vertical Jump

• Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State, second among quarterbacks (35 inches)
• Chris Brown, Oklahoma, tied for 10th among running backs (36 inches)
• Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, fifth among tight ends (35 inches)
• Trent Williams, Oklahoma, first among offensive linemen (34.5 inches)

Broad Jump

• Colt McCoy, Texas, tied for third among quarterbacks (9 feet, 6 inches)
• Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State, tied for fifth among quarterbacks (9 feet, 2 inches)
• David Gettis, Baylor, third among wide receivers (10 feet, 4 inches)
• Jared Perry, Missouri, ninth among wide receivers (10 feet, 1 inch)
• Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, tied for fifth among tight ends (9 feet, 5 inches)
• Trent Williams, Oklahoma, tied for second among offensive linemen (9 feet, 5 inches)

3-Cone Drill

• Jared Perry, Missouri, fifth among wide receivers (6.75 seconds)
• Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, fifth among tight ends (7.07 seconds)
• J.D. Walton, Baylor, tied for ninth among offensive linemen (7.60 seconds)

20-Yard Shuttle

• Riar Geer, Colorado, second among tight ends (4.29 seconds)
• Trent Williams, Oklahoma, fifth among offensive linemen (4.63 seconds)
• J.D. Walton, Baylor, tied for 10th among offensive linemen (4.69 seconds)

60-Yard Shuttle

• Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, fourth among tight ends (11.88 seconds)

The NFL has released its final list of late additions to its annual pre-draft player combine, which will take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 24 to March 2.

The Big 12 is well represented on the list of invited players, with every team but Iowa State and Texas A&M having at least one representative.

Here's the final list. The late invitations, typically from underclassmen who declared for the draft, are listed in bold.

BAYLOR (2)

WR David Gettis

C J.D. Walton

COLORADO (1)

TE Riar Geer

KANSAS (3)

WR Dezmon Briscoe

WR Kerry Meier

S Darrell Stuckey

KANSAS STATE (3)

WR Brandon Banks

TE Jeron Mastrud

CB Joshua Moore

MISSOURI (4)

WR Danario Alexander

G Kurtis Gregory

WR Jared Perry

LB Sean Weatherspoon

NEBRASKA (4)

S Larry Asante

LB Phillip Dillard

C Jacob Hickman

DT Ndamukong Suh

OKLAHOMA (9)

QB Sam Bradford

RB Chris Brown

OLB Keenan Clayton

TE Brody Eldridge

CB Dominique Franks

TE Jermaine Gresham

CB Brian Jackson

DT Gerald McCoy

T Trent Williams

OKLAHOMA STATE (6)

S Lucien Antoine

WR Dez Bryant

CB Perrish Cox

T Russell Okung

QB Zac Robinson

RB Keith Toston

TEXAS (7)

DT Lamarr Houston

DE Sergio Kindle

QB Colt McCoy

LB Roddrick Muckelroy

WR Jordan Shipley

S Earl Thomas

T Adam Ulatoski

TEXAS TECH (2)

G Brandon Carter

CB Jamar Wall

As we all pore over the recruiting ratings of each school for the next few days, it's wise to take all of these rankings and ratings with a healthy grain of salt.

Recruiting is, always has been and always will be an inexact science. For every can't miss product, there are others who emerge out of nowhere to become standout players.

This trend was shown after I analyzed the first- and second-team All-Big 12 teams from the 2009 season and went back to check their original ESPNU grades. On some, the service hit. But on many others, it missed like Sean Weatherspoon and Danario Alexander.

Both had scores of 40 when they came out in their recruiting class. Weatherspoon weighed 195 pounds. Alexander was projected as a safety. And both put aside their dubious recruiting marks to develop into two of the best players in the country at their position over the course of their college career. I thought it was interesting to go back and look at the best players in the conference and see where they were ranked coming into college.

The ESPNU ratings database goes back only to 2006. That does not allow us to get ratings for players who took a redshirt year during their college careers. But it gives a pretty accurate picture about the crap shoot that college recruiting really is.

Here's a look at the Big 12's coaches' first and second teams for 2009. The positional rankings, typically listed second for most players, are national rankings.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Colt McCoy, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2009.

RB: Keith Toston, Oklahoma State: 77 rating; ranked 44th among all safeties; ranked 73rd in state.

FB: Bryant Ward, Oklahoma State: Walk-on.

WR: Jordan Shipley, Texas: Class of 2004, no information available.

WR: Danario Alexander, Missouri: 40 rating (as safety), ranked 229th in state.

WR: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas: 40 rating, ranked 363rd in state.

TE: Jeron Mastrud, Kansas State: 40 rating, ranked 13th in state.

OL: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State: 73 rating, ranked 61st among all tackles, 138th in state.

OL: Trent Williams, Oklahoma: 76 rating, ranked 22nd among all guards, 78th in state.

OL: Nick Stringer, Kansas State: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Brandon Carter, Texas Tech: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Nate Solder, Colorado: 40 rating (as tight end), ranked 48th in state.

PK: Grant Ressel, Missouri: Walk-on.

KR/PR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2008.

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FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska: Class of 2005, no information available.

DL: Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma: 89 rating, ranked 2nd among all defensive tackle, ranked first in state, ranked 21st in nation.

DL:Von Miller, Texas A&M: 77 rating, ranked 37th among all defensive ends, ranked 52nd in state.

DL: Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech: Junior-college class of 2007.

DL: Jared Crick, Nebraska: 73 rating, ranked 86th among all defensive ends, ranked seventh in state.

LB: Jesse Smith, Iowa State: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri: 40 rating, ranked 294th in state.

LB: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma: 75 rating, ranked 86th among all running backs, ranked 96th in state.

DB: Earl Thomas, Texas: 71 rating, ranked 75th among all cornerbacks, ranked 170th in state.

DB: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State: 77 rating, ranked 25th among all cornerbacks, ranked 57th in state.

DB: Dominique Franks, Oklahoma: 74 rating, ranked 53rd among all cornerbacks, ranked 15th in state.

DB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska: 78 rating, ranked 31st among all running backs, ranked fifth in state.

DB: Larry Asante, Nebraska: Junior college class of 2007.

P: Derek Epperson, Baylor: 76 rating, ranked 15th among all kickers, ranked 87th in state.

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SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M: 79 rating, ranked first among all athletes, ranked 29th in state.

RB Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska: 73 rating, ranked 113th among all running backs, ranked 97th in state.

RB: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma: 92 rating, ranked first among all running backs, ranked first in state, ranked sixth in nation.

FB: Jamie McCoy, Texas A&M: Class of 2005, no information available.

WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma: 77 rating, ranked 58th among all wide receivers, ranked fourth in state.

WR: Kerry Meier, Kansas: Class of 2005 , no information available.

WR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2008.

TE: Riar Geer, Colorado: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: J.D. Walton, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available (transfer from Arizona State).

OL: Chris Hall, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Kurtis Gregory, Missouri: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Adam Ulatoski, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Brody Eldridge, Oklahoma: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Lee Grimes, Texas A&M: Class of 2005, no information available.

PK: Alex Henery, Nebraska: Walk-on.

KR/PR: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State: 77 rating, ranked 25th among all cornerbacks, ranked 57th in state.

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SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Sergio Kindle, Texas: 92 rating, ranked first among all outside linebackers, ranked second in state, ranked seventh in nation.

DL: Lamarr Houston, Texas: 78 rating, ranked seventh among all fullbacks, ranked fourth in state.

DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma: 80 rating, ranked 11th among all defensive ends, ranked 17th in state, ranked 137th nationally.

DL: Jaron Baston, Missouri: Class of 2005, no information available.

DL: Daniel Howard, Texas Tech: Junior college class of 2007

LB: Joe Pawelek, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Phillip Dillard, Nebraska: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Jamar Wall, Texas Tech: 72 rating, ranked 79th among all safeties, ranked 142nd in state.

DB: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma: 77 rating, ranked 39th among all safeties, ranked third in state.

DB: Brian Jackson, Oklahoma: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Jordan Lake, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Cha’pelle Brown, Colorado: 40 rating, ranked 287th in state.

DB: Trent Hunter, Texas A&M: 68 rating, ranked 90th among all cornerbacks, ranked 250th in state.

P: Tress Way, Oklahoma: 78 rating, ranked sixth among all kickers, ranked sixth in state.

It's interesting to note that only four members of the two teams were ESPNU top 150 selections: Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy, DeMarco Murray and Jeremy Beal and Texas' Sergio Kindle.

Several Big 12 players likely helped themselves in the upcoming NFL draft with big performances at the East-West Shrine Game. Kansas safety Darrell Stuckey bounced back from some positional struggles earlier in the week to lead the West team in tackles in the East team's 13-10 victory in the 85th annual game Saturday in Orlando, Fla. Here's a look at former Big 12 players and what they did in the game. All of them played for the West team.

• Stuckey notched a team-high six solo tackles and seven tackles total.
• Texas Tech cornerback Jamar Wall had six total tackles (five solo, one assist) and broke up three passes.
• Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence converted a 47-yard field goal in his only attempt, added a point after touchdown and averaged 62 yards on three kickoffs.
• Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing completed 2 of 5 passes for 11 yards and also rushed twice for 11 yards.
• Oklahoma State running back Keith Toston rushed four times for 9 yards.

Oklahoma State has emerged as a consistent power under Les Miles and Mike Gundy with bowl trips in seven of the last eight seasons.

The Cowboys have done it with a star-studded array of top players who have dotted their rosters over the last few years, most notably at wide receiver and running back. I was left with a tough choice between Adarius Bowman or Dez Bryant as the second wide receiver behind Rashaun Woods. And at running back, I went over and over as I tried to decide between Kendall Hunter, Keith Toston or Vernand Morency to go along with Tatum Bell.

After some careful deliberation, here are my choices for the Cowboys' top players of the last decade.

OFFENSE

QB: Zac Robinson

RB: Kendall Hunter

RB: Tatum Bell

WR: Rashaun Woods

WR: Dez Bryant

TE: Brandon Pettigrew

OL: Russell Okung

OL: Corey Hilliard

OL: Sam Mayes

OL: Charlie Johnson

C: David Washington

DEFENSE

DL: Kevin Williams

DL: LaWaylon Brown

DL: Juqua Thomas

DL: Greg Richmond

LB: Terrence Robinson

LB: Dwayne Levels

LB: Patrick Lavine

DB: Perrish Cox

DB: Vernon Grant

DB: Elbert Craig

DB: Darrent Williams

K: Luke Phillips

P: Matt Fodge

Ret: Perrish Cox

Offensive player of the decade: WR Rashaun Woods. His emergence in the early part of the decade foreshadowed the Big 12’s development into the most pass-happy conference in the nation. Despite facing constant double-coverage, he produced 293 catches and was the first receiver in Big 12 history to reach 4,000 career receiving yards.

Defensive player of the decade: DT Kevin Williams. Excelled as a mainstay in the Cowboys’ defensive front, making 42 starts in his career. He helped transform the Cowboys’ defense into a tough run-stuffing unit, making 160 tackles and 18.5 sacks over his career.

Coach of the decade: Mike Gundy. His coaching career is no longer dominated by sound bites of eruptions at press conferences. Gundy has directed the Cowboys to four straight bowl trips and back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time in 21 seasons.

Moment of the decade: Josh Fields directs 2001 comeback victory at Oklahoma. Fields came off the bench to rifle a 14-yard touchdown pass to Rashaun Woods with 1:36 left, and the Cowboys held on for a 16-13 victory. The Oklahoma State defense notched three interceptions and seven sacks of Nate Hybl and gave Bob Stoops his first home loss.

In the middle of all of the stuff we're putting together looking back at the past decade, there's still some news across the Big 12.

Here are some of the conference's most notable headlines for your noontime edification.

• The Oklahoman’s Jake Trotter ponders whether Jim Jeffcoat, Ruffin McNeill or Jim Leavitt could be joining Bob Stoops’ staff.
• Top recruit Jackson Jeffcoat, the son of Jim Jeffcoat, tells KRIV-TV in Houston that he is considering Oklahoma, Houston, Texas and Arizona State.
• The Sporting News’ Russ Lande analyzes what Darrell Stuckey, Larry Asante and Keith Toston need to do to impress NFL scouts at this week’s East-West Shrine Game.
• The Memphis Commercial-Appeal’s Phil Stukenborg reports that former Texas Tech assistant coach Brian Mitchell has joined Larry Porter’s staff at Memphis.
• Among the more notable assistant coaches from Nick Saban’s coaching tree include Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and Texas Tech defensive coordinator James Willis, ESPN.com’s Ivan Maisel writes in his three-point stance.
• Texas running backs coach Major Applewhite, Oklahoma State assistant head coach Joe DeForest and former Texas Tech defensive coordinator/interim head coach Ruffin McNeill are among the names that have surfaced for the vacant head coaching job at Louisiana Tech, Jimmy Watson of the Shreveport Times reports.
• The Daily Texan’s Robert Rich shares a few memories from his trip to the Citi BCS National Championship Game.
• Texas Tech has lost a recruiting commitment from linebacker Fred Harvey of Memphis, Tenn., after the coaching change to Tommy Tuberville, Adam Zuvanich of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports.
• The College Football News’ Pete Fiutak writes that Colt McCoy’s injury in the championship game put a capper on a disappointing 2009 college football season.
• FoxSports.com’s Pete Schrager has Nebraska and Texas making BCS bowl trips next season and Oklahoma ranked in the Top 25 among Big 12 teams.
• Sam McKeown of the Nebraska State Paper analyzes where Ndamukong Suh goes from here.
• The Omaha World-Herald’s Tom Shatel expresses some trepidation about the Nebraska-Boise State series.

Sixteen Big 12 players hoping to better their draft status will be participating in the East-West Shrine Game Jan. 23 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

Baylor linebacker Joe Pawelek, Iowa State offensive lineman Reggie Stephens, Kansas State defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Oklahoma State running back Keith Toston, Texas Tech cornerback Jamar Wall, Texas Tech guard Brandon Carter, Colorado tight end Riar Geer, Kansas wide receiver Kerry Meier, Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing, Kansas safety Darrell Stuckey, Missouri defensive tackle Jaron Baston, Nebraska safety Larry Asante, Oklahoma running back Chris Brown, Oklahoma cornerback Brian Jackson, Texas defensive tackle Lamarr Houston and Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence are on the West team's roster.

Every Big 12 program except Texas A&M will be represented in the annual all-star game, which will be played for the 85th time.

It will be particularly critical for players like Pawelek, Fitzgerald, Reesing and Toston as they perform before professional scouts in practices next week leading up to the game.

And keep an eye out for Stephens, who plans to work at guard after serving as a center for the Cyclones this season.

The Big 12 will be well represented when the NFL holds its scouting combine in Indianapolis.

The official list has not been released, although SportingNews.com has accounted for most of the early players. The list does not include juniors and other players who might be invited late to the festivities, which will begin Feb. 24 in Indianapolis.

I would think Baylor linebacker Joe Pawelek, Baylor safety Jordan Lake and Texas center Chris Hall all will be invited later.

And I would expect eligible juniors such as Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant to get their opportunity at the combine.

Baylor: WR David Gettis, C J.D. Walton.

Colorado: TE Riar Geer.

Iowa State: None.

Kansas: WR Kerry Meier, S Darrell Stuckey.

Kansas State: WR Brandon Banks, TE Jeron Mastrud.

Missouri: WR Danario Alexander, G Kurtis Gregory, WR Jared Perry, LB Sean Weatherspoon.

Nebraska: S Larry Asante, LB Phillip Dillard, C Jacob Hickman, DT Ndamukong Suh.

Oklahoma: RB Chris Brown, TE Brody Eldridge, TE Jermaine Gresham, CB Brian Jackson, T Trent Williams.

Oklahoma State: CB Perrish Cox, T Russell Okung, QB Zac Robinson, RB Keith Toston.

Texas: DT Lamarr Houston, DE Sergio Kindle, QB Colt McCoy, LB Roddrick Muckelroy, WR Jordan Shipley, OT Adam Ulatoski.

Texas A&M: None.

Texas Tech: G Brandon Carter, DB Jamar Wall.