ESPN College Football

This time last year, we broke down who in the Big 12's would most likely hit the benchmarks for their positions in 2011. The quarterbacks came first.

Here's what I wrote then.

The clear line designating the best at the position is 3,000 yards. Plenty will top the number, and some from the Big 12 will even hit 4,000 yards.

In 2011, 39 quarterbacks broke the 3,000-yard mark.

Well, it's time to grade the prediction.

I broke down all 10 teams' prospects at having a 3,000-yard passer, but picked only six to do it.

1. Landry Jones, Oklahoma -- Jones topped 3,000 yards as a freshman filling in for an injured Sam Bradford in 2009 and had 4,718 yards last season, almost 500 yards more than anyone else in the Big 12. He also had the most attempts of any quarterback in college football. It's safe to say he's got this.

Final yardage tally: 4,463 yards

Thoughts: Easy pick here. Not much to say.

2. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State -- Weeden is probably a good bet to clear 4,000 yards, too. He had 4,277 last season and brings back a Biletnikoff Award winner at receiver in Justin Blackmon. He and Jones should be locked in a season-long battle for a spot as the first-team All-Big 12 quarterback, among other honors.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 4,727 yards

Thoughts: Weeden definitely won that battle with Jones, but RG3 surpassed even the highest expectations for him in 2011, winning the Heisman. Still, no contest on the 3,000-yard mark.

3. Seth Doege, Texas Tech -- Texas Tech has had a 3,000-yard passer for 11 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in college football. Coach Tommy Tuberville wants to run it more, but not that much more. Doege looks likely to slide into a spot as the next in line for two seasons.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 4,004 yards

Thoughts: His offense sort of crumbled around him thanks to injuries -- his top two running backs and receivers both missed significant time, and the offensive line was banged up, too -- but Doege did a great job continuing the quarterback tradition at Tech as a first-year starter.

4. Robert Griffin III, Baylor -- Griffin's 3,501 yards was his first 3,000-yard season, and he showed lots of development as a passer during his sophomore campaign. That should continue as a junior in 2011, and he's got a deep, talented receiving corps.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 4,293 yards

Thoughts: Well, undershot this one. We all knew RG3 had upside, but legitimate Heisman potential? He surprised us all with that one. He also helped Kendall Wright win the Big 12 receiving title, too.

5. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M -- Tannehill only had 1,638 yards last season, but he did it in just more than six games. With Jeff Fuller and a handful of other capable receivers, he should clear the mark easily in 2010.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 3,744 yards

Thoughts: Tannehill had his problems in 2011, namely throwing a league-high 15 interceptions and stumbling to a 7-6 record, but he was productive. He parlayed his season and a half of experience into a top-10 draft pick. Not bad. Fuller, though, was another story. We'll get to the receivers later.

6. Tyler Gabbert/James Franklin, Missouri -- I don't have much doubt that the pair will combine for at least 3,000 yards, but Missouri has a handful of solid running backs and both look like capable quarterbacks. If one struggles, the other could fill in and leave the Tigers without a 3,000-yard man at the helm.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 2,872 yards

Thoughts: Gabbert transferred just weeks after this was written, but Franklin took a hold of the job and played well as a sophomore. I knew he'd run and change Mizzou's offense a bit, but I'm not sure I expected him to run as much as he did (217 rushes). He handled it well, but it was surprising. He threw the ball 98 fewer times in 2011 (377 attempts) than Blaine Gabbert did in 2010 (475 attempts).

I didn't believe Texas, Iowa State, Kansas State or Kansas would have a 3,000-yard passer. None of them did. In fact, none of them even had a 2,000-yard passer, even though K-State and Kansas started the same quarterback in each game all season.

All things considered, how would you grade my picks?

Colorado: Please come back to the Big 12.

• What does Wes Lunt starting at Oklahoma State mean? Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman breaks it down. He also says the news of a playoff was the best of a jam-packed Thursday.
• West Virginia AD Oliver Luck is one proud papa, but he's not interested in the Big 12 commissioner job.
• Can Texas win the Big 12? A panel of folks from Athlon weigh in on the question.
• TCU fans can still purchase a brick at the new Amon G. Carter Stadium.
• Doesn't sound like Brandon Weeden's going into Cleveland to compete with Colt McCoy. It sounds like he's replacing him.
• Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman says OSU's QB decision had odd timing and overshadowed Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden's draft night. The Oklahoman's Gina Mizell <a href%3

Good to see a handful of Big 12 names called in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night.

What did I think? Glad you asked.

• No surprises in the top two picks, which have both been essentially in the can for weeks. A nice touch by Robert Griffin III with the Redskins socks, but the slogan seemed a little cheesy. Cheesy or not, it's true. Griffin and 31 other gifted athletes caught their dreams on Thursday night. Congratulations to all. Reaching this point isn't easy, even for the most physically gifted players.

2012 NFL Draft

Rd. 1: April 26, 8 p.m. ET
Rd. 2-3: April 27, 7 p.m. ET
Rd. 4-7: April 28, Noon ET
Radio City Music Hall
New York City
Draft order | Draft home

•  Mel Kiper's latest mock
•  Todd McShay's latest mock
•  Mel Kiper's Big Board
•  Todd McShay's Top 32
•  Blog Network mock draft 2.0
•  Draft Machine

• Well, it looked like Justin Blackmon would catch passes from one former Big 12 rival quarterback (Sam Bradford, St. Louis), but instead, he may do it for another. Former Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert gets a much-needed target, but he'll have to re-earn his job after an awful rookie season. St. Louis seemed like a better fit for Blackmon, rather than the Jaguars, but Blackmon's a true game-changer in my book. I think he'll have an effect wherever he goes.
• Miami got its man in Ryan Tannehill. For as much talk as his inflated draft stock has gotten in the past few weeks, this looked pretty likely. Now, we'll see him in action. Like most others, I love Tannehill's upside. With some experience, he could be great. But he needs time. He wasn't outstanding in college, and he's obviously inexperienced at the quarterback position. There are zero questions from me about his physical skills, but I like the chances for his decision-making -- which had major, major issues in 2011 -- to improve if he gets lots of practice reps rather than being thrown in the fire immediately.
• Sheesh, WVU. Y'all got on me for saying you wouldn't have a first-rounder in this post, but it was mostly a throwaway phrase, not a prediction. Most places I'd read had Bruce Irvin as a second- or third-rounder. I obviously didn't see him play much, and don't really have any thoughts on his play. But it's not like I was knocking it, either. I don't exactly keep track of the draft stock of players I never really saw play. Sorry about that. When it's things I'm truly covering, I pay attention. Well, most of the time, anyway. Or something. Either way, my mistake on that one.
• What a great spot in Tennessee for Kendall Wright. I'm not sure I could ever see him carrying an NFL offense, but Wright's good enough to work underneath and stretch the field. I don't buy him much as a game-breaker against No. 1 corners all season, but in a supporting role? Huge, huge pickup for the Titans. As he matures, he may just prove himself as a true No. 1 receiver. His size is the biggest question for me, but he's got great hands and great speed. I just might draft Wright as a late-round sleeper in my fantasy draft next fall.


Which quarterback will have the better NFL career?

•  
  44%
  Ryan Tannehill (No. 8 to Dolphins)
•  
  56%
  Brandon Weeden (No. 22 to Browns)

(Total votes: 102,279)

• Huge congrats to Brandon Weeden, too. The guy deserved it. There's no question in my mind he's a first-round talent and a guy who could be a star at the next level. Not many people gave him a chance to be a first-round pick, but I think the more teams saw of him on and off the field, the more they fell in love with him. It's not hard to see why. The age issue probably would have made me wait until the second round to take him, but if he succeeds, nobody will care. Props to Weeden for handling the age issue so well the past two years. Dude's been asked about it no less than 50,000 times, and he always seemed to handle it with grace. Not sure I could do that. I don't know what his career holds, and it's going to be difficult in Cleveland without many offensive weapons around him, but he's a smart, good decision maker with a humongous arm. That's plenty enough to make an impact.

Straight down the middle, no hook, no spin, no fuss. Anything more and this becomes figure skating.

• Scary incident in Lubbock on Wednesday. A Texas Tech football player was hit by a bus. His roommate tweeted a photo of the damage.
• The next steps to a college football playoff are falling into place. Be still, my beating heart.
• Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman has a few leftover thoughts after OSU's spring game.
• Could Iowa State lineman Kelechi Osemele sneak into the first round of tonight's draft? Speaking of sneaky first-rounders, could OSU QB Brandon Weeden do the same?
• West Virginia Illustrated breaks down how the Mountaineers' 2009 recruiting class is doing these days.
• Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill is the biggest wild card in the draft, writes Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• SI.com's Stewart Mandel says Tannehill's overrated, and OSU safety Markelle Martin is underrated.
• The spring game was something special for WVU offensive lineman Josh Jenkins. Bob Hertzel of the Times West Virginian explains.
• Here's KU running backs coach Reggie Mitchell mic'd up at a recent practice.
• Oklahoma State picked up its second commit of the 2013 class, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman from St. Louis who was also considering Auburn and Florida.
• I'm sure you remember K-State running back Bryce Brown. He's still hoping he hears his name in the NFL draft this weekend, reports Kellis Robinett of the Wichita Eagle.
• Kansas coach Charlie Weis is trying to create a new fan tradition in Lawrence, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.

Ryan Tannehill talks with Jon Gruden about his transition from wide receiver to quarterback and leading the team.

Thanks for all the mail this week. Here's where you can reach me.

On to your mail ...

Aaron in Plain City, Ohio, writes: In my mind I see Oklahoma as the clear favorite for the Big 12. But is there really a clear second place team in the Big 12? For that matter, is there really a favorite? I was just curious about your thoughts for the Big 12 this season. Thanks

David Ubben: I definitely think Oklahoma's the clear favorite, but by "clear" I only mean it's clear Oklahoma's the best team to start the season. Last year, it looked like the gap between the Sooners and A&M/Oklahoma State was pretty wide. Injuries and OSU being better than most everyone thought (and I thought they were a 10-win team) changed that up.

OU's the favorite, but not by much. Nobody in the Big 12 is going undefeated next year, but there's definitely no clear second-place team.

West Virginia is probably the second-best team on paper, but will they handle the transition? There are many variables to the transition with no way to figure out the values until the season starts in the fall. The same is true for the Horned Frogs, who I think will have a tougher time with the transition in the immediate future, and also aren't quite as good as WVU on paper. Those defensive losses, mostly Tanner Brock and Devin Johnson, are huge. You need lots of depth and lots of playmakers on defense to win in the Big 12.

As for Kansas State? You saw it last year. They get it done, but they don't do it in impressive fashion. I've mentioned it a couple times, but will K-State get better and still win games when they're close? Part of me says no.

The other half says this is a Bill Snyder-coached team we're talking about and one that returns just about everybody from last year's 10-win team. Pressure me for a guess? I think K-State could be a better team than last year and still only win nine games in a Big 12 that's absolutely loaded in the top half, with some pretty good teams in the bottom half too, like Baylor, Texas Tech and Iowa State.

So yeah, Oklahoma's the best team in the league. That doesn't mean they'll win it, and the race for No. 2 heading into the season could go one of three ways.

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Curtis in Boone, Iowa, writes: I tweeted you, but i figured id take another approach as well. Do you agree with me that Brandon Weeden is the No. 3 QB in the draft, NOT tannehill? and what are the chances that Cleveland takes both Justin Blackmon AND Weeden with the 4th and 22nd picks, respectively. Colt Mccoy isn't the answer in cleveland, and Weeden could step right in and produce, especially with a top talent like Blackmon.

DU: I do, but I also understand why a) Tannehill has surged and b) teams are unwilling to spend first-round money on Weeden.

For the record, I think they're both early second-rounders. Tannehill is a big risk, and you're asking for trouble if you're a struggling team with a top 5-10 pick that needs a lot of other things to be successful. Tannehill could be good in the league, but I don't think I buy him as an immediate franchise guy you can build around.

Weeden will be more successful in the immediate future, but I also understand that he's an 8-10-year guy vs. a 14-16-year guy like most normal rookies. That's a whole lot of games. Putting Blackmon and Weeden on the same team? Oh man, that would be all kinds of fun.

It'd also be pretty humorous to see Oklahoma's best QB ever throwing to Oklahoma State's best receiver ever out in St. Louis.

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Cyclones in Ames writes: Hey Ubben, just thought that I would bring it up to your attention but of the 10 coaches next year in the big 12 there will be 4 coaches with connections to the state of Iowa. Mack Brown was an OC at ISU, Dana Holgorsen was born and raised in Iowa along with Paul Rhoads, and Bob Stoops played football at the University of Iowa. A lot of connections to the state of Iowa in the conference.

DU: You're right about that, Mr. Cyclones, but those are far from the only ones. What about the man some consider the greatest coach of them all: Bill Snyder? He spent almost a decade as the offensive coordinator under Hayden Fry at Iowa.

For what it's worth, two different Iowa State coaches served as defensive coordinator under Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville. Gene Chizik (sorry for the mention, Iowa State) and Paul Rhoads both got valuable experience under Tuberville at Auburn before moving to Ames.

Iowa doesn't have the greatest reputation when it comes to football culture, but that's a staggering amount of connections for a state with just two major programs within its borders.

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Jason in Charleston, W. Va., writes: Dave, I just have to ask... what were your expectations before coming to WV versus what you actually found when you got here?

DU: Honestly, it was pretty much exactly what I expected. The actual stuff in the town was a little more expansive than I thought it would be, in terms of restaurants and nightlife, etc. In terms of having a fun weekend, Morgantown will be right in the middle in the Big 12. Folks will enjoy the trip out, and it'll be a new experience for everyone.

The scenery and rolling hills basically looked the exact same as they do in photos, but it was kind of hard to get around. I like hitting open roads with the windows down, and that's pretty tough to do in West Virginia because of all the hills and winding roads. Alas, you could find a much stiffer criticism of a city.

I like Morgantown a lot.

The quarterback discusses his rise as an NFL draft prospect.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Bob McGinn offered up an assessment of the best quarterbacks in the NFL draft, and included within are some pretty frank assessments of quarterbacks Big 12 fans are very, very familiar with.

A few select passages:

On Robert Griffin III:

"Everybody is just assuming because of the Heisman and the socks and all that ... they are ignoring a lot of bad tape that he's had," a third scout said. "I don't think he has vision or pocket feel, which to me are the two most important components of quarterbacking. He's just running around winging it. He's (Michael) Vick, but not as good a thrower."

... "He's got a little bit of a selfish streak, too. Everybody was laying on Cam, but for some reason this guy has become gloves off. He doesn't treat anybody good."

My take: To some degree, I'd agree with the bad tape argument, but if you look at the games when Baylor got thumped -- Texas A&M and Oklahoma State -- he really only played extremely poor in stretches of the second half against Texas A&M. That's the only game it looked like his game got really rattled. He threw some awful balls in that game. Baylor moved the ball consistently against OSU, but was undone by turnovers and poor execution in the red zone. That, and a defense that had no hope of stopping OSU. The only other game that should raise questions is probably the first three quarters against Kansas, but that game wasn't on TV. I'll admit I haven't seen that one.

As for the less tangible criticisms? That's the kind of stuff that comes out over time. Griffin was a starter in the Big 12 for three-plus years and you never heard anything about him being selfish or not treating others well. In fact, it was just the opposite. I'd argue no team in the Big 12 rallied around a leader like Baylor did Griffin last year. Not sure where the other stuff is coming from.

I'm not saying the scout didn't say that. I'm saying the scout is wrong. The kind of traits he's talking about come out over time, especially with players at one place as long as RG3 was at Baylor. You hear about them. In this draft class alone, there's two or three guys you've heard plenty of that about. Probably three or four more guys in the league now that have that rep. You never heard that once about RG3. He's a confident guy, and for those outside Griffin's team and program, sometimes it can come off the wrong way. But for the people fighting with him? The people on his team? They love it. He makes everyone around him better, and not just because of his physical skills.

On Ryan Tannehill:

"He's only started 17, 18 college games. I like the kid. But it's going to be heaped on him too early if they take him in the first four or five picks. It's crazy."

My take: Yup. Like the scout, you have to love everything Tannehill brings from a physical standpoint. He's a 100 percent prototype NFL quarterback. Big arm, athletic, solid build. But there are plenty of other question marks, and all you really need to do is watch the second halves of about, oh, five games in 2011. I've written about this plenty.

On Brandon Weeden:

"At the Senior Bowl, when he threw on air, great," another scout said. "When the game started he had two picks and looked so uncomfortable when he had to move. I do not see it with this guy at all." ... "Not a very strong arm," a third scout said. "Not very good in the pocket. Average intelligence. He's just a guy."

My take: I hope that scout's looking at more than just the Senior Bowl. Weeden had a really rough outing in that game, worse than any he had during the 2010 or 2011 seasons, and it's tough to really know why. But "not a very strong arm?" That's absurd. And "just a guy?" No way.

Weeden's never going to be a guy who can move much. His former offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen, joked with me last week that Weeden couldn't run to save his life. It's fairly obvious if you watch OSU play very much. But his arm? You know, the thing that really matters in the NFL? Outside of Luck, it might be second to none in this entire draft when it comes to strength and accuracy.

Tough talk from scouts here. What do you think? Fair? Or unfair?

You probably won't find a more polarizing player in this draft than Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

The converted wide receiver broke his foot in the offseason, but as the NFL draft prep has progressed, Tannehill ascended into the first round and what looks like could be a selection in the top 10.

Along the way, he passed Brandon Weeden, a 28-year-old who was more productive, possesses more impressive measurables andh as more experience.

The age factor is the biggest clear negative for Weeden, but Football Outsiders' KC Joyner explains why Weeden is a better prospect than Tannehill. You'll need ESPN Insider to see it all, but here's a taste:

The most disturbing part of this analysis is that Tannehill fell apart when the Aggies needed him the most. The most egregious example is when he posted a career-low 80.45 passer rating in Texas A&M's farewell Big 12 contest against the archrival Texas Longhorns. That passer rating was not a statistical anomaly, either, as Tannehill made a slew of passing errors and looked rattled by the Longhorns' defense.

Weeden did not have a dominant statistical performance in the Cowboys' biggest game of the year, a blowout victory over the archrival Oklahoma Sooners in a Bedlam game that decided the winner of the Big 12 conference, but he had zero interceptions and zero bad decisions in that contest (a bad decision being a mental error, such as a dropped interception, that leads either to a turnover or a near turnover). That stands in stark contrast to the three interceptions he posted against the Sooners in 2010 and again shows how Weeden was able to grow with experience.

For the record, I agree 100 percent with Joyner on this. The sad part is Tannehill's rise has turned into a bit of a "pile on Tannehill" party. He's a good prospect and a guy who could have a good career.

But a top-10 pick? A quarterback asked to walk into a major role and be asked to be a franchise quarterback? I'm not buying that. Tannehill's rise has been aided by a rush from NFL teams to find a quarterback, and he could theoretically climb as high as No. 3. That would spell disaster.

Tannehill has everything you want from a quarterback in arms, legs and the ability to learn. But decision-making? That's his biggest issue and that's fixed with experience.

He'd be much better suited if that experience came in practice while a more experienced player takes first-team reps and plays on Sundays.

If he flounders on the big stage, it could stunt his career forever. I get the age issue with Weeden, but his maturity, physical skills and decision-making make him a more NFL-ready prospect now.

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.

A record 26 players were invited to attend this month's draft in New York City; four from the Big 12 will be making the trip, which is filled with various events in the days leading up to the draft, which begins April 26.

• Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
• Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
• Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
• Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

All four should be gone by the end of the first round, and it'll be exciting to see where each lands. (Except RG3. He's going to Washington.)

I'll be watching. I suspect plenty of you will be, too.

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper released his list this week of underrated and overrated prospects in this year's draft.

You'll need Insider to see it all, but here's a few thoughts on the Big 12 talents he pegged.

UNDERRATED

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State: It might feel odd to call a guy who is 28 and likely to go in Round 2 underrated. But evaluators agree that if Weeden were younger he'd be far higher. So what's my case? I think Weeden projects as a start-early QB who can help a franchise for 7-8 years, easy. And who in this league has a nine-year plan?

My take: Totally agree. There's no question in my mind that if Weeden were 23 or 24, he'd be a top-10 pick, instead of a player we'll talk about later. I asked WVU coach Dana Holgorsen about that on Wednesday, and he agreed as well. His arm strength and accuracy are rare, and he proved his worth as a decision-maker for the past two seasons. NFL teams may be hesitant to spend a high pick on him if he's not a 10- or 15-year guy in the league, but whoever gets him will get a gem for however long he plays.

OVERRATED

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: I love Tannehill's upside, and I think he has a great shot to be a good starter, but the market on him has gotten a little out of hand in some respects. Remember, if Matt Barkley, Landry Jones and perhaps Tyler Wilson were in this draft, we're talking about a likelier bet for late-first or second round for Tannehill. Again, he can be a good one, but a lot of it is projecting, because while his physical abilities are so impressive there is much work to be done.

My take: Like Kiper, I don't quite understand how Tannehill has inexplicably floated into the top 10 as demand for quarterback grows and Tannehill looks like the third-best quarterback on the board. He's inexperienced at QB, which could steepen the learning curve, even though there's no question in my mind about his physical skills. Additionally, he raised tons of questions about his decision-making as a big part of A&M's second-half struggles in 2011. Tannehill may have a great career, but he looks more like a second-rounder or late first-rounder to me.

Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas: Robinson belongs closer to the middle rounds than as high as the second, where I've seen him for some teams. A good outside backer who can hold up against the run, he doesn't take great angles. Robinson can develop but still needs some work.

My take: I'm not sure I agree quite as much here. Robinson's really athletic, and showed some capability to be a serviceable cover man. He probably won't have to do as much of that in the NFL, but I've always loved what he brought to Texas' defense in terms of a physical presence.

Colleague Trent Dilfer took his turn ranking and evaluating the NFL draft's top quarterbacks, and posted his thoughts this week. You'll need ESPN Insider to see them all, but here's what he had to say about three quarterbacks who played their careers in the Big 12:

On Baylor's Robert Griffin III:

I love that he is comfortable in his own skin -- it'll help him immediately resonate with every part of the locker room. NFL offenses will be able to expand splash play potential immediately because of his physical skills and he'll be able to evolve quickly because of his cognitive skills. His floor isn't a basement because he's so talented. He'll be able to get the most out of situations with both his arm, and his legs.

Challenges: RG3's biggest challenge will be his learning curve in progression passing. The way Baylor's offense worked, he did none of it in college. Lower body mechanics are also something he needs to work on, but the Shanahans actually coach this as well as anybody.

On Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill:

The worry is that a high draft placement pushes him in too soon. He needs the Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers treatment. Although he has limited college starts, he still has very good feel for the nuance of the position. His mechanics and pocket instincts have been trained very well, allowing him to be incredibly efficient for such limited experience. He has a unique trait in that he syncs his lower body, core and arm together. This gives him a suddenness that will allow him to make plays in clutter that other can't.

On Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden:

Weeden will be 29 years old as a rookie, which many believe is a pretty significant negative. I disagree. His age (and accrued wisdom) has given him great perspective in life and as a player. Nothing is too big for Weeden and although old in age, he has plenty of time to be a good NFL QB. Think about it: who thinks of their QB on a 10-year plan? If he starts well, he can easily be solid for 7-8 years. As a player, he made huge improvements from junior to senior year, which tells me he still has tremendous room for growth. I have witnessed first-hand his growth from fundamental standpoint, as well as his thirst to learn more about defenses and offensive tactics. The offense he ran at Oklahoma State has many NFL passing concepts and he routinely made NFL throws in big moments of games.

So, maybe you're not an NFL GM (or maybe you are).

If you're an obsessive fantasy football player (guilty here), you know the tier system well. It's similar to what NFL teams use on draft day, to know when they're getting a player at a value, and when they can afford to wait around. Often, they're broken into position groups.

Our draft guru, Todd McShay, broke down the tier system for this year's draft, and placed players in several groups. Here's who landed where from the Big 12:

Tier 1 -- elite prospects

• Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III was one of just five prospects.

Tier 2 --top 10 quality, but below elite

• OSU receiver Justin Blackmon was one of just two players.

Tier 3 -- good value in picks 10-20

• Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill was one of 12 players.

Tier 4 -- Late first-round value picks

• Baylor receiver Kendall Wright was one of 12 players.

Tier 5 -- Round 2 value picks

• Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden and Oklahoma linebacker Ronnell Lewis were two of 24 players.

Tier 6 -- Mid-to-late second round value

• none

Tier 7 -- Solid third-round picks

• Oklahoma State safety Markelle Martin, Iowa State guard Kelechi Osemele, and Oklahoma offensive tackle Donald Stephenson were three of 31 picks.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas has a well-earned reputation as the nation's "DBU," a proverbial factory of NFL defensive backs.

Even so, when three NFL-caliber corners leave a team, like they did at Texas before the 2011 season, doubts will surface.

Can you replace Aaron Williams' versatility? What about Curtis Brown's cover skills and Chykie Brown's knack for being in the right place for the big play at the right time?

New defensive coordinator Manny Diaz looked down his depth chart and saw a true freshman, Quandre Diggs, and a little-used sophomore in Carrington Byndom.

By season's end, though, the duo transformed one of the Longhorns' biggest question marks -- and after a 5-7 season in 2010, they had plenty -- into arguably its biggest strength.

"Both of them are both very bright," coach Mack Brown said. "They made an easy transition to the field. Both of them were in very good high school programs."

Diggs showcased his fearlessness early in the spring. He went head-to-head with -- and held his own against -- the team's top and more experienced receivers while he should have been in high school. The contact did not faze the former high school running back.

"Quandre was tough," Brown said. "He got knocked around a lot."

Meanwhile, Brown pointed to Byndom's outstanding athletic ability for his early success. Byndom had the option to play college baseball, but elected to stick to football.

"Carrington has gotten tougher every minute he's been here," Brown said, adding that he was a "very good athlete."

By fall, both were entrenched as starters.

Diggs finished the season with four interceptions, more than all but one freshman in college football (Bryce Callahan of Rice). The league's coaches named him the Big 12's top defensive freshman and Diggs was named a freshman All-American. He landed a spot on the All-Big 12 second team, too.

Byndom, a first-year starter, landed a nod as a first-team All-Big 12 talent and a key cog in a defense that topped the conference in total defense for a fifth consecutive season. He picked off two passes and tied Diggs with a team-high 15, earning the team's defensive player of the week honors on four occasions.

Notes KC Joyner of Football Outsiders:

His 6.2 yards per attempt (YPA) allowed total was better than the YPA marks posted by Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (6.6) and LSU Tigers cornerback Morris Claiborne (7.5), two coverage specialists who will likely end up selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

DBU, indeed.

The Longhorns also were the only team in college football to not allow a touchdown pass for 20 yards or longer before the season finale against Heisman winner Robert Griffin III and receiving champ Kendall Wright.

"They were very responsible," Brown said. "That was one of our biggest question marks sitting there in the spring and in the fall. And I thought you have to give a lot of credit to Manny and to [defensive backs coach] Duane [Akina] for devising a scheme that took pressure off of them as well.

"We didn't play near as much man and didn't put them in as many one-on-one situations, and then because of their confidence you see the play that Carrington made at A&M probably changed that game."

Byndom swung the momentum for the burnt orange in the final chapter of a heated rivalry with the in-state Aggies before they left for the SEC.

Trailing 16-7 at halftime, Byndom stepped in front of a Ryan Tannehill pass early in the third quarter, returning it 58 yards for a touchdown, silencing a rabid Kyle Field crowd and igniting a second-half comeback for the ages.

Brown saw plenty out of both corners in 2011, but they were young and inexperienced. What happens now?

Big 12 receivers, beware.