ESPN College Football

If I lose my helmet, am I also forced to miss a day of blogging? I'd never do that to you people.

• There's been a bit more clarity provided to the situation surrounding two Texas Tech players who were recently arrested.
• Is Bedlam catching up with the Red River Rivalry? Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World addresses the possibility, and notes that OSU's rise has changed the game.
• West Virginia's joining the Big 12, and it's also raising the price of season tickets and per-seat donations for Mountaineers fans.
• Iowa State is trimming its offensive playbook for its inexperienced quarterbacks, writes Andrew Logue of the Des Moines Register. Also, coach Paul Rhoads is rocking an outstanding spring beard. You can see it in that link.
• Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail introduces you to a possible future star on West Virginia's defense that had a tough year in 2011.
• Randy Riggs of the Austin American-Statesman has your update on the results from Texas' pro day.
• Bryan Fischer of CBSSports.com checks in with the family reunion at Oklahoma.
• Now's your chance to get to know Texas Tech offensive line coach Chris Thomsen.
• Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman has a Q&A with former Cowboy Brandon Weeden, leading up to next month's draft.
• Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho may have a leg up on the draft process because of his brother's rookie success, writes Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

ESPN analyst Todd McShay and Arizona Cardinals linebacker Sam Acho join Longhorn Network for the pro day at Texas.

Texas Longhorns

Record: 4-1 (1-1 Big 12)

The season was looking up for the Longhorns, who started to find an identity (albeit one with two heads at quarterback) after a comeback win over BYU that featured the end of the Garrett Gilbert Era in Austin. With David Ash and Case McCoy at the helm, Texas went on the road and rolled over UCLA and Iowa State and got everyone wondering, "Just how good are these new-look Longhorns?" as they ascended to No. 11 in the polls while teams above them stumbled.

Oklahoma answered that question rather emphatically in Dallas on Saturday. Texas may be better this year, but the Longhorns are nowhere near the team that routinely churned out 10-win seasons nine times in the past decade. The turnover margin that plagued Texas shifted heavily in the Longhorns favor (+6) until Saturday's disaster, which featured five Texas turnovers, including three that went for scores. Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Texas A&M and others are lined up after Texas' nonconference slate which seemed solid in name only, and we won't have to wonder just how good these Longhorns are for much longer.

Offensive MVP: Jaxon Shipley, WR. The true freshman has been an immediate impact for the Longhorns, catching 25 passes for 369 yards, 10 more catches and 35 more yards than any other player on Texas' roster. He also leads the team with three catches for touchdowns, throwing another in one of the defining plays of the comeback win over BYU. He'll only continue to get better, but the second half of the season will feature even more highlights.

Defensive MVP: Emmanuel Acho, LB. Acho's older brother, defensive end Sam Acho, was the Longhorns MVP last year. Emmanuel is carrying on that tradition with a great start to his season. The senior linebacker's 42 tackles are 10 more than any other player on the Longhorns' roster, and he's leading the team with two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Five Big 12 players are semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to the "absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation."

There are 127 semifinalists for the award.

The Big 12 nominees:

• Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
• Tysyn Hartman, S, Kansas State
• Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
• Grant Ressel, K, Missouri
• Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

Texas DE Sam Acho, Emmanuel Acho's older brother, won the award in 2010.

Here are the criteria:

Nominated by their schools, candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

Texas' Dallas Griffin in 2007 is the only other Big 12 player to win the award.

The official list of the Big 12's top 25 players is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing the list day by day here on the blog. Here's a refresher on my exact criteria.

No. 24: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas

2010 numbers: Had 81 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also broke up two passes, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and returned his lone interception 57 yards for a touchdown.

Most recent ranking: Acho was unranked in our postseason list of the Big 12's top 25 players.

Making the case for Acho: Big brother Sam was in the top 10 of our postseason list and just outside it in the preseason, but Emmanuel cracks the list for the first time heading into his senior season. Acho should be one of the defense's leaders in new coordinator Manny Diaz's system, and emerged as one of its top playmakers in 2010.

Sam Acho turned in an All-American effort in a frustrating season for the Longhorns, and expect the same kind of effort and character from Emmanuel. His 81 stops were second on the team in 2010, and the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder is among the league's most physical players. He was a first-year starter as a junior last season, and finished the year with second-team All-Big 12 honors.

The rest of the list:

• No. 25: Zaviar Gooden, LB, Missouri

Is Bon short for Bonathan?

• Could new quarterback commit Wes Lunt be the answer for Brandon Weeden's replacement at Oklahoma State? Brandon Chatmon of The Oklahoman tries to answer the question.
• Athletic director Bill Byrne has facilitated a Texas A&M sports revival, writes Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle.
• The recruiting package Oregon paid $25,000 for access to in February 2010 included zero 2011 recruits, and the "national" package is mostly players from Texas. None of the players included are in trouble, but notable Big 12ers like A&M receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu, Tech OL LaAdrian Waddle and incoming Baylor transfer Kolby Gray are all featured in the rather slim evaluations. Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian has the report. Here's a the full package if you're interested in reading about the players.
• Bob Stoops says the recent scandals aren't ruining college football. He's wrong, writes Dave Sittler of the Tulsa World.
• Former Missouri running back Derrick Washington requested and was granted a continuance in relation to his pending deviate sexual assault charge.
• Arizona is getting to know former Texas DE Sam Acho, and Dan Bickley at the Arizona Republic says it should fall in love with him.
• Considering there might not be real fantasy football this year, here's a preview of Big 12 fantasy football.
• Get to know Kansas running backs coach Reggie Mitchell.

Texas defensive lineman Sam Acho is the Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year, along with Baylor women's basketball player Melissa Jones.

Last season, Acho led the Longhorns with nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss, and accompanied his parents to their native country of Nigeria on mission trips. (Here's video with Acho and yours truly talking about his experiences during the trip.) He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of April's NFL Draft.

He helped with medical care on the trips, and worked in the community speaking about the importance of education. He taught English as a second language and helped build a home in Dallas with Habitat for Humanity. Acho also raise funds in Dallas before the 2009 and 2010 Nigeria trips.

The honors business major had a 3.55 GPA and was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 performer. Acho joins Ahmard Hall (2004-05) as the second Longhorn to win the award since the Big 12 began giving it out in 2000-01.

Sporting News named Acho one of the sports "20 smartest athletes," and in December he won the Campbell Trophy, also known as the Academic Heisman, given to college football's top student-athlete. Acho was also named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works team last fall.

TEXAS

2010 overall record: 5-7

2010 conference record: 2-6

Returning starters: Offense (8), Defense (6) P/K (1)

Top returners: RB Fozzy Whittaker, LB Keenan Robinson, LB Emmanuel Acho, DE Jackson Jeffcoat, WR Mike Davis, RB Cody Johnson

Key losses: DE Sam Acho, DC Will Muschamp, CB Curtis Brown, CB Aaron Williams, CB Chykie Brown, DL Eddie Jones, OL Kyle Hix, WR James Kirkendoll

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Cody Johnson* (592 yards)

Passing: Garrett Gilbert* (2,744 yards)

Receiving: James Kirkendoll (707 yards)

Tackles: Keenan Robinson* (106)

Sacks: Sam Acho (8)

Interceptions: Keenan Robinson* (2)

Three spring answers

1. Offseason mission accomplished. Mack Brown hired five new coaches and a new strength coach, Benny Wylie. The players have taken to the younger blood on the sidelines, mostly up-and-comers who have plenty to prove and plenty of energy. Brown lauded the team’s effort in the offseason program, too. Whether or not it pays off on the field immediately, Brown made great hires that his players have bought into.

2. Right place, right time for Okafor. Defensive end Alex Okafor was a defensive tackle last year and figured he’d stay there this year. But days before spring practice, he moved to defensive end and had one of the best springs on the team, capping it with five sacks in the spring game.

3. Recruiting pipelines are still full. Despite all the unrest with the coaching staff and last year’s on-field struggles, Texas hasn’t seen the effects on the recruiting trail. It retained all but one recruit from its 2010 class (an he was an out-of-stater, albeit a five-star lineman) and its 2011 class is already one of the nation’s best.

Three fall questions

1. Is Texas back? There are tons of little questions (secondary, the entire offense), but they all add up to this one. The Longhorns have more money than anyone else. Recruiting is easier for them than perhaps any school in the country. They have a tradition of success. Seasons like last year aren’t supposed to happen at Texas. Was last year a hiccup, or a significant hurdle?

2. What about the QBs? Texas has one of the most jumbled messes in the league at quarterback. Garrett Gilbert started all 12 games last year, but he was unimpressive and threw 17 picks to 10 TDs. The competition was reopened under new OC Bryan Harsin, but after the spring, none of Texas three quarterbacks had separated themselves, and Case McCoy was the most impressive passer in the spring game. Anything could happen this fall. No one is a front runner.

3. Is Malcolm Brown the future or present? We’ve seen impressive freshman running backs in this league before, and the opportunity will be there for Brown if he’s good enough to seize it. Texas has Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson, but both are seniors and neither has proven to be a reliable every-down threat. What’s in store for the nation’s top running back in the 2011 class?

I've done it. You've done it.

"Hey, is that guy still around?"

Even with two fewer teams, it's hard to keep track. Our next series, which we did last year, too, takes a look at two key players for every team in the league that are taking their talents elsewhere, returning to campus, or arriving to try and write a legacy of their own.

So really, this series isn't so much for the fans of the teams in the posts, but more for everyone else. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bookmark this series.

Next up: Texas

Going:

Sam Acho, DE

Texas struggled last season, but Acho didn't. The senior lineman was the rock of the defense on and off the field, earning both All-Big 12 first-team honors and the Academic Heisman. He also accompanied his parents on mission trips to Nigeria during the summer and was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Trophy in 2010 and a semifinalist for the Lott Trophy in 2009. He'll be missed by the Longhorns after being drafted in the fourth round by Arizona.

Aaron Williams, CB

Williams crashed Texas' starting lineup for a game as a freshman, but has been a full-time starter for his past two seasons. Williams was one of just three players in the Big 12 to leave school early after last season, forgoing his senior year to have the Buffalo Bills make him the 34th overall selection of last week's draft. Williams played some nickel back, played some cornerback, and he was also the guy who ended Sam Bradford's career with a hit in the first quarter of 2009's Red River Rivalry. Last season, he was an All-Big 12 second-teamer and broke up 13 passes, making 46 tackles and forcing three fumbles.

Staying:

Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho, LBs

This pair are close friends and should be the two vocal leaders of the defense in 2011 under new direction. Will Muschamp is gone, and Manny Diaz has arrived. Last season, Robinson and Acho combined for 187 tackles as the team's top two tackles. Emmanuel is Sam's younger brother, so it's clear he'll have somewhere to go if he has questions about stepping into the role as a team leader. Both have nice combinations of size and speed. Robinson (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) and Acho (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) should be among the Big 12's best at their position next season.

Foswhitt Whittaker and Cody Johnson, RBs

Whittaker and Johnson combined for 943 yards and eight scores last season. They'll have to be better this season for Texas to bounce back from its 5-7 record in 2010. Together, their efforts still would have only ranked 11th in the Big 12 if they were one back. Whittaker, a more balanced back, has dealt with a nagging shoulder injury and Johnson, though solid at the goal line for most of his career, doesn't give the Longhorns a big-play threat at 250 pounds. Both are seniors, but if they're not better next season, both could be out of a job. D.J. Monroe is likely to get more touches in space, and the nation's top running back is headed to Austin this fall.

Coming:

Malcolm Brown, RB

Brown is the guy Texas fans have been waiting for. Not since Jamaal Charles has Texas had what could be called a franchise back. Is Brown the guy? There's no way to know for sure until he gets to campus this fall, but the 6-foot, 215-pounder was among the nation's top recruits in the 2011 class and is a power runner with decent speed. The Texas 5A Offensive Player of the Year in 2010, the Cibolo, Texas native rushed for 1,800 yards and 23 scores while leading his team to a state title.

Quandre Diggs, CB

Texas fans have already had a chance to see Diggs, and they had to love it. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder was the nation's top cornerback in the 2011 class, and after enrolling early, is already challenging for a starting spot in Texas' new defense. He was all over the place in Texas' spring game, and has already made a big impression on his teammates for his efforts. Off the field, he helped hold together Texas' top-flight recruiting class in the midst of upheaval on the coaching staff, too. He was on the phone with his future teammates, telling them to hold tight and let Mack Brown do his job. Diggs could be in store for a special, special career.

Click here for more from The Revolving Door.

Thanks for the questions, all. Let's get started.

Little Stoops in Tallahassee, Fla asked: With my brother coming into town week 3 of the season. What match up's on myside of the ball should I have an advantage on, even tho OU's Offense looks better than last years?

David Ubben: Well, I don't see too many. And either way, Oklahoma will find a way to exploit the places on offense that it has the advantage.

Spoiler alert: If anyone beats Oklahoma this year, it's going to have to put up a ton of points or hope for turnovers. Landry Jones should be better than ever, and he's throwing to a deep corps of receivers, deeper than he's ever had.

The offensive line wasn't fantastic last year, but the only spot that it really struggled was trying to get pushes up front in short-yardage situations against good defenses. On the whole, it was pretty good, and Stoops raved -- unprompted, mind you -- about their progress this spring.

E.J. Manuel is going to have to have a heck of a game if Florida State is going to avenge last year's embarrassment in Norman.

---

Greg in Texas asked: Which first year coordinator has the most to prove? Which will be most successful?

DU: Most to prove is an interesting question. I'll go with Bryan Harsin at Texas, just because so many people still hate Boise State and don't buy that what the program has done is authentic. Having one of its coaches go off and be successful out from underneath the shadow of Chris Petersen could go a long way for both Harsin and the Boise State program.

As for most successful? In year one, that looks like it'll probably be Todd Monken by a long ways, mostly because of the talent he's inheriting. Success is different than impact, I suppose. He could have the same success that Dana Holgorsen had last year, but I don't think many would consider it the same kind of "impact." Does that matter? Well, that's up to you.

As for long-term success? I'll go with either Josh Heupel or Manny Diaz. Both are on the fast track to becoming head coaches very soon and both are in positions that should be conducive to big-time success.

---

Emperor Norton in San Francisco asked: In an interview with San Francisco radio station and Niner flagship, KNBR (THE Sports Leader!), Aldon Smith let slip that Niner Coach Jim Harbaugh gave him a 49 question test on football history. Questions included "How wide is the football field and who is Knute Rockne?" I guess Smith passed but what question(s) would you put on such a test?

DU: Yeah, I don't think that's a big deal. Aldon Smith said the field was 50 yards wide. It's 53 1/3. As long as he can see the white lines and understand that if he has the ball, he can't go outside of them, he'll be fine. Not an issue. He also didn't know who Knute Rockne was. Just guessing: He's not the only guy on his team who couldn't place Rockne.

That test isn't any kind of predictor for on-field success. All it is is a tool for a coach to get to know the kind of player he has, and what he needs to do to coach him. Harbaugh's a smart guy. Players will, more often than not, tell a coach what he wants to hear.

I imagine Harbaugh learned a lot by administering that test. Apparently, so did his players.

---

Chet Anderson in Ames, Iowa asked: What do you see as the realistic best and worse case scenario coming out of Iowa State's QB competition going into the season?

DU: We've seen Jerome Tiller. He didn't look great last year. He's good enough for them to win some games next year and maybe get to a bowl game, but he's not a game-changer.

Steele Jantz? He's still a bit of a wild-card. Best-case scenario: The receivers look completely different this year, Jantz is able to hit them and use his legs to make plays and Iowa State wins 7-8 games.

Worst-case scenario: Iowa State's quarterback position becomes a revolving door with no real optimism for the future. (See: Kansas, 2010)

---

Adam Penny in Austin, Texas asked: Did the draft prove that the problem at Texas last year was a simple lack of talent.they did not have any first round picks and Baylor had 2. If you look at the 2005 squad almost the entire team is in the NFL

DU: No, not necessarily. On offense, I agree with you, but Texas had three corners drafted, as well as DE Sam Acho. Next year, there should be more Longhorns defenders in the draft. Aaron Williams was pretty close to a first-rounder, too.

People want to point to recruiting rankings, but folks who watched Texas play last year have to be able to see the discrepancy on the two sides of the ball.

Defensively, Texas is still solid, and should have another good year.

Offensively, though? From quarterbacks to running backs to receivers to offensive line, Texas was definitely in the bottom third of the Big 12 in all three last year. Recruiting stars don't equal yards.

---

Luke in Corpus Christi, Texas asked: Should any of the teams in the Big 12 be calling former NC State QB Russell Wilson? If so which ones?

DU: I don't see it happening. Unlike what we thought in the preseason with Nebraska last year, there aren't any great Big 12 teams in need of a quarterback. Wilson will want to play for a contender. Additionally, he's a North Carolina native and as far as I can tell, has no ties to Texas or any other Big 12 states.

If I could have it back
All the time that we wasted
I'd only waste it again

• After a dream draft day, Texas Tech running back Baron Batch is exactly where he wants to be, and not just in the NFL, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Texas defensive lineman Sam Acho opens up about what it was like to get the call from Arizona over the weekend.
• Kansas' D.J. Marshall was back on the field on Saturday after battling cancer. The Lawrence Journal-World's Tom Keegan has his story.
• What's the relationship between Kansas coach Turner Gill and his new boss, Sheahon Zenger? J. Brady McCollough will give you a look inside.
• Former Kansas receiver Kerry Meier learned a lot in the past year after losing his brother and closest friend, as well as football, writes Kevin Haskin of the Topeka Capital-Journal.
• Missouri linebacker Andrew Gachkar had given up on being drafted and was grabbing some Mexican food before getting the call, writes Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star.
• Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones could be among the NFL's first-round draft picks next year, writes Jake Trotter of The Oklahoman.
• Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman weighs in on the Tommy Tuberville controversy. That and more in his nine things and one crazy prediction column.
• Oklahoma State released its schedule, and Brandon Chatmon of The Oklahoman ranks the games by difficulty.
• Look out, Texas. West Virginia is coming for your football players, writes William Wilkerson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• If you missed it over the weekend, Nebraska was stripped of its membership in the Association of American Universities, which was a key component in its admission to the Big Ten over the summer. Here's how it happened.
• Running back Bryce Brown's debut at K-State on Saturday was the opposite of his career and recruitment at Tennessee, writes Austin Meek of the Topeka Capital-Journal.

The NFL draft has come and gone, and I hope you're all prepared for no more NFL anything for awhile. I know I'm not.

Anyway, here's how the Big 12 shook out over the weekend, with a few thoughts to follow.

First round (8)

• No. 2: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M (Denver)
• No. 7: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri (San Francisco)
• No. 10: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri (Jacksonville)
• No. 17: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado (New England)
• No. 19: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska (New York Giants)
• No. 21: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor (Cleveland)
• No. 23: Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor (Philadelphia)
• No. 27: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado (Baltimore)

Second round (2)

• No. 34: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas (Buffalo)
• No. 62: Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State (Miami)

Third round (2)

• No. 71: DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma (Dallas)
• No. 95: Curtis Brown, CB, Texas (Pittsburgh)

Fourth round (6)

• No. 103: Sam Acho, DE, Texas (Arizona)
• No. 105: Roy Helu Jr., RB, Nebraska (Washington)
• No. 108: Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma (Denver)
• No. 115: Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State (San Francisco)
• No. 118: Jalil Brown, CB, Colorado (Kansas City)
• No. 120: Alex Henery, K, Nebraska (Philadelphia)

Fifth round (3)

• No. 146: DeJon Gomes, S, Nebraska (Washington)
• No. 155: Niles Paul, WR, Nebraska (Washington)
• No. 164: Chykie Brown, CB, Texas (Baltimore)

Sixth round (1)

• No. 196: Keith Williams, OL, Nebraska (Pittsburgh)

Seventh round (8)

• No. 216: Mikail Baker, CB, Baylor (St. Louis)
• No. 227: Scotty McKnight, WR, Colorado (New York Jets)
• No. 229: Jonathan Nelson, DB, Oklahoma (St. Louis)
• No. 232: Baron Batch, RB, Texas Tech (Pittsburgh)
• No. 234: Andrew Gachkar, LB, Missouri (San Diego)
• No. 246: Jay Finley, RB, Baylor (Cincinnati)
• No. 247: Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma (Denver)
• No. 248: Eric Hagg, S, Nebraska (Cleveland)

Here's how the Big 12 teams ranked in terms of total draftees:

1. Nebraska - 7
2. Baylor - 4
2. Colorado - 4
2. Oklahoma - 4
2. Texas - 4
6. Missouri - 3
7. Kansas State -1
7. Oklahoma State - 1
7. Texas A&M - 1
7. Texas Tech - 1
11. Iowa State - 0
11. Kansas - 0

And the major conferences (counting where players actually played):

SEC - 38
Pac-12 - 33
Big 12 - 30
Big Ten - 29
ACC - 35
Big East - 22

• Texas A&M had just one player drafted, but the Aggies will have plenty next year, including a handful of possible first-rounders. Cyrus Gray, Ryan Tannehill and Jeff Fuller could all go very early in 2012, depending on what happens between now and then.
[+] Enlarge
Matthew Emmons/US PresswireOklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal was drafted in the seventh round by Denver.
• Interesting that Miller went 245 selections before the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year, according to the media, Jeremy Beal. Also an interesting coincidence? The same team drafted both. I do think Beal will have a productive NFL career, and there's no denying what he did at Oklahoma, but the measurables were never quite there for Beal. What's not measurable? How difficult he is to block. That said, Miller was my vote for the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year.
• Good to see some hard-working, perhaps under-respected guys get drafted. This was an important year for that, considering those left over won't be able to get into NFL minicamps until the lockout ends and won't be able to do anything to further their NFL careers besides work out on their own. I'll have a post later today on some of those snubs. There's no guarantee that late-drafted guys like Baron Batch, Scotty McKnight, Jay Finley or Eric Hagg will catch on in the the pros, but I'd be willing to guarantee they'll do everything in their power to maximize what opportunities they get.
• One of the most interesting selections? Mikail Baker. He wasn't invited to the combine, and played just one full season on defense at Baylor after working as a kick returner and a cornerback in 2009 before a season-ending knee injury. You don't see that kind of impressive athleticism at Baylor traditionally.
• Let the debate continue: Kendall Hunter vs. DeMarco Murray. Murray getting drafted 40-some spots earlier only intensified that discussion, if you ask me.
• Also, what's more impressive from Art Briles? That Baylor had four picks, the most in school history since 1996? Or that despite those four picks, Baylor's returning an even better team than last season, when it ended a 16-year bowl drought?
• Colorado's draft, meanwhile? Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Dan Hawkins' coaching job in Boulder.
• Alex Henery didn't win the Lou Groza Award, but his fourth-round selection makes him the earliest kicker draft pick since 2006. Will that end the state of Nebraska's blood feud against respectable OSU kicker Dan Bailey, who did win the Lou Groza Award? I doubt it. (Save your emails. For the 100th time, I agree, Nebraska fans. Henery > Bailey.)
• A few guys who went way lower than I thought they would. In order of my surprise level: Beal, Gabbert, Amukamara, Hagg, Hunter.
• A few guys who went way higher than I thought, in the same order: Aldon Smith, Batch, Gachkar, Baker.

The Big 12 will likely have a pair of top-10 picks tonight and five selections in the first round, but there will still be six more rounds over the next two days, and plenty more Big 12ers will have a new home soon.

Middle and late-round picks are when you really have a chance to build a program, and here are a few folks who won't hear their names called tonight, but will on plenty of Sundays in the future.

Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State

He'll have the best NFL career of any of the Big 12 backs in this year's draft. Better than DeMarco Murray and Kendall Hunter. Roy Helu, too, if you're into that kind of thing.

Thomas is durable (never missed a game in two years), runs with a low center of gravity, making him one of the hardest guys to bring down in the league and is a great balance of power and speed. But what's most impressive? Despite leading the Big 12 in rushing the past two years, he's probably got the most upside of any back in the draft. He's only played the position since leaving junior college, where he was a quarterback.

Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma

He's a tweener at the next level. Not fast enough to be a linebacker and not big enough to play defensive end. He's not physically impressive. But he never has been, really. He's never a guy who wowed me, unless I was looking in the offensive backfield or on the stat sheet. He always had a strong presence in both.

For three years, he's been one of the best defenders in the Big 12, and it's hard to believe he won't exceed his modest expectations at the next level.

Sam Acho, DE, Texas

Unless his teammate, cornerback Aaron Williams, slips in the first round, it'll be the first draft since 1998 without a Sooner or a Longhorn selected in the first round. Even so, Acho assures there are still quality prospects from both programs available later in the draft.

He's got impressive agility for 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, and any player has a distinct advantage if he's got what it takes in the most important part of any NFL player: the brain. Acho definitely does, and won the Academic Heisman for his efforts in the classroom, too. A model citizen, even if Acho isn't an impact player on the field, he can be a big impact in the locker room. Don't be surprised if he ends up being both by the time his career is over.

We took a look at the offensive draft boards on Wednesday, and on the day of the draft we'll turn to the defense.

Analyst Todd McShay broke down the skill sets of each draftable player on the board and ranked them by those skill sets, divided up by position.

Here's what he had to say.

Defensive line

• Missouri's Aldon Smith was No. 3 on his versatility list, ranking defensive ends by their athleticism and ability to change direction and play in space.
• Baylor's Phil Taylor ranks No. 3 among defensive tackles as run-stoppers.
• Smith is No. 7 among overall defensive line prospects.
• Taylor is No. 11 overall at the position.
• Texas' Sam Acho is the No. 24 defensive line prospect.
• Oklahoma's Jeremy Beal is No. 25 on the list.
• Oklahoma State's Ugo Chinasa is No. 44.

Linebackers

• Oklahoma State's Orie Lemon is No. 3 on the strength/toughness list among inside linebackers.
• Texas A&M's Von Miller is No. 2 among outside linebackers in range against the run.
• Miller is the No. 1 surest tackler among outside linebackers.
• Miller is the No. 1 overall linebacker prospect.
• Lemon is the No. 22 linebacker prospect.

Defensive backs

• Texas' Aaron Williams is the No. 4 overall defensive back.
• Texas' Curtis Brown is the No. 12 overall defensive back.
• Oklahoma safety Quinton Carter is No. 15.
• Texas' Chykie Brown is No. 33.
• Iowa State safety David Sims is No. 42.
• Oklahoma cornerback Jonathan Nelson is No. 53
• Oklahoma State cornerback Andrew McGee is No. 54.
• Missouri cornerback Kevin Rutland is No. 55.

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

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

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

Texas: 16

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

Oklahoma: 12

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

Oklahoma State: 6

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

Missouri: 4

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

Kansas State: 3

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

Texas A&M: 2

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

Texas Tech: 1

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

Kansas: 1

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

Baylor: 1

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

Iowa State: none since 1973 (George Amundson)

A few thoughts and observations:

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