In other words, they're coming in under the radar. Click here for more players under the radar.
Next up: the TCU Horned Frogs.
Under the radar: DE Stansly Maponga
It's time to redefine "under the radar" for TCU, a Big 12 newcomer. You don't need to tell anyone from Fort Worth about Maponga, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound beast on the defensive line for the Frogs. But in the Big 12? Maponga may be a first-team All-Big 12 talent and I'd bet 95 percent of the league's fans have never even seen the guy play.
Mistake.
Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor may be the league's top two defensive linemen by the time the season's done, but if anybody's going to crash the league's burnt-orange monopoly at the position, it's going to be Maponga.
The Carrollton, Texas, native will only be a junior in 2011, but as a sophomore, he was one of just four players in college football to rank in the top 20 in sacks and in the top 10 in forced fumbles. He made nine sacks (which would have ranked second in the Big 12 and that's the most of any returning defender in the league. Those five forced fumbles were one more than any player in the Big 12 last season, too.
He recovered two fumbles and made 13.5 tackles for loss, which would have tied for sixth in the Big 12.
Yes, we know, he did it in the Mountain West. Count me as one more vote who doesn't care. He's one productive beast you do not want to mess with. Ignore him at your own peril. When your team plays TCU and that annoying No. 90 keeps driving you nuts, don't say you weren't warned.
TEAM RESOURCES
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Richard Durrett
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast Baylor coach Art Briles discusses the incredible progress the program has made over the past two seasons, the challenges of having three different starting quarterbacks in three years, the parity in the Big 12 and more.
Play Podcast Kirk Herbstreit joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss Bob Stoops' recent comments about the SEC and the pending college football playoff, what appears to be an unpredictable Big 12 in 2013, how the Aggies will handle expectations and more.
Play Podcast Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin talks about the improvements being made to Kyle Field, what those improvements will to for the program, the success of last year, Johnny Manziel's offseason and the expectations for the Aggies in 2013.
Play Podcast Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo talk about Texas A&M's decision to expand its stadium and say although the Aggies had a fantastic year, the school must also be careful not to overextend its resources based on a single hot stretch.
Play Podcast Baylor head coach Art Briles joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss what kind of player the Cowboys are getting in Terrance Williams.
Play Podcast Arlington and Texas A&M product Luke Joeckel, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, joins Ian Fitzsimmons and Richard Durrett to discuss the draft, coaches and advice from his dad.
Play Podcast Florida Gulf Coast athletic director Ken Kavanagh joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss his school's Cinderella story and playing in the Sweet 16 at Cowboys Stadium.
Play Podcast Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby joins Fizsimmons & Durrett to discuss Cowboys Stadium as a venue, the state of Big 12 basketball, the new 2014 college football format, why there's no hurry to have a Big 12 football championship and much more.
You must be signed in to post a comment