Ranking the Big 12's top 25 players: No. 25
The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we'll be revealing one player a day leading up to the season.
Here goes nothin' ...
No. 25: Justin Gilbert, CB/KR, Oklahoma State
2011 numbers: Made 59 tackles (48 solo), intercepted five passes, broke up 10 passes and made a tackle for loss. Also returned 26 kicks for 703 yards (avg. 27.04 yards) and two touchdowns.
Most recent ranking: Gilbert was unranked in our postseason list of the Big 12's top 25 players.
Making the case for Gilbert: Gilbert is the most dangerous kick return man in the league and a very, very good cornerback, but his cover skills are slightly inflated by his high interception total that featured picks of high-profile QBs like Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, top-10 NFL draft picks Andrew Luck and Ryan Tannehill as well as Landry Jones.
Still, Gilbert is blazing fast and as his cover skills improve, he could be due for a major breakout season in 2012. The competition at cornerback is really tough, but don't be surprised if Gilbert makes a case as arguably the Big 12's best by the end of the season.
For now, though, he has a lot to prove when it comes to cover skills. His athleticism is almost unmatched around the league, and that means he'll get plenty of attention from NFL scouts. Still, NFL potential isn't accounted for in this list. Gilbert will be fun to watch, and be ready for him to break open a game or two this year with a timely kick return.
David Ubben | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big 12 blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2010
- Wrote for The Oklahoman
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 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.
Play Podcast Jay Bilas joins Fitzsimmons and Durrett to discuss the remaining 16 teams in the NCAA tournament, the intrigue surrounding the Northwest Region and the excitement over FGCU, even though a similar story happens every year.
You must be signed in to post a comment