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2012 record: 9-4
2012 conference record: 5-4 (third in the Big 12)
Returning starters: Offense: 10; defense: 9; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners: QB David Ash, RB Johnathan Gray, WR Mike Davis, WR Jaxon Shipley, LT Donald Hawkins, RT Josh Cochran, G Mason Walters, DE Jackson Jeffcoat, LB Jordan Hicks, CB Quandre Diggs, CB Carrington Byndom

Key losses: P Alex King, S Kenny Vaccaro, DE Alex Okafor, WR Marquise Goodwin

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Johnathan Gray* (701 yards)
Passing: David Ash* (2,699 yards)
Receiving: Mike Davis* (939 yards)
Tackles: Kenny Vaccaro (107)
Sacks: Alex Okafor (12.5)
Interceptions: Quandre Diggs* (4)

Spring answers:

1. Under center: Texas has finally ended all the debate about its quarterback situation and settled on David Ash. While Ash has yet to be stellar in his first two years at Texas, the junior has steadily improved -- he was top 25 in pass efficiency rating in 2012 -- and has won the trust of new quarterbacks coach Major Applewhite. Applewhite believes Ash is the quarterback best suited to run the new up-tempo, spread attack.

2. Loaded at linebacker: One year after being the worst tackling team in the Big 12, Texas went into the spring looking to shore up its linebacker position. And it had plenty of options. Texas has seven linebackers who have started at least one game. Included in that group is Jordan Hicks, who is back after missing 10 games last year because of a hip injury. Hicks will team with true sophomores, Dalton Santos and Peter Jinkens for what should be a much faster and aggressive unit in 2013.

3. Along the lines: While there were a sprinkling of injuries along the offensive line this spring (Josh Cochran and Trey Hopkins), Texas appears to have finally solved the depth riddle at that position. Tackle Kennedy Estelle was able to get quality snaps and should prove to be a solid backup and Sedrick Flowers finally emerged as an option at guard. While Texas returns all five starter from a year ago along the line, the Longhorns know that in the new up-tempo offense it will have to lean heavily on these backups.

Fall questions

1. Speed thrills: Texas wants to move the ball fast. So fast that the offensive players were even taught how to quickly get the ball back to the official so that they could put it down and Texas could line up and run the next play. But Texas only decided it wanted to play this way in mid-December when there was a change in playcallers from Bryan Harsin to Applewhite. So Texas has only had a handful of practices to get up to speed. With a schedule that has Texas at BYU for the second game of the season there doesn’t appear to be much time to get things perfected.

2. Safety dance: Texas’ defense was the worst in school history and that was largely due to the play of the back seven on defense. And now the best player in that back seven, Kenny Vaccaro, is gone. He was a first-round draft pick. That has left Texas wondering who will step up and make some stop at the safety position. Adrian Phillips takes over for Vaccaro, but he was inconsistent last season. The coaches blamed a shoulder injury and the fact he missed the spring. Mykkele Thompson and Josh Turner also missed their share of tackles but both are being called on to be possible starters.

3. Receiving praise: Texas has not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Jordan Shipley in 2009. Mike Davis had 939 yards last year and appears poised to break the 1,000-yard mark this season. But to do that he will need help. And right now there are some questions as to where that help will come from. Texas wants to go with four wide receivers but two of the four players expected to fill those roles -- Cayleb Jones and Kendall Sanders -- are currently suspended because of legal issues. Both will probably be back. But even then, Texas is very thin at wide receiver and needs some other players to step up to help take the double teams away from Davis.

Every year, we crown an All-Big 12 team here at ESPN.com, but we also like to give some recognization to guys who don't get enough credit for just how good they really are. These are their stories.

QB: Nick Florence, Baylor

When was the last time the nation's leader in total offense struggled to even sniff a nod on an All-Big 12 team? The Big 12 quarterback pool is deep this year, but Florence deserves plenty of recognition for a huge season, even if it featured a few too many interceptions. He led the league in passing yards, too.

RB: Damien Williams, Oklahoma

Williams' home-run hitting was much needed for the Sooners, whose season may have looked very different without some huge runs from Williams in wins over UTEP and TCU. Not to mention his 95-yard highlight against Texas, which didn't necessarily change the outcome but provided an unforgettable moment.

RB: James Sims, Kansas

Sims just might be the best back in the Big 12 and didn't even receive a first-team nod from the league's coaches. KU has zero help or support by way of a passing game for Sims. Everybody in the stadium knows he's getting the ball, and yet, he remained productive this season, his best yet.

FB: Braden Wilson, Kansas State

Wilson's a quiet member of one of the league's best rushing attacks. How has Kansas State had Collin Klein and John Hubert each over 895 yards rushing in each of the past two seasons? Ask Bill Snyder to talk about Wilson some time. He'll stop about 45 minutes later.

WR: Josh Stewart, Oklahoma State

Stewart doesn't get the same respect as elite receivers in the Big 12 like Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey or Terrance Williams, but he's really not all that far off. OSU throws it around to a lot of different receivers, but Stewart racked up 96 receptions this season. Only two other receivers in the league had more.

WR: Eric Ward, Texas Tech

Ward doesn't get the respect from media, fans or even defenses as other guys on his team, but he's been the most consistent receiver for the past two years for Ward. He led the Red Raiders in receiving last year and did it again this year with 974 yards and 11 scores. Look for him to hit 1,000 yards in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas.

WR: Tevin Reese, Baylor

Reese is one of the league's most dangerous deep threats, and that alone puts him on this list. He's got eight touchdown catches this season, and averaged 50.8 yards on those eight scores. Ridiculous.

OL: Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

Hawkinson's calling card is his consistency. Not many guys have played four seasons without missing a game, but Hawkinson racked up 48 starts in four bowl-less seasons for the Jayhawks. He's been consistently one of the league's better linemen. There are more talented guys, but he's been solid and doesn't get the recognition because of KU's struggles.

OL: Lane Johnson, Oklahoma

My lasting memory of Johnson was an impactful one: He completely erased Devonte Fields from the season-ending, Big 12 title share-clinching win in Fort Worth over TCU. Fields, arguably the league's best pass rusher, made just two tackles and none for loss. Johnson has one of the most unbelievable stories in the league, transforming from junior college quarterback into Big 12 offensive tackle (with stops at tight end and defensive end along the way), but he's been solid for the Sooners this season.

OL: Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech

Clark had a big impact on the Red Raiders' line in his first year as a freshman starter after redshirting in 2011. He was as good as any freshman lineman in the league, and his profile's going to rise quickly next season and beyond. He's got NFL written all over him.

OL: Mason Walters, Texas

Walters might actually be the best offensive player on Texas' entire team. Guys like Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray might have more potential or get more pub, but he's been unbelievably solid since earning a starting spot as a freshman. He's started 37 consecutive games for the Longhorns.

OL: Ivory Wade, Baylor

Wade has a decent case as the Big 12's best center, but got surpassed this season by guys like B.J. Finney at Kansas State and Joe Madsen in West Virginia. Regardless, all Wade did was have a really solid season alongside stud Cyril Richardson blocking for the nation's No. 1 offense.

It's always fun looking back on what we thought in the preseason, and today, we'll take another look.

Here's who made the postseason team.

How did our All-Big 12 preseason team stack up at season's end?

QB: Geno Smith, West Virginia

Smith lost his spot to Collin Klein, but still had a solid season worthy of All-Big 12 honors in most seasons. The Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year was second in the league in passer rating and threw 40 touchdown passes to just six interceptions, and was second in the league with 4,001 passing yards.

RB: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State

Randle had the season most expected him to, easily leading the league in rushing with 1,351 yards, over 300 yards more than any other back in the Big 12.

RB: Waymon James, TCU

James got off to a solid start with 168 yards and a touchdown on his first 17 carries of the season, averaging nearly 10 yards a touch. However, a knee injury suffered in the second game of the year against Kansas ended his season far too soon. KU's James Sims replaced him on the postseason team.

All-Purpose: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State

Klein's rise made it clear that there was no need for an All-Purpose spot on the postseason team from ESPN.com. He accounted for 37 touchdowns and carried Kansas State to a Big 12 title on the way to an invitation to the Heisman Trophy presentation.

WR: Stedman Bailey, West Virginia

He was Studman Bailey this season, catching 23 touchdowns and earning a spot on the postseason team, as well as a nod as a Biletnikoff Award finalist. No other Big 12 receiver had more than 13 touchdowns and Bailey's 1,501 receiving yards were second-most in the Big 12. He obviously made the postseason team.

WR: Kenny Stills, Oklahoma

Stills was OK, but even he admitted his season was "sub-par." He was surpassed on the team by Terrance Williams, but earned a second-team nod after catching 75 balls for 897 yards and 11 scores, fifth-most in the Big 12.

WR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Austin was probably the most dangerous player in the Big 12 this season. Nobody was better in the open field and 909 of his 1,266 receiving yards came after the catch. Ridiculous. He also rushed for 598 yards and three scores on just 61 carries. He made the postseason team.

C: Joe Madsen, West Virginia

Madsen held onto his spot on my postseason team with a solid year for the Mountaineers, who finished third in the league in total offense. Kansas State's B.J. Finney closed the gap by season's end, but I went with Madsen on the preseason and postseason teams.

OL: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma

Ikard had the season most thought. He was arguably the Big 12's best offensive lineman in the preseason and proved to be that player throughout 2012.

OL: Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State

Taylor was loaded with experience for a lot of good offense, and looked the part of an experienced lineman this season. OSU needed three different quarterbacks this year, but the Pokes had the nation's No. 5 offense and gave up just 10 sacks, the fewest in the Big 12.

OL: Cyril Richardson, Baylor

Richardson was the only player who could challenge Ikard as the league's best lineman, and it was razor-thin this season between the two. Either way, Richardson did what most thought he would, helping Baylor rank No. 1 nationally in total offense.

OL: Mason Walters, Texas

Walters was good this season, but he was the only lineman on this list who didn't make my postseason team. I replaced him with Texas Tech's LaAdrian Waddle.

Pretty solid preseason team. No true busts on the entire team, and not a lot of breakout players who came from nowhere to make the team. We'll look at the defense a little later on.

Texas coach Mack Brown, safety Adrian Phillips, offensive guard Mason Walters and defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat talk about the Longhorns' upcoming game against Mississippi.

The season is only a few days away, and it's time to unveil our official All-Big 12 team.

The criteria for this is pretty simple: I picked the best players at every position in the game, but made room for deserving players. For this league, that meant eliminating the tight end spot and sliding a more deserving Collin Klein onto the team via an all-purpose position.

The quarterbacks are solid in this league, but I'd call the cornerbacks the best and deepest position in the league. The worst? Defensive tackle. I didn't put a single one on the All-Big 12 team, electing to name four defensive ends along the defensive line. I hate doing that, but this year, it's necessary.

Without further ado, here's our team:

OFFENSE

QB: Geno Smith, West Virginia
RB: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
RB: Waymon James, TCU
All-Purpose: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
WR: Stedman Bailey, West Virginia
WR: Kenny Stills, Oklahoma
WR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia
C: Joe Madsen, West Virginia
OL: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
OL: Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State
OL: Cyril Richardson, Baylor
OL: Mason Walters, Texas

DEFENSE

DL: Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
DL: Stansly Maponga, TCU
DL: Alex Okafor, Texas
DL: Meshak Williams, Kansas State
LB: A.J. Klein, Iowa State
LB: Arthur Brown, Kansas State
LB: Jake Knott, Iowa State
CB: Carrington Byndom, Texas
CB: Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State
S: Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
S: Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma

SPECIALISTS:

K: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
KR: Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State
PR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Honorable mention/regrettable snubs: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma; Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas; Ivory Wade, C, Baylor; LaAdrian Waddle, OL, Texas Tech; Blaize Foltz, OL, TCU; Kenny Cain, LB, TCU; Shaun Lewis, LB, Oklahoma State; Jamarkus McFarland, DL, Oklahoma; Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas; Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State; Demontre Hurst, CB, Oklahoma; Tyler Lockett, KR, Kansas State

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas guard David Snow rarely came off the field in 2011.

The same goes for guard Mason Walters, defensive end Alex Okafor, defensive tackle Kheeston Randall and so many others on the first line of Texas’ depth chart. That’s because Texas had no depth, except, as every fan painfully remembers, at quarterback.

Nothing has changed with the quarterback situation. But when it comes to the other 21 spots, Texas is no longer and all-hat-no-cattle organization. It has depth, not everywhere, but there is enough to allow for a sigh of relief from those who had nowhere to turn or sideline to sit on in 2011.

“Right now there are three to four guys who can come in there and with [offensive line coach Stacy] Searels, you never know where any of them might play,” Walters said. “But you know they will be ready.”

Ready is one thing, able is the key when it comes to depth.

Clearly Texas is more than able at multiple positions.

At running back the Longhorns have Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron returning and add Johnathan Gray.

Along the offensive line Texas has four starters back, added Donald Hawkins at tackle and has Sedrick Flowers (guard), Luke Poehlmann (tackle), Garrett Porter (center) and Thomas Ashcraft (guard/tackle).

“Those guys are ready to step up,” Mack Brown said.

(Read full post)

The Outland Trophy, given annually to college football's best interior lineman (offense or defense) has released its 71-man watch list.

Seven players from the Big 12 made the cut. Here they are:

• Blaize Foltz, guard, TCU
• Ben Habern, center, Oklahoma
• Gabe Ikard, guard, Oklahoma
• Cyril Richardson, guard, Baylor
• Lane Taylor, guard, Oklahoma State
• LaAdrian Waddle, guard, Texas Tech
• Mason Walters, guard, Texas

That's a pretty good list, but I probably would have liked to see Kansas State center B.J. Finney crack the list, too. The Outland Trophy is only for interior linemen, meaning no offensive tackles or defensive ends. These are truly the big uglies in the middle. Their names don't get mentioned enough.

Ndamukong Suh (2009) was the last Big 12 talent to win the award. Before him, it was Jammal Brown at Oklahoma in 2004.

Nebraska's nine and Oklahoma's five Outland Trophies are the most in college football.

The Big 12's seven candidates are fourth-most of the major conferences, led by the SEC's 19.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Fozzy Whittaker brought Blake Gideon to tears.

That’s his effect. More than anything that emotion showed what Whittaker has meant to Texas football. It also showed how much Whittaker, who suffered a season-ending knee injury, would be missed.

“He would lay down in the street for any one of us,” Gideon said. “The type of guy that he is … the type of character that Fozzy has and what he will do for anyone one of us, that just shows you the type of person he is and why all of us think so much of him.”

Whittaker is in their thoughts now because he can no longer be on the field with them. The senior leader, who had made every right step this season, made one ill-fated cut and went down in against Missouri.

“You don’t understand why he gets hit all year and on this play he didn’t get touched,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “He planted his foot and his knee went.”

“I felt it,” Whittaker said. “I just knew the way I planted, just feeling my knee buckle in and then kind of reposition itself back out it was kind of a nasty feeling.”

He didn’t blame the turf. He didn’t blame anyone. Whittaker had his mom, Gloria, come down to the locker room from the stands, place her hands on his knee and together they prayed about it.

A day later, it was Whittaker consoling his coach and his teammates. Typical Fozzy.

“Here he is picking up the 60-year-old who just lost some football game when his knee is torn up, and he'll have to have an operation, and he said, ‘Hey, let's go in there. We've got to beat Kansas State. Let's pick these guys up and let's move forward and see what we can do. I'll be fine. They're fixing these things better than ever before,’” Brown said.

That’s the thing about Whittaker, he has been there to pick the entire team up all year. In the two games when Texas needed a burst, there was Whittaker, who had never returned kicks before, going 100-plus yards for touchdowns.

When Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron needed someone to lean on, someone to help them find their way through the offense, there was Whittaker not just offering advice, but giving them carries, sharing the spotlight that should have been his.

On Monday, when he should have been depressed, angry, emotional, there was Whittaker maneuvering an orange scooter, knee wrapped and braced, smile plastered on his face, talking about a future in football administration, how he has six more hours to go to get his masters, saying don’t worry he’ll be fine.

“I'm not really the type to appear as immobilized as it seems,” he said with a nod to the scooter.

No he is not. Whittaker is someone, who regardless of what has been thrown in front of him, is always on the go. Life for him is not full of obstacles, but challenges. This is just the next one.

“I'm not really worried about Fozzy,” tight end Blaine Irby said. “I know that it sucks that he has had such a great career here, especially his senior year here, he really came out. But he's going to fine. Fozzy is a very strong individual and he's going to get through it.”

But can the team get through the last three games without Fozzy?

“It’s like you lose part of your heart and your soul,” defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said.

Diaz coaches defense. He doesn’t sit in on offensive meetings. He hasn’t been up close to see Whittaker bond with the freshmen. He is on the other side of the practice field from the offense most days, not even glancing at what is happening with the offense. And still he knows. He knows how much Whittaker meant to Texas.

They all know. And so too does Whittaker, which is why he has put on a brave face. He knows that this team, fragile as it is at this time, still needs him.

“I will still be out there with them,” Whittaker said. “I won’t be on the field obviously. I will be on the sidelines and they are going to make sure that I am still here and I'm still part of the team.

He never was one to fade. And now, because of him, his teammates are refusing to fade away as well.

“We have a cause in Fozzy,” guard Mason Walters said. “I am going to go out there and play my guts out for him.”

We'll move on to the cornerbacks today in our position rankings across the Big 12.

Here's what we've covered so far:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Receivers/tight ends
• Linebackers
• Safeties
• Cornerbacks

This group is subject to more change during the season than perhaps any other position. You never quite know how chemistry will develop, and in these rankings, you really have to rely heavily on experience, similar to quarterbacks. It's not the only factor, but you have to acknowledge that it's a major one.

So, here's how I rank them:

1. Oklahoma State: This is a no-brainer. The Cowboys broke in four new starters last season, but became a big reason why OSU's offense was one of college football's best. Despite throwing 532 passes, third-most in the Big 12, the group surrendered just 10 sacks. All five starters return, too. Running back Kendall Hunter also rushed for more than 1,500 yards. Right tackle Levy Adcock headlines the unit as the league's best overall lineman.

2. Baylor: The Bears might be a bit of a surprise here, but Baylor's strong skill-position talents wouldn't look nearly as good without this group, which lost a first-round pick at left tackle in Danny Watkins. However, Philip Blake is one of the league's best centers and four starters return from a line that helped Baylor finish second in the Big 12 last season in yards per carry, just behind Nebraska but nearly a half-yard more than Oklahoma State, the third-place team.

3. Missouri: The Tigers suffered a big loss in center Tim Barnes, a three-year starter and the offensive line's leader, but they return four starters from last season line and have the most career starts on the line of any team in the Big 12, with 105, which ranks 11th nationally.

4. Texas A&M: A&M's rising sophomore tackles, Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews, had to learn on the go last season, but their development should be fun to watch this season on an offensive line blocking for the Big 12's best overall collection of skill-position talents. The line returns four starters, replacing only center Matt Allen.

5. Oklahoma: The Sooners' goal-line problems last season cost them a game at Texas A&M, but this line was very solid the rest of the season and has plenty of upside. Likely starter Jarvis Jones won't be available until perhaps October, so the Sooners will turn to touted redshirt freshman Daryl Williams at right tackle in the interim. Center Ben Habern and tackle Tyler Evans add a lot of experience.

6. Texas Tech: Tech boasts one of the Big 12's best guards in Lonnie Edwards, but don't be surprised if Mickey Okafor grabs the Big 12's first-team spot at right tackle by season's end. The Red Raiders return all five starters, and will have to play well to support new faces at every skill position on offense.

7. Kansas: Four of the Jayhawks' starters are juniors and another is a senior, and for all of KU's struggles last season, it did have some success running the ball in spots, even though its 1,615 total rush yards were the fewest in the Big 12. James Sims (742 yards, 9 TDs) returns and KU adds a possible home-run threat in Darrian Miller, but the offensive line returns 97 total starts, 15th-most in college football and second-most in the Big 12. That has to pay off eventually, if not this season.

8. Iowa State: The Cyclones boast the league's best left tackle, Kelechi Osemele, but center Ben Lamaak is gone and ISU might turn to redshirt freshman Tom Farniok as his replacement. Brayden Burris is solid at right tackle, but sophomore Ethan Tuftee, who has very little experience (just five appearances total), enters fall camp as the starter at right guard.

9. Texas: No, I don't know how this happens. But it's hard to deny. Run blocking has been a struggle for Texas, and new position coach Stacy Searels will have to change that for the Longhorns, who have kept quiet about any real depth-chart developments throughout the spring and into fall camp. Tray Allen's health is a concern, but Mason Walters played well in 2010 and David Snow has a lot of experience at center with 19 starts and 39 appearances. If this group can't ascend in these rankings during the season, Texas' turnaround from last season 5-7 campaign will not happen. Texas, though, has the fewest career starts in the Big 12, with 36, which ranks 105th nationally.

10. Kansas State: Kansas State has had the Big 12's leading rusher the past two seasons, but he's gone and so are three offensive linemen, including the unit's best blocker, guard Zach Kendall. Center Wade Weibert and guard Kenneth Mayfield also are gone, leaving gaps in the interior. Senior Zach Hanson joins Manese Foketi and Clyde Aufner on a unit that returns just 42 career starts, second-fewest in the Big 12 and 97th-most in college football.

Texas has set its annual Spring Football Jamboree and Orange-White Game for April 4, a Sunday afternoon.

Three players will miss all or part of spring practices due to offseason surgeries. Safety Nolan Brewster (right shoulder) and G Mason Walters (left foot) have been ruled out, while LB Emmanuel Acho (sports hernia) is expected to be limited.

The 2009 squad, winners of the Big 12 title and national runner-ups, will be honored Monday night at halftime of Big Monday's hoops matchup pitting No. 10 Texas against No. 1 Kansas. The football Longhorns completed their ninth straight season of 10-plus wins, the second-longest streak in NCAA history.