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2012 record: 8-5
2012 Big 12 record: 4-5
Returning starters: Offense: 5; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners: WR Eric Ward, RB Kenny Williams, TE Jace Amaro, DE Kerry Hyder, DE Branden Jackson, LB Will Smith, CB Tre Porter, DE Dartwan Bush

Key losses: QB Seth Doege, S Cody Davis, S D.J. Johnson, WR Darrin Moore, OL La'Adrian Waddle, RB Eric Stephens

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Passing: Seth Doege (4,205 yards)
Rushing: Kenny Williams* (824 yards)
Receiving: Eric Ward* (1,053 yards)
Tackles: Cody Davis (101)
Sacks: Dartwan Bush*, Kerry Hyder* (5.5)
Interceptions: Cody Davis (3)

Spring answers

1. Springing to safety. Replacing Johnson and Davis at safety was a huge concern since that kind of experience and talent isn't easy to find. But J.J. Gaines and Tre Porter, had a strong spring and that position looks to be in good hands. There may be some trouble with inexperience, but defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt has to feel pretty good about the group.

2. More depth at quarterback. I don't buy that there's competition between Michael Brewer and Davis Webb. Brewer was consistently praised all spring, and coach Kliff Kingsbury remarked at how quickly he picked up the schemes and how well he kept the up-tempo pace. Webb, a true freshman, adds comfort as a backup, but this is Brewer's job.

3. A spring miracle in Lubbock. Injuries have just been a constant for the last few years. Every spring and fall, it's been surgery after surgery, injury after injury. Not this year. Apparently the Red Raiders' practice fields are not, in fact, cursed. Getting through the spring without any serious losses is a huge deal considering the school's recent bad luck.

Fall questions

1. Can they weather the storm? I've written about this in the past, but I'm curious to see how the young coaching staff handles the inevitable crises and issues that will come with a season of college football. Kingsbury's a first-time head coach in a big job and stocked Tech's staff with a ton of Red Raider alums. It's an interesting approach, but adjusting on the go in a season full of learning experiences will be interesting to watch.

2. Is there an identity crisis? Tech will air it out plenty, but the full identity on both sides of the ball is still forming and Kingsbury is still getting to know his team. The defense will play some three and four-man fronts and has a lot of strength on the defensive line, but both sides of the ball will adjust on the go to what works and what doesn't next season. Both sides could look different in December than it does in August.

3. Where will the running game factor in? Tech has a ton of strength at running back in Kenny Williams and SaDale Foster, along with DeAndre Washington and Quinton White adding some additional depth. The big question for any post-Mike Leach coach in Lubbock is how much they plan to run the ball. Kingsbury will throw it plenty, but can Tech break its streak of well over a decade without a 1,000-yard rusher? And how much will Brewer be asked/allowed to run? He's no Johnny Football, but he's got wheels and can keep Big 12 defenses on their toes.

Texas Tech played the first spring game of the Kliff Kingsbury era on Saturday. Here's a closer look:

What happened:

• Michael Brewer completed 26-of-43 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Davis Webb completed 17-of-30 passes for 224 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Brewer took two sacks but had 15 yards rushing on five carries.
• Kenny Williams and Quinton White rushed a combined 30 times for 130 yards.
• Jace Amaro led all receivers with 11 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.
• The defense topped the offense, 34-28.
• For all you recruitniks out there, hyped receiver K.D. Cannon was in attendance, and called the experience "outstanding. He's the nation's No. 58 player and No. 5 receiver.

What we learned:

• It's still Brewer's job to lose. Kingsbury has been slowplaying who his starting quarterback will be in the fall, but the long-held assumption by most is that Brewer would easily win the job on a roster with not much competition. Davis Webb has made things interesting, but Brewer's performance on Saturday -- just the third open practice of the entire spring -- made it look like it's hard to believe he won't be the guy come fall. Kingsbury, though, says the competition is "close." "It’s good competition and I think that’s good for everybody,” Kingsbury told reporters. “We’ll go through the summer, go into fall camp and get a starter named." I do think it's closer than most people realized, but I don't buy the prospect of Brewer legitimately not winning this job just yet. It might be "close," but there's a clear frontrunner. Webb did have a huge play on an 83-yard score to Dereck Edwards, but also threw an ugly interception after being flushed from the pocket.
• The defensive progress looked like it's continuing. I expect Texas Tech's offense to still be stellar next fall, but the defense opened up a 23-0 lead early on. That's got to be encouraging, even though it's still just one practice. There's a lot of firepower on Tech's offense, but this is the same team who was -13 in turnover margin last season, the worst mark of any Big 12 team in the last three years. The defense forced three turnovers on Saturday, and Kingsbury's been continually encouraged. It did all of that despite playing a pretty vanilla defense. "We addressed that going into this game," DC Matt Wallerstedt told reporters. "We just wanted to see guys run and hit, play your assignment, be aggressive, play with emotion and take the football away. I think we accomplished those things." Will Smith led the defense with 10 tackles and Branden Jackson made three tackles for loss, with a sack. Pete Robertson also had six tackles and a sack.
• The receivers are who we thought they were. Eric Ward sat out for good reason (he's got nothing to prove), but Amaro showed up big and Tech got some nice showings from unheralded receivers like Brent Mitcham (8 rec. 98 yards, TD) and Brad Pearson (six rec, 60 yards), while Jakeem Grant had a somewhat quiet day. He hauled in a short touchdown pass and a 22-yard grab.
• Tech is serious about The King. Only about 16,000 fans showed up on Saturday, but no autograph line in the Red Raiders' postgame meet-and-greet was longer than Kingsbury's. You don't have to look long for more evidence that he's got the people's vote in Lubbock these days. That was just another reminder.

Spring football gives young players and unknowns an opportunity to prove themselves. Many times, success in the spring translates to success into the fall. Other times, however, it does not. Last year's Big 12 spring standouts offered a combination of both. Below are the 2012 spring stars from each Big 12 team:

Baylor: RB Lache Seastrunk

What he did in the spring: The Oregon transfer dazzled with 135 rushing yards on just seven carries, which included a 75-yard scoring scamper.

What he did in the fall: Seastrunk eventually supplanted Jarred Salubi as the starter, then rushed for more than 90 yards in each of Baylor’s final six games to earn Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year honors.

Where he stands now: Seastrunk is a surefire preseason All-Big 12 pick, and with QB Nick Florence and WR Terrance Williams gone, the Bears will be leaning on him to carry the offense.

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Oklahoma: WR Trey Metoyer

What he did in the spring: Metoyer enrolled in the winter after spending the fall at Hargrave Military Academy, and outperformed every other OU skill player. He led all receivers in OU’s spring game with six catches for 72 yards.

What he did in the fall: Metoyer opened the season as a starter, but struggled developing chemistry with QB Landry Jones. He eventually lost his starting job, then fell out of the rotation altogether.

Where he stands now: A new year and a new QB should do wonders for Metoyer, who has all the tools to become a dominant outside receiver. With 2012 starters Kenny Stills and Justin Brown gone, Metoyer will have an opportunity to win back a starting job.

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Oklahoma State: WR Charlie Moore

What he did in the spring: After catching just seven passes his entire career, Moore exploded in the Orange-White game with nine receptions, 243 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

What he did in the fall: He won a starting job and finished second on the offense with 35 catches and six touchdowns, and was a consistent performer as the Cowboys shuffled quarterbacks in and out of the lineup.

Where he stands now: The Cowboys figure to have one of their deepest receiving corps in years, and Moore is one reason why.

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TCU: CB Jason Verrett

What he did in the spring: During TCU's tumultuous off-season, Verrett continued his momentum from 2011 and turned in a dominant spring.

What he did in the fall: No Big 12 corner was better last season than Verrett, who earned first-team All-Big 12 recognition in TCU’s first season in the league.

Where he stands now: Verrett has been dealing with an injury he suffered in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, but is expected to take part in spring ball soon. Verrett is one of the top returning corners in college football and should vie for All-American honors.

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Texas: LB Steve Edmond

What he did in the spring: The 260 pound-plus linebacker was a menace on the front seven all spring.

What he did in the fall: Edmond was one of the bright spots on a Texas defense that overall was porous against the run. He was first among linebackers with 103 tackles, and he forced two fumbles, including a key one in the second half of Texas’ 56-50 win over Baylor.

Where he stands now: Edmond is having to fend off Dalton Santos, who is getting some of Edmond’s first-team reps at middle linebacker this spring.

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Texas Tech: LB Will Smith

What he did in the spring: The junior-college transfer led all defenders in the spring game with six tackles and an interception, the only turnover of the scrimmage.

What he did in the fall: Smith locked down a starting job at linebacker and was a key part of Tech’s 6-1 start to the season. He finished fourth on the team with 55 tackles.

Where he stands now: Smith figures to anchor the Tech defense for first-year coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Tommy Tuberville took over as Texas Tech coach before the 2010 season, but after two seasons, he has yet to surpass the fewest regular season wins Mike Leach ever had in 10 years in Lubbock: seven.

Tuberville's eight-win 2010 season, capped by a win in the brand-new TicketCity Bowl, preceded a nightmarish 2011 campaign that featured just five wins, the first sub-.500 season in Lubbock in nearly two decades.

The 2011 season wasn't without its bright spots, though. The Red Raiders walked into Norman and became the first team to beat the Oklahoma Sooners at home in 39 games, a streak spanning over five years.

Then they met Iowa State, and nobody gave the Cyclones a chance.

"It was sort of a perfect storm for us in that they had just upset the No. 1-ranked team in the country and took it ‘em until about 4 or 5 in the morning to do it. Then they had to travel back and start a new week with that kind of sleep pattern and euphoria," Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said. "That’s not good."

It wasn't good. By night's end, it was clear that Texas Tech was the team without a chance. Iowa State handed Texas Tech an embarrassing 41-7 loss that had the suddenly ranked Red Raiders causing plenty of folks around the country to scratch their heads.

It was the beginning of the end for Texas Tech, who didn't win a game the rest of the season and suffered losses of 32 and 60 points in the next two weeks.

Yet, here we are again. Texas Tech has racked up a spotless 3-0 record against an overmatched set of cupcakes, but it's time for the Red Raiders to prove last year was an abberation. The first step? Beating Iowa State on the road in the conference opener for both teams. Tuberville is 0-2 against his former defensive coordinator.

"By far this is our best team. The thing about college football is depth. You have to build depth. Everybody’s got to play at some point during the year when you’re taking about your first, second and usually third-level players on your team," Tuberville said. "We’ve barely had once since we’ve been here. We had about one and a half last year. This year, we’re closer to two deep at every position."

Even that weak nonconference schedule served a long-term purpose for the Red Raiders, who suffered an avalanche of injuries on both sides of the ball last year, racking an already thin team. The starters have played little, if at all, in the second halves of the Red Raiders first three wins. That game experience could prove valuable as the season progresses.

"We’re getting ready to start a nine-game stretch, and we need to call on a lot of the kids that are backups and maybe even true freshmen to possibly, like we did last year," Tuberville said. "What we’ve been doing is posture ourself in the last few weeks to get as many of those guys experience as we can."

Tuberville reeled in the two best recruiting classes in school history the past two seasons, and the common thread between both of them is clear: speed.

Speed on offense. Speed in the pass rush. Speed in the secondary. Speed at linebacker.

Freshman receiver Jakeem Grant has already made that speed evident, grabbing 10 balls for 106 yards in just three games. He's one of 13 Red Raiders with at least four catches this season, and six players already have at least 100 yards receiving.

Converted safety Terrance Bullitt and juco linebacker Will Smith offer more speed at linebacker.

The offense is back into a groove, ranking second nationally in total offense. That newfound speed and depth has helped the defense, though the schedule's been soft, rank No. 1 nationally in total defense, up a shocking 113 spots from a year ago.

It's finally in place. Now's the time to mature and prove Texas Tech is ready to climb back up the Big 12 ladder in the middle of a wide-open league.

"We’ve got more speed than we’ve had, and that usually makes up for a lot of mistakes you make in a ball game or a season. That’ll help us on our special teams," Tuberville said. "We’ve definitely got more athletes on both sides of the ball. Speed and athletic ability is definitely going to make us better, and if we can add some coaching to that, we might even be able to take a few steps past that."

Texas State playing the part of overachiever? Excuse Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville if he's unsurprised to see the Bobcats, in their first year playing FBS football, making waves.

Last season, the Bobcats came to Lubbock and did exactly that during the season's first game.

Heading into halftime, Texas State pitched a second-quarter shutout and led the Red Raiders, 10-9. Texas Tech rallied in the second half for a 50-10 victory, but for the game's first 30 minutes, the point was made.

Last week, Texas State did the unthinkable for 60 minutes, rolling over Houston on the road, 30-13, despite being a 36-point underdog.

"Houston’s lost a lot of players from last year, and Texas State’s got a lot of guys back. They do a good job of coaching and the offense they run is pretty unique to what everybody does," Tuberville said. "Those two-three big plays early got Houston behind."

Running back Marcus Curry scored on a 21-yard catch and 73-yard run to put the Bobcats ahead early, a lead they never handed back to the Cougars.

Texas State will be returning home to San Marcos to face the Red Raiders for its first home game as an FBS member. Record crowds are expected, and win or lose, it'll be an unforgettable day at Texas State.

"You wouldn't think Texas State would come out as strong as they did," Texas Tech linebacker Will Smith told reporters this week. "It's a wakeup call, but no matter who it is, we have to come out ready to play."

Tuberville's got reason to believe his defense won't be giving up the big plays Houston did, though. The Red Raiders ranked last nationally in rush defense a year ago, giving up more almost 259 yards per game on the ground.

Last week, the defense surrendered just 13 rushing yards to FCS visitor Northwestern State, a marked improvement regardless of the quality of opponent. Smith's speed earned him a starting spot in the middle of the defense, and he'll be needed in Saturday's matchup.

"We just played technique. We were real bad last year at basics and fundamentals," Tuberville said. "From the spring on we’ve been going back to techniques you have to do on defense to stop the run, and that’s been one of our main goals."

Last week's upset turned this Saturday's game from a snoozer into an intriguing, dangerous matchup between a pair of Lone Star squads, but this early in the season, the importance of Saturday is clear for Tuberville.

"It’s still more about us than who we play. We’re not a great football team. We’re playing better, but we’ve got a lot of young kids we’ve got to get ready to play. We’ve just got to try to get better," he said. "All three phases of our football team is better than it was last year, but Texas State’s going to be a tough game for us. It’s a big game for them, it’s going to be a big game for us."

Today we continue our look across the league at a few players from each team who had low profiles last year, but you'd better get to know before Saturday. They just might be household names by season's end.

More fresh faces:

• Baylor
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• TCU
• Texas

Will Smith, LB: Smith's about to become the fresh prince of Texas Tech's defensive backfield. The juco transfer walked into the spring and before it was even over, had already secured a starting spot at middle linebacker. The 6-foot-3, 224-pounder showed up in West Texas via California and racked up 13 tackles for loss during his undefeated season in junior college last year. You never know how guys will handle the transition, but expect Smith to do well and fit in as a major piece that Tech's defense needed badly.

Delvon Simmons, DT: Simmons' growth is paramount to Texas Tech's improvement on defense. He didn't start last year, but made an impact with 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in the rotation. It's easy to see why the 6-foot-5, 290-pounder was a super recruit who signed with North Carolina, but later decided he wanted out. Butch Davis' loss was Tommy Tuberville's gain. After a solid freshman year, it's time for Simmons to move into a starring role. He'll start at nose tackle for Art Kaufman's new 4-3 defense, but the Pennsylvania native should inspire plenty of excitement around Lubbock.

Le'Raven Clark, OG: The former high school All-American redshirted last season but will be the team's starting guard to start the season, despite no playing experience. Texas Tech's offensive line is pretty underrated and has big talents in tackle LaAdrian Waddle and center Deveric Gallington, both seniors. They ought to help the young guys along, but the biggest task for everybody on the line is staying healthy.

Camp is open over in Lubbock. Before we get too deep in sweltering practices, I'll offer up a quick preview of what you need to know heading into the season.

See more fall camp previews.

Next up: Texas Tech.

Media's predicted finish: Ninth.

Biggest storyline: Texas Tech is on a little redemption tour of its own after breaking the Big 12's longest stretch without a losing season, one that reached back nearly two decades. Last year's 5-7 season was aided by injuries, but the defense simply wasn't good enough. The pundits clearly aren't convinced Texas Tech is ready to rebound and reach the postseason, but the Red Raiders should have the offense. Can they stay healthy and finally turn the corner after a couple of rough seasons to begin the Tommy Tuberville era? He's recruited really well. The Red Raiders have the athletes to make it happen.

Biggest question mark: The entire defense. Texas Tech was by far the nation's worst run defense last season. That's an accomplishment especially in the Big 12, where passing is the name of the game. The Red Raiders gave up 12 more yards a game than New Mexico, the next-worst rush defense and a team that won one game. They gave up 25 more yards a game than the 116th-ranked rush defense. New coordinator Art Kaufman is the fourth man in four years to be in charge of the Texas Tech defense, which fell victim to poor depth in 2011. Coach Tommy Tuberville says the basic terminology and schemes haven't changed, even though the alignments have, from a 4-3 in 2009 to a 3-4 in 2010 to a 4-2-5 last year and back to a 4-3 this year.

Who needs to step up: The defensive line. Even with the injuries, the offense was good enough to win 7-8 games or more last season, averaging almost 34 points a game. Still, there's no underestimating the importance of this unit's improvement. If Tech can't stop the run any better than last year, the offense won't have a chance. Defensive tackle Delvon Simmons must emerge at the front line of the defense. Tackle Kerry Hyder and ends Branden Jackson and Dartwan Bush are the guys who can have the biggest influence on whether or not Texas Tech's rise begins in 2012.

On the mend: This list could go on and on and on, but we'll focus on the biggest guys who need to be back on the field. That starts with running backs Eric Stephens and DeAndre Washington who are returning from knee injuries. Receivers Alex Torres (knee) and Darrin Moore (ankle) are back and healthy, though Moore is facing disciplinary action after an offseason DWI arrest.

Breaking out: Texas Tech may have a pair of linebackers who are household names by the end of the season. Juco transfer Will Smith took over this spring and earned a starting spot at middle linebacker. Tuberville wants him on the field as much as possible. Terrance Bullitt, a converted safety, is playing outside linebacker and the 215-pound senior is a big hitter who can fly around and be everywhere. He just needs to prove he can be where he needs to be when he needs to be there. He's got the athleticism to make it happen.

Don't forget about: WR Eric Ward. Torres has had a great career already, and Moore has all the potential in the world, but Ward was the guy producing in 2011, and returns as the team's leading receiver. He was steady during a rocky 2011, catching 84 balls for 800 yards and 11 scores.

The Big 12 preseason awards have been announced. West Virginia's Geno Smith won the preseason Offensive Player of the Year Award. Texas defensive end Alex Okafor won Defensive Player of the Year and Oklahoma wide receiver Trey Metoyer won for Newcomer of the Year.

Here's how I voted:

Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia. In talking with people involved with the conference voting process this week at media days, I learned that the final vote between Smith and Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones was very, very close. I went with Geno. It's pretty close, but I didn't debate this one very much. Smith was inconsistent at times last year, sure, but when it mattered most, he was great. Jones faltered in big spots. Sure, Jones doesn't have the same quality of targets for all of last season after Ryan Broyles went down, but when it came to numbers, Smith dominated. Additionally, he takes care of the ball much more efficiently than Jones. That counts for a lot. Even though Smith has never played a down in the Big 12, I went with the Mountaineers' man for the preseason award.

Defensive Player of the Year: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State. There's no slam dunk here. You could probably make a case for no fewer than seven or eight guys. After a lot of debate, I voted for Brown. I mostly did so because of his importance to Kansas State's defense. His speed in the middle and locked-in tackling make him more valuable to his team than any other player in the league. The SnyderCats aren't loaded on depth and athletes, but Brown has the measurables to play for anybody in the league. He's irreplaceable for Kansas State and his speed and athleticism make him a specimen anybody would love to have. Anybody else remember him hurdling a blocker in the Cotton Bowl against Arkansas? Not many guys can do that.

Newcomer of the Year: Trey Metoyer, WR, Oklahoma. This was a tough vote, too. You hear a lot about these guys and have to go by players' words in these days of closed practices. For me, Newcomer of the Year comes down to opportunity and need, though. Metoyer has been hyped by coaches and teammates since he arrived on campus as a freak athlete, but he's got to do more than contribute. Oklahoma needs him to be a huge factor, and he'll have every opportunity to do so. He's got a Heisman candidate in Jones throwing him the ball, an established weapon in Kenny Stills to take some attention from defenses and a great offensive line. All the pieces are in place for him to be very, very productive. For me, that earned him my vote just ahead of guys like Wes Lunt and Blake Jackson at Oklahoma State, Dayne Crist at Kansas, Brandon Moore at Texas, Will Smith and SaDale Foster at Texas Tech and Lache Seastrunk at Baylor.

We're taking a look at spring breakout players across college football today, and here's who made a big impact across the Big 12.

Trey Metoyer, WR, Oklahoma: Metoyer may have had the best spring of anyone in the Big 12. The physical freshman spent last season in prep school, but walked in this spring and essentially earned a starting job. Then three Sooners receivers were suspended indefinitely. Metoyer was already going to play and probably going to start. Now, with Oklahoma's passing offense and Landry Jones throwing the ball, it's a near certainty that he'll have a huge impact.

Wes Lunt, QB, Oklahoma State: Lunt hasn't made an impact yet, but he's already made headlines. Lunt may be the first freshman to win a starting QB job in the spring in the history of the Big 12. The Illinois native beat out junior Clint Chelf and redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh for the right to succeed Brandon Weeden, and quickly trended nationwide on Twitter after the announcement.

Will Smith, LB, Texas Tech: Smith came to Lubbock as a lightly recruited California juco transfer trying to find some playing time at outside linebacker. Midway through spring, he'd already established himself as the team's best linebacker and coach Tommy Tuberville moved him to the inside so he wouldn't have to leave the field during passing downs.

Jordan Thompson, WR, West Virginia: WVU is already loaded at receiver, albeit a bit top-heavy. Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin are bona fide studs, but Thompson should find a niche in the Mountaineers' offense after showing he could make an impact as an early enrolling true freshman. He's quick and has good hands, and the Houston native may resemble (gasp!) a young Tavon Austin next fall.

Brandon Moore, DT, Texas: Moore reportedly still needs to work on his conditioning, but the 6-foot-6, 330-pound juco transfer was a force in the middle of the line for the Longhorns, and could be a valuable pocket collapser and run stopper for a loaded Texas defense in 2012. That could blow up a lot of great Big 12 offenses. Think Nick Fairley vs. Oregon in the 2010 season's national title game.

Charlie Moore, WR, Oklahoma State: There was buzz surrounding Moore all spring, but he proved it in a big way as a spring game breakout star. The junior caught nine passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the game, and overshadowed yet another breakout star over the course of the spring, sophomore receiver Josh Stewart. OSU needed to find weapons this spring to replace Justin Blackmon, Josh Cooper, Hubert Anyiam and Michael Harrison at receiver. The Cowboys did exactly that.

Tony Pierson, RB, Kansas: Pierson made a small impact last season, but he's essentially the unquestioned starter at KU for now after Darrian Miller was kicked off the team and James Sims was suspended for the first three games of 2012. The East St. Louis native is dangerous in the open field and gives KU a much needed home run threat.

2011 overall record: 5-7
2011 conference record: 2-7
Returning starters: Offense (9), Defense (10), P/K (1)

Top returners: QB Seth Doege, S Cody Davis, WR Alex Torres, S D.J. Johnson, S Terrance Bullitt, RB Eric Stephens, WR Eric Ward, WR Darrin Moore

Key losses: DE Scott Smith, TE Adam James, DB Brett Dewhurst

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Eric Stephens* (565 yards)
Passing: Seth Doege* (4,004 yards)
Receiving: Eric Ward* (800 yards)
Tackles: Cody Davis* (93)
Sacks: Scott Smith (5.5)
Interceptions: D.J. Johnson* (2)

Three spring answers

1. An answer in the middle: When you recruit junior college talent, you never quite know what you're going to get. That was a good thing for Texas Tech this spring, which found a starting middle linebacker in Will Smith. He's already the team's best at the position, according to coach Tommy Tuberville. They found him while recruiting running back SaDale Foster in California, but Tech found a hidden gem that made a huge impact.

2. Depth developing at running back: Texas Tech was thin at running back during the spring with DeAndre Washington and Eric Stephens sidelined by knee injuries. Stephens' return in 2012 isn't guaranteed, but the spring gave Tech a nice chance to see what it had at running back. Newcomer SaDale Foster played well, as did Kenny Williams. The position's in good shape, even though Ronnie Daniels transferred.

3. Familiar unfamiliarity on defense: Art Kaufman arrived in Lubbock this spring to install his 4-3 defense, which on its own wouldn't be all that notable. What makes it notable? He's the fourth defensive coordinator in four years at Texas Tech. The biggest task in front of him is building depth and developing his linebackers, who were among the Big 12's worst in 2011, ranking dead last nationally in rush defense.

Three fall questions

1. Will Eric Stephens be back in time? Stephens' dislocated knee against Texas A&M looked ugly, but the impact was even bigger than anyone could have imagined. Stephens had tons of experience, and was not only the team's best runner, but was the best pass-blocking back (a huge deal in Tech's offense) and pass-catching back. Tech is hopeful he'll be back by the beginning of the season, but he'll be limited in fall camp.

2. Who's the top receiver? Is Eric Ward the most talented receiver on the team? I'd vote more for Alex Torres and Darrin Moore. Still, you can't deny Ward's production in Torres' and Moore's absence with injuries in 2011. They'll be in a derby this fall to catch passes from Doege, and look out for guys like Tyson Williams and Marcus Kennard, too. Hyped freshmen Dominique Wheeler and Reginald Davis are on the way, too.

3. Can Texas Tech stay healthy? Nothing's hurt Tech more the past two seasons than injury. They've been everywhere on defense, and last year, the team's top two receivers and running backs both suffered big injuries. There hasn't been a clear reason Tech seems to have been snake bitten so badly, but the injuries exposed the lack of depth in 2011. Reasons aside, Tech has to stay healthy to get back into a bowl after ending a nearly two-decade streak of winning seasons with the 5-7 campaign in 2011.

Time to continue our series breaking down each team's best and worst positions entering the 2012 season. Texas Tech is up next.

More spring superlatives:

• Baylor
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Texas
• TCU

Strongest position: Quarterback

Seth Doege had a really strong start last year, pacing himself alongside the Big 12's best quarterbacks and setting the NCAA single-game record for completion percentage against New Mexico. Offensively, Doege can make it all run. Last year, it all just crumbled around him. His top two running backs got hurt. His best receivers couldn't stay healthy and receiver Alex Torres suffered a major knee injury late in the year.

When it was all over, Doege was third in the Big 12 in passing yards per game and topped 4,000 yards. Not bad, even though Tech stumbled to a 5-7 season. OC Neal Brown was really happy with what Doege did, the Red Raiders just had to rely on him too much. Putting up 28 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions is nothing to shrug off.

Weakest position: Linebacker

The good news? Tech knows who its best linebacker is. The bad news? He's a lightly recruited juco transfer named Will Smith who came in and made a huge impact. The Red Raiders found a good one in Smith, who could start for a lot of teams, but he illustrates the point that Tech had the league's worst linebacking unit in 2011.

New coordinator Art Kaufman is charged with revitalizing the unit. Coach Tommy Tuberville is moving back to the 4-3, where he's more comfortable, and moving away from the 4-2-5. We'll see if Daniel Cobb can help Smith, who won the middle linebacker job in the spring, make the defense look a lot better in 2012.

The biggest surprise in the Big 12 this spring was Texas Tech linebacker Will Smith, David Ubben says.

Across our little blog village here at ESPN, we're taking a look at the top newcomers in college football this year. You (probably) don't know their names yet, but here's who you need to watch this fall in the Big 12.

Will Smith, LB, Texas Tech: The Red Raiders only found Smith while recruiting another possible impact transfer, running back SaDale Foster. The California juco transfer stepped on campus this winter and by the end of spring, coach Tommy Tuberville called him the team's best linebacker. He started playing outside, but Tuberville moved the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder to starting middle linebacker in the middle of camp so he'd be on the field even during passing downs. He'll be important to Tech's new 4-3 scheme. Think K-State's Arthur Brown, a Miami transfer who's almost the exact same size.

Dayne Crist, QB, Kansas: You probably know this name, but Crist started nine games in 2010 for Notre Dame and appeared in 17 career games. He began 2011 as the starter, but was benched and transferred to KU to play his final season of college football for Charlie Weis, the coach who recruited him to South Bend as the nation's No. 2 quarterback and No. 22 overall prospect in the 2008 class. He threw 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2010.

Brandon Moore, DT, Texas: Moore is part of a changing world in Austin, thanks to a revamped coaching staff with some SEC sensibilites. He and OT Donald Hawkins were the first juco transfers to sign with Texas since 2002 and Moore may be the lynchpin of the Big 12's best defense this year. Teammates have described the "full-grown man" as "unstoppable." Such is life at 6-6 and 330 pounds. Moore has to work on his conditioning, but he's going to wreak havoc on Big 12 offensive lines when he's on the field this year. Look for him to collapse a pocket or two early and often this season.

Trey Metoyer, WR, Oklahoma: Metoyer spent a year in military school after not qualifying academically, but he's already made an impact this spring after finally arriving at Oklahoma. He was the nation's No. 8 receiver in the 2011 class and offers the Sooners some much-needed sure hands. The unit came down with the dropsies late last season, and the FBS career leader for receptions, Ryan Broyles, is NFL-bound. Metoyer is exactly what the Sooners need to keep their offense on pace with the league's best, and he'll be catching passes from a Heisman candidate in Landry Jones.

Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor: Seastrunk's short-lived career at Oregon was marred by a recruiting scandal, but he's back home, 30 miles north of his hometown in Temple, Texas, and ready for a fresh start. Baylor needs a replacement for Big 12 rushing champ Terrance Ganaway, and Seastrunk, the nation's No. 6 running back and No. 40 overall prospect in the 2010 class, is battling Glasco Martin and Jarred Salubi for the chance to be the man.

West Virginia and TCU: Have y'all heard about this? It's gonna be kind of crazy. After losing four teams since June 2010, the Big 12 poached the Big East and added the former Southwest Conference-dwelling Frogs and the Mountaineers, badly in need of a home away from the weakened Big East. Here's how we welcomed the Frogs and did the same for WVU earlier this year.

Texas Tech's record stood at 5-2, but its hopes were much higher.

The Red Raiders had seen a close loss to what would be a 10-win Kansas State team and a five-point loss to top-25 Texas A&M, but bounced back for a season-making upset at No. 1 Oklahoma on Oct. 22.

The Sooners hadn't lost in Owen Field to a Big 12 team in 10 years, but Texas Tech did it, and the Red Raiders flew back home to Lubbock with smiles on their faces.

Those would be the last postgame smiles for the season's remainder. The Red Raiders didn't win again. What happened?

"I thought we were a decent team," coach Tommy Tuberville told ESPN.com this week. "and then the bottom fell out on injuries."

The bottom line about that bottom falling out? Texas Tech lacked the necessary depth for a Big 12 season — and it showed.

"When you don’t have depth, that’s when it starts showing up — when you have injuries," Tuberville said. "If we hadn’t had injuries, we probably would have been a little bit better team, but those are things you can’t control."

No side of the ball was spared. In the Texas A&M loss, the Red Raiders lost their leading rusher and best pass blocker, Eric Stephens to a serious knee injury. His backup, DeAndre Washington, suffered the same fate weeks later in a loss to Missouri. Receivers Marcus Kennard and Darrin Moore were hampered by various injuries throughout the season.

"There was one time last year we started five kids on defense that weren’t on scholarship," Tuberville said. "We just didn’t have them here. They hadn’t been recruited."

There's no time to complain. Texas Tech had its first losing season in two decades, finishing 5-7 and sitting at home while half of college football prepped for bowl games.

This spring, the main goal was clear: Develop depth by any means necessary.

The Red Raiders signed nine junior-college prospects and half enrolled in the spring.

"At our position as coaches, that’s a coaching move, in terms of going out and finding not just starters, but depth players, and that’s the reason we went out and took some junior-college guys," Tuberville said. "We had to have immediate help at some positions, whether it was starter or backup or third team. So, our depth chart looks better. I think 17 or 18 true freshmen coming in in June will enhance it."

The Red Raiders got help at running back in SaDale Foster, who finished atop the depth chart for Tech's depleted running back corps at the end of spring.

Linebackers Chris Payne and Will Smith established themselves as contributors; Smith was the team's best linebacker when spring practice concluded Saturday. Rashad Fortenberry, another junior-college signee from Mississippi, adds a solid tackle to an offensive line in need of help.

"Defensively, whatever we do is going to be better. We didn’t coach, we didn’t play, we didn’t act like a good defense last year. We looked like we were in shell shock all year long in terms of playing against teams that had great players. This conference last year, offensively, was unbelievable from top to bottom," Tuberville said. "We knew we were going to be very short defensively experience-wise, and then we get people hurt. And then we’re playing against some of the better players to play in this conference. I think we’re going to be better in matchups. That’s what you look for, is matchups in college football."

Tech hopes strategic decisions during a trying 2011 season pay off down the line.

"We didn’t take the redshirt off a few guys because they probably wouldn’t have been any better. But they’ve got the talent. We redshirted them and we saved them, and now they’ve got four years to play," he said. "It’s going to help us in the long run. It didn’t help us in the immediate future, but it’ll help us in the long run. That’s what we’re building for. We’re building to make this team start to be strong at a certain point."

That point hasn't arrived, but Tech should be well ahead of where it was in 2011 after top-25 recruiting classes in 2011 and 2012, combined with the quick-fix juco signings.

"We’ve just been a disaster in terms of depth. The parts hadn’t been there to work with," Tuberville said.

He says Texas Tech is still one more recruiting class away from being where it needs to be in terms of athletic ability, but the talent necessary to win is on campus now.

The goal for fall is to develop the depth Tuberville and his staff have established.

"Are we ready to compete for a championship? No, not really, just because of inexperience. I think we’re going to have some talent that can make some plays on both sides of the ball that we haven’t had in the last couple of years," Tuberville said. "I think we’re going to be much more competitive in terms of each position with a little bit more depth."