Big 12 loaded with talented ... quarterbacks?
Conference that gave us wishbone suddenly is acting as if it's the Pac-10
Sue Ogrocki / ASSOCIATED PRESSNever heard of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson? Don't worry, you're not alone. Even though Heisman winner Tim Tebow was only QB to exceed Robinson's passing and rushing totals last season, he's hardly discussed when the topic of Big 12's top signal-callers is brought up.
Not airing on ESPN Classic this fall
Only tornadoes leave more wreckage in their path than a mismatch involving a Big 12 program. Four different teams won a game by at least 50 points last season. Hopefully, you were able to avert your eyes when these natural disasters appeared:
- Kansas State 61, Missouri State 10
- Kansas 62, Southeastern Louisiana 0
- Texas Tech 75, Northwestern State 0
- Oklahoma 79, North Texas 10
Now he is making a splash
Jeff Wolfert was raised in Overland Park, Kan., less than 40 miles from KU's campus. And he would gladly have attended Kansas except for one problem: the Jayhawks had no men's diving program.
Instead, Wolfert accepted a partial scholarship to Missouri, where as a freshman he finished among the top six in all three diving events at the Big 12 championships.
Wolfert, however, yearned to be a place-kicker. He had never kicked in high school until his senior year, but on his first kickoff of his debut game, he broke his hip and missed the remainder of the season.
Following his freshman year, the platform diver took a leap of faith, turning down his diving scholarship and paying out-of-state tuition for the opportunity to walk on to the Mizzou football team. So far Wolfert's move from Speedo to shoulder pads has worked out well. In two seasons he has yet to miss a field goal or a PAT in a Big 12 game, a span of 87 kicks. Last season he was named 1st team All-Big 12 and, yes, now he is on scholarship.
This Year's Kansouri?
What perennial second-tier Big 12 school that is chronically unable to displace Oklahoma and Texas (and in year's past, Colorado and Nebraska) is at last ready to make a run toward a top-10 finish and BCS bowl berth? Texas Tech. The Red Raiders return 10 starters, including Biletnikoff Award winner Michael Crabtree, to the country's second-most prolific offense. They also return eight starters to a defense that, over the final eight games of 2007, was the stingiest in the conference.
Worst or first in '07
Big 12 teams had an aptitude for being at the very top or bottom of the rankings in several categories last season:
- Passing Offense: 1st, Texas Tech
- Rushing Offense: 119th (or last), Texas Tech
- Passing Efficiency: 1st, Oklahoma
- Scoring Offense (42.77 ppg): 2nd, Kansas
- Punt Returns: 1st, Kansas
- Punt Returns: 119th, Iowa State
- Kickoff Returns: 1st, Oklahoma
- Turnover Margin (+21): 1st, Kansas
- Turnover Margin (-18): 119th, Baylor
- Turnovers Lost (37): 119th, Baylor
Tackle him high
When opposing defenses face the Baylor Bears this season, they will likely know better than to dive at the legs of freshman quarterback Robert Griffin. In June, the 6-3 Copperas Cove, Texas, native placed third in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA outdoor championships.
Griffin, who ran a 49.55 in the final, qualified for the Olympic Trials. As long as he takes snaps for the Bears (Miami transfer Kirby Freeman is his chief competition), they'll have a chance to jump out of the Big 12 South basement.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
NORTH DIVISION
Colorado
The nation's top RB recruit, Darrell Scott, joins his uncle, WR Josh Smith, in Boulder and puts the "cu" in avuncular.
Iowa State
Cyclones completed just nine TD passes in 2007, tying three others for lowest total in the nation.
Kansas
Tailback Jocques Crawford, last season's national junior college player of the year, arrives in Lawrence to compete for the starting spot.
Kansas State
Wildcats signed 19 juco transfers to provide immediate help.
Missouri
Safety William Moore's eight interceptions in '07 were tied for most in the nation.
Nebraska
Marlon Lucky is the conference's only returning 1,000-yard rusher (1,109 in '07).
SOUTH DIVISION
Baylor
Art Briles, 18-9 in his final two seasons at Houston, takes over in Waco.
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Oklahoma
Defensive end Auston English, a converted running back, led the Big 12 in sacks last season with 9.5.
Oklahoma State
The Cowboy offense epitomized balance in '07 as they gained 3,161 yards on the ground and 3,161 yards through the air.
Texas
Longhorns, who allowed 37.5 ppg in their final four games of '07, hire whiz-kid defensive coordinator Will Muschamp (LSU, Auburn).
Texas A&M
Quarterback Stephen McGee, fullback Jorvorskie Lane; yup, they're still in College Station.
Texas Tech
Red Raider offense epitomized imbalance in '07 as its passing offense ranked first and its rushing offense last in the nation.
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