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Big 12 football preview:
Big 12 sportswriter shares his predictions for season
The Big 12 is one of the toughest football conferences in the nation every year, and this year appears to be no different. Three of the top five teams in the nation according to the USA Today/ ESPN Coaches Poll are from the Big 12, and there may not be a conference as deep from top to bottom. Every team besides Baylor is capable of winning six games, so here are my rankings from No.1 through No.12.
Oklahoma is arguably the most talented team in the nation. A stable of running backs led by Kejuan Jones and Renaldo Works and a crew of speedy receivers should make oft-injured quarterback Jason White's job a lot easier. The offensive line, coach Bob Stoops said, is the best he's ever had. The defense is the best in the nation, after allowing only 15.4 points per game last season. Defensive lineman Tommie
1) Oklahoma — 2002 Record: 12-2-16.
same last season. Defensive infielman Tommy Harris was an All-American last year despite nagging injuries and constant double teams.The Associated Press tabbed linebacker Teddy Lehman as its preseason Big 12 defensive player of the year and strong safety Donte Nicholson as the newcomer. Speed and skill abound at every position.
2) Texas — 2002 Record: 11-2 (6-2)
The Longhorns have a fantastic receiving corps, featuring Heisman Trophy candidate Roy Williams, who averaged almost 18 yards per catch, and a strong running game led by 1,000-yard rusher Cedric Benson. That will make replacing
the departed Chris Simms with new quarterback Chance Mock less of a problem. The defensive line is stout. Cornerback/ returner Nathan Vasher and linebacker Derrick Johnson, who recorded 120 tackles and four interceptions last season, are among the nation's best.
3) Kansas State — 2002 Record:11-2 (6-2)
Last season shifty Darren Sproles led the 'Cat's running game with 18 touchdowns and an average of more than 6 yards per carry. It proved to be the perfect compliment to quarterback Ell Roberson and makes this explosive enough to beat 90 percent of the
teams they are playing this year. For the other 10 percent, Roberson must prove his throwing has improved. The defense returns playmakers Andrew Shull at defensive end, Josh Buhl at linebacker and Rashad Washington at safety. Look for junior college transfer Marvin Simmons to make an immediate impact at linebacker. They will go as far as Robertson can throw 'em.
4) Oklahoma State — 2002 Record: 8-5 (5-3) Rashaun Woods is the best player in the Big 12, the preseason player of the year. The senior wide receiver caught almost 1,700 yards worth of passes last season, but he's also made a name for himself catching bass. Quarterback Josh Fields and running
back Tatum Bell round out the Big 12's most potent offense. The defense must recover from losing Kevin Williams at defensive tackle, but looks to improve from last year when they were inconsistent at best.
5) Colorado — zuzu record: 9-5 (7-1)
Brian Calhoun, the next great Buffalo running back, will split carries with Bobby Purify this year. Both have 1,500 yard potential. Purify showed his in a 174-yard rushing performance against Iowa State in relief of injured starter Chris Brown.
Calhoun logged 137 yards the next week against Nebraska. Quarterback is a mystery, but it has been the last few years, so the Buffs are in a familiar situation. The wide receivers are great and the defense looks to pack a wallop. Safety Medford Moorer had 107 tackles to go along with four interceptions last season, which places him among the country's top defensive backs.
5) Texas A&M — 2002 Record: 6-6 (3-5)
The deepest position is quarterback. Reggie McNeal is a fast, strong-armed sophomore who led the Aggies to an upset win over No.
1 Oklahoma last season. All junior quarterback Dustin Long did was threaten the school record books with 19 touchdowns
Sooner linebacker Teddy Lehman said Missouri quarterback Brad Smith was a fantastic football player following the Tigers' niger-upset of OU in Columbia. "He can beat you on any play," Lehman said. "But he has the ball in his hands every play. It's scary." The numbers back that up. Last season Smith became the second quarterback in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and run for another 1,000. The Tigers will have to follow Smith and a strong offensive line, strong point.
and almost 210 passing yards per game. Whoever new coach Dennis Franchione picks will be blessed with a talented running back in Derek Farmer and a nice group of receivers to throw to. The defense, like most Aggie defenses, is fast and will make big plays. They will have to be more consistent to move up the ladder.
7) Missouri — 2002 Record: 5-7 (2-6)
yards and run for another 1,000. The tigers will have to follow Smith and a strong offensive line, as the defense is not a strong point.
8) Nebraska — 2002 Record: 7-7 (3-5)
These are not the 'Huskers of the mid-
1990s. A defensive lack of speed and a nonexistent offense will knock Nebraska down the totem pole yet again. David Horne is the explosive I-back the Huskers have been waiting for, but Jamaal Lord is a question mark at quarterback, where he completed only 46 percent of his passes last season. If the team passes as much this year as they insist, look for Nebraska t down this list.
9) Texas Tech — 2002 Record: 9-5(5-3)
The Red Raiders will win because their offensive system is so tough to prepare for.
The receivers all return, led by do-everything Wes Welker. B.J. Symons is not bad at quarterback, but he's no Kliff Kingsbury, who averaged more than 358 passing yards per game last season. The defense will again let people score at will.
10) Kansas — 2002 Record: 2-10 (0-8)
Bigger, stronger and faster, this team shows the confidence that it will compete in the Big 12. They will compete, but will they win? Bill Whittmore has looked strong and the receivers are a level up from last year, when he threw for 11 touchdowns and ran for 11 more. The lines on both sides will be better, although the defense will miss the
injured Travis Watkins for the next few weeks. The linebackers will be solid, but if the defensive backs can't stop anyone again, it could be a long year.
11) Iowa State — 2002 Record: 7-7 (4-4)
This is the best defense Dan McCartney has had in his years of coaching at Iowa State, coming off a season in which ISU finished fifth in the conference in total defense.
The group is led by defensive tackles Jordan Carstens and Nick Leader with solid veterans like safety Jamaise Billups and linebacker Brandon Brown rounding
backer Brandon Brown rounding out the defense. The offense is heavy on running backs and receivers but low on quarterbacks. That should change this team back to the Cyclones of the '90s who were great running teams that couldn't win.
12) Baylor — 2002 Record:3-9(1-7 New coach Guy Morris has experience working in situations just like this one. Morriss took over a depleted and probation-bound Kentucky program and turned it into an SEC contender in two years. But it will still take a few years to get on track at Baylor, if ever.
The Bears won't win a conference name this year, but quarterback
Aaron Karas, with a completion percentage near 60 percent, and speedy wide receiver Robert Cuiroga will stand out along with defensive end Khari Long.
Kevin Flaherty
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