Big 12 My Preseason All Big 12 Ballot

[Mike Roach]

When I received my credential to the Big 12 Media Days, they enclosed a preseason All Big 12 ballot.

 

2 important things to know...

 

1) I find preseason rankings of any type pretty much worthless

 

2) I believe in transparency and being held accountable.

 

So with all of that said, I present my preseason All Big 12 ballot.

 

Standings

 

1. Oklahoma

2. TCU

3. Oklahoma State

4. Texas

5. Baylor

6. Texas Tech

7. West Virginia

8. Kansas State

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

 

Thoughts: Oklahoma is the run away leader for me.  With most of their team returning, and a lethal offense under Baker Mayfield and Lincoln Riley on campus it would be tough to pick against them.  TCU and Oklahoma State are a coin flip for me.  It will come down to the effectiveness of Kenny Hill and the ability of TCU to replace key players.  I think they will have the top defense in the country.  Oklahoma State returns a ton of talent, and Mason Rudolph will look to build on a big season.  The next four teams (Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech, and West Virginia) are all about the same to me.  They could finish in any order, and Baylor is the toughest to predict with all of the issues surrounding their program.  West Virginia and Texas Tech are primed to explode, but defense will always be an issue with those two teams.  Kansas State is just a cut below that group, with Iowa State and Kansas bringing up the rear.  

 

 

Offense:

 

QB - Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma

RB - D'Onta Foreman - Texas

RB - Samaje Perine - Oklahoma

FB - Elijah Wellman - West Virginia

WR - KD Cannon - Baylor

WR - James Washington - Oklahoma State

WR - Shelton Gibson - West Virginia

TE - Mark Andrews - Oklahoma

OL - Connor Williams - Texas

OL - Kyle Fuller - Baylor

OL - Patrick Vahe - Texas

OL - Tyler Orlosky - West Virginia

OL - Orlando Brown - Oklahoma

KR/PR - KaVontae Turpin - TCU

 

Thoughts: The battle at quarterback came down to Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes, and while I really like what Mahomes brings to the table, I gave the edge to Mayfield.  Running back was a tough choice that really came down to D'Onta Foreman, Samaje Perine, Mike Warren, and Shock Linwood.  I think Foreman has the most ability out of the group,and Perine will be in the best situation.  It was a bit of a down year at the receiver position, and if I had another slot I would have probably considered John Burt.  Texas has two guys on the offensive line which is notable, and KaVontae Turpin is an absolute ninja on the field.

 

 

Defense:

 

DL - Josh Carraway - TCU

DL - Noble Nwachuku - West Virginia

DL - Charles Walker - Oklahoma

DL - Demond Tucker - Iowa State

DL James McFarland - TCU

LB - Jordan Evans - Oklahoma

LB - Malik Jefferson - Texas

LB - Elijah Lee - Kansas State

DB - Holton Hill - Texas

DB - Jordan Sterns - Oklahoma State

DB - Davante Davis - Texas

DB - Denzel Johnson - TCU

DB - Steven Parker - Oklahoma

P - Michael Dickson - Texas

PK - Ben Grogan - Oklahoma State

 

 

Thoughts: TCU has two killers on the defensive line, and Charles Walker is one of the best players in the conference.  Demond Tucker represents the cyclones on the first team, and Nwachuku is my dark horse for POY honors.  A stacked linebacker group is headlined by Malik Jefferson and Jordan Evans.  My defensive back group reflects how bullish I am on the Texas corners and their potential for this year.  Denzel Johnson, Jordan Sterns, and Steven Parker are legit playmakers that can alter a game plan in the secondary.

 

 

Offensive POY - Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma

 

Defensive POY - Josh Carraway - TCU

 

Newcomer of the year - Shane Buechele - Texas

 

 

My decision for Offensive POY came down once again to Mahomes and Mayfield, but again I leaned slightly towards Mayfield.  Malik Jefferson figured into my DPOY decision, but the safe bet was Carraway.  If Shane Buechele can be somewhat effective in this offense he's an easy bet for newcomer of the year IMO.

 

 

Thoughts?

 

[tejasrulz]

The battle at quarterback came down to Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes, and while I really like what Mahomes brings to the table, I gave the edge to Mayfield.

 

 

Wasn't Mahomes one of the reasons Mayfield felt like he had to leave Tech? Personally I hope Mahomes has the better season of the two. I also hope both of them lose to Texas.

 

 

It was a bit of a down year at the receiver position, and if I had another slot I would have probably considered John Burt.

 

Burt has a good chance, especially since Johnson will also be a threat. If teams double up on Burt, then don't be surprised to see Johnson having a shot.

 

Overall, pretty good list but I hope you're wrong on the order of the standings.

[Sirhornsalot]

When I received my credential to the Big 12 Media Days, they enclosed a preseason All Big 12 ballot.

 

2 important things to know...

 

1) I find preseason rankings of any type pretty much worthless

 

2) I believe in transparency and being held accountable.

 

So with all of that said, I present my preseason All Big 12 ballot.

 

Standings

 

1. Oklahoma

2. TCU

3. Oklahoma State

4. Texas

5. Baylor

6. Texas Tech

7. West Virginia

8. Kansas State

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

 

Thoughts: Oklahoma is the run away leader for me.  With most of their team returning, and a lethal offense under Baker Mayfield and Lincoln Riley on campus it would be tough to pick against them.  TCU and Oklahoma State are a coin flip for me.  It will come down to the effectiveness of Kenny Hill and the ability of TCU to replace key players.  I think they will have the top defense in the country.  Oklahoma State returns a ton of talent, and Mason Rudolph will look to build on a big season.  The next four teams (Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech, and West Virginia) are all about the same to me.  They could finish in any order, and Baylor is the toughest to predict with all of the issues surrounding their program.  West Virginia and Texas Tech are primed to explode, but defense will always be an issue with those two teams.  Kansas State is just a cut below that group, with Iowa State and Kansas bringing up the rear.  

 

 

Offense:

 

QB - Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma

RB - D'Onta Foreman - Texas

RB - Samaje Perine - Oklahoma

FB - Elijah Wellman - West Virginia

WR - KD Cannon - Baylor

WR - James Washington - Oklahoma State

WR - Shelton Gibson - West Virginia

TE - Mark Andrews - Oklahoma

OL - Connor Williams - Texas

OL - Kyle Fuller - Baylor

OL - Patrick Vahe - Texas

OL - Tyler Orlosky - West Virginia

OL - Orlando Brown - Oklahoma

KR/PR - KaVontae Turpin - TCU

 

Thoughts: The battle at quarterback came down to Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes, and while I really like what Mahomes brings to the table, I gave the edge to Mayfield.  Running back was a tough choice that really came down to D'Onta Foreman, Samaje Perine, Mike Warren, and Shock Linwood.  I think Foreman has the most ability out of the group,and Perine will be in the best situation.  It was a bit of a down year at the receiver position, and if I had another slot I would have probably considered John Burt.  Texas has two guys on the offensive line which is notable, and KaVontae Turpin is an absolute ninja on the field.

 

 

Defense:

 

DL - Josh Carraway - TCU

DL - Noble Nwachuku - West Virginia

DL - Charles Walker - Oklahoma

DL - Demond Tucker - Iowa State

DL James McFarland - TCU

LB - Jordan Evans - Oklahoma

LB - Malik Jefferson - Texas

LB - Elijah Lee - Kansas State

DB - Holton Hill - Texas

DB - Jordan Sterns - Oklahoma State

DB - Davante Davis - Texas

DB - Denzel Johnson - TCU

DB - Steven Parker - Oklahoma

P - Michael Dickson - Texas

PK - Ben Grogan - Oklahoma State

 

 

Thoughts: TCU has two killers on the defensive line, and Charles Walker is one of the best players in the conference.  Demond Tucker represents the cyclones on the first team, and Nwachuku is my dark horse for POY honors.  A stacked linebacker group is headlined by Malik Jefferson and Jordan Evans.  My defensive back group reflects how bullish I am on the Texas corners and their potential for this year.  Denzel Johnson, Jordan Sterns, and Steven Parker are legit playmakers that can alter a game plan in the secondary.

 

 

Offensive POY - Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma

 

Defensive POY - Josh Carraway - TCU

 

Newcomer of the year - Shane Buechele - Texas

 

 

My decision for Offensive POY came down once again to Mahomes and Mayfield, but again I leaned slightly towards Mayfield.  Malik Jefferson figured into my DPOY decision, but the safe bet was Carraway.  If Shane Buechele can be somewhat effective in this offense he's an easy bet for newcomer of the year IMO.

 

 

Thoughts?

 

 

Thoughts . . . 

 

1. Bold of you to have Texas at 4th. But I agree, and think it could actually be higher. I'm not sold on OSU at all. As we know too well, the OL is a big deal. And my OSU friends are pretty embarrassed by theirs right now.

 

2. Thank you for putting Foreman and Vahe on your list. IMO, they belong there.

 

3. Agree with you that Mayfield has an edge on Mahomes. Success makes a QB look better. OU has a defense, Tech really doesn't. OU will be in more big games as a result.

 

4. I would probably put Malik at Def POY. But I won't doubt Patterson's mojo on defense.

 

5. I agree with you DB choices. Tons of talent on board at Texas in the secondary. These two have a year under their belt. I'm expecting big things from them this year.

[echeese]

Overall a really good write up. . . .certainly see how you are thinking and I hope you are correct.

 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Don't really see much at all that you can argue with. 

[Mike Roach]

Btw, I feel everyone who submits a ballot should have to publish it

[doc longhorn]

Oklahoma is the run away leader for me.  With most of their team returning, and a lethal offense under Baker Mayfield and Lincoln Riley on campus it would be tough to pick against them.

 

See, I don't understand your thinking here.  It almost sounds as if your are parroting ESPN.

 

What makes you think OU rocketed past the team that beat them last year (us)?  Especially since they won't be as good as last year and we will be so much better?

 

What has OU done to make everyone so giddy about them?  We dominated them last year with no QB and no real offensive identity.  We punched them in the mouth and they quit.

 

They will have a good team - they always do.  But don't be dazzled by others predictions - especially ESPN and Dave Campbell - neither of which know diddly about either team.

[Sirhornsalot]

Oklahoma is the run away leader for me.  With most of their team returning, and a lethal offense under Baker Mayfield and Lincoln Riley on campus it would be tough to pick against them.

 

See, I don't understand your thinking here.  It almost sounds as if your are parroting ESPN.

 

What makes you think OU rocketed past the team that beat them last year (us)?  Especially since they won't be as good as last year and we will be so much better?

 

What has OU done to make everyone so giddy about them?  We dominated them last year with no QB and no real offensive identity.  We punched them in the mouth and they quit.

 

They will have a good team - they always do.  But don't be dazzled by others predictions - especially ESPN and Dave Campbell - neither of which know diddly about either team.

 

 

I happen to agree with Doc here. It never fails, ESPN has some sort of mandatory preseason love affair with OU. And then OU loses and ESPN goes back to acting like they don't know each other again.

 

In Doc's response, above, he didn't even touch on the numerous freshmen we had on the field last year. And we had just been drilled by TCU. We had no business being in that game last year. But like Doc said, they did what they accused us of doing for so many years – got punched in the mouth and went fetal position. OU is now what we were back then – a very good team AFTER the RRS.

 

There's nothing to suggest it won't happen again, except this time we have an offense . . . I think. lol

[North Texas Golfer]

Oklahoma is the run away leader for me.  With most of their team returning, and a lethal offense under Baker Mayfield and Lincoln Riley on campus it would be tough to pick against them.

 

See, I don't understand your thinking here.  It almost sounds as if your are parroting ESPN.

 

What makes you think OU rocketed past the team that beat them last year (us)?  Especially since they won't be as good as last year and we will be so much better?

 

What has OU done to make everyone so giddy about them?  We dominated them last year with no QB and no real offensive identity.  We punched them in the mouth and they quit.

 

They will have a good team - they always do.  But don't be dazzled by others predictions - especially ESPN and Dave Campbell - neither of which know diddly about either team.

 

I totally understand Mike's thinking. Oklahoma was far and away the best team in the conference last year and Texas had absolutely no business beating them. Just as Iowa State had absolutely no business putting an embarrassing beat down on Texas. Both games were flukes.

 

And no one knows yet if Oklahoma will or won't be as good as last year or if we will or won't be much better than last year.

[Sirhornsalot]

Both games were flukes.

 

And no one knows yet if Oklahoma will or won't be as good as last year or if we will or won't be much better than last year.

 

 

Good points, but deserve further explanation as they are not equal. Texas beat OU the year before in another game we shouldn't have won. Then the last one we lost, we should have won.

 

One can deduct from that Texas under Charlie has definitely got OU's number. Charlie teaches toughness, hitting. Something Mack really didn't get into.

 

Iowa State, OTOH, was a fluke. We just didn't show up to play. Iowa State played lights out. It was a perfect storm but they had us at their home and always play Texas tough. I don't dismiss how good ISU played, but Texas very much gave it away. This was a one-time thing, not a trend.

 

I totally agree with your last statement. However, there is some credence to the method. When you lose NFL draft picks, you seldom get to "plug and play" without drop off. The weight has to be picked up somewhere. Normally, during the spring, you'll find out which of the players who weren't good enough to start last year were drawing praise for their rapid development. Did that happen at OU? I can think of two players Stoops said that about. Thats it.

 

Still, no one knows until Fall.

[tejasrulz]

Iowa State, OTOH, was a fluke.

 

 

Sorry but getting shut out and flat out beaten down isn't a fluke. Total frigging embarrassment maybe but not a fluke. To be honest I don't know what you would call that game but it sucked.

[Sirhornsalot]

Sorry but getting shut out and flat out beaten down isn't a fluke. Total frigging embarrassment maybe but not a fluke. To be honest I don't know what you would call that game but it sucked.

 

 

You can't have it both ways. If it was a total embarrassment, then its a fluke. If you expected it, then it wasn't.

 

Iowa State has no case to say they have our number. One game can't make that case.

[tejasrulz]

We'll agree to disagree

[Sirhornsalot]

We'll agree to disagree

 

 

[tejasrulz]

[Sirhornsalot]

 

 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Good points, but deserve further explanation as they are not equal. Texas beat OU the year before in another game we shouldn't have won. Then the last one we lost, we should have won.

 

One can deduct from that Texas under Charlie has definitely got OU's number. Charlie teaches toughness, hitting. Something Mack really didn't get into.

 

Iowa State, OTOH, was a fluke. We just didn't show up to play. Iowa State played lights out. It was a perfect storm but they had us at their home and always play Texas tough. I don't dismiss how good ISU played, but Texas very much gave it away. This was a one-time thing, not a trend.

 

I totally agree with your last statement. However, there is some credence to the method. When you lose NFL draft picks, you seldom get to "plug and play" without drop off. The weight has to be picked up somewhere. Normally, during the spring, you'll find out which of the players who weren't good enough to start last year were drawing praise for their rapid development. Did that happen at OU? I can think of two players Stoops said that about. Thats it.

 

Still, no one knows until Fall.

 

Okay, your first paragraph has me a little confused. Not that it's that hard to confuse me 

 

And, regarding the first sentence in the second paragraph, Charlie is 1-1 against OU so I don't see how you can deduce that he has their number. 

[Sirhornsalot]

Okay, your first paragraph has me a little confused. Not that it's that hard to confuse me 

 

And, regarding the first sentence in the second paragraph, Charlie is 1-1 against OU so I don't see how you can deduce that he has their number. 

 

 

It was late, I was tired. Iol It's all I got. lol

[Sirhornsalot]

.

[UTK66]

Think I would've gone with Mahomes over Mayfield myself. 

[Mike Roach]

Oklahoma is the run away leader for me.  With most of their team returning, and a lethal offense under Baker Mayfield and Lincoln Riley on campus it would be tough to pick against them.

 

See, I don't understand your thinking here.  It almost sounds as if your are parroting ESPN.

 

What makes you think OU rocketed past the team that beat them last year (us)?  Especially since they won't be as good as last year and we will be so much better?

 

What has OU done to make everyone so giddy about them?  We dominated them last year with no QB and no real offensive identity.  We punched them in the mouth and they quit.

 

They will have a good team - they always do.  But don't be dazzled by others predictions - especially ESPN and Dave Campbell - neither of which know diddly about either team.

 

My thinking was that even though Texas beat Oklahoma (in a game where they flat out punched them in the mouth), I'm going to take a team coming off of a playoff appearance and returning a lot of experience.  They also have experience where it counts.  I believe Texas can get them again this year, but over the long stretch I like Oklahoma to win the conference.

[Mike Roach]

Think I would've gone with Mahomes over Mayfield myself. 

 

It was a tough decision.

[doc longhorn]

I totally understand Mike's thinking. Oklahoma was far and away the best team in the conference last year and Texas had absolutely no business beating them. Just as Iowa State had absolutely no business putting an embarrassing beat down on Texas. Both games were flukes.

 

And no one knows yet if Oklahoma will or won't be as good as last year or if we will or won't be much better than last year.

 

I disagree.  I'm not a supporter of "fluke" descriptions.  The sole purpose of all D-1 teams is to win football games.  They are awarded scholarships to work year round towards that purpose.  Outside of school, they are dedicated to winning.  Or they should be.

 

The RRR win or loss will never be considered a "fluke".  It has been and always will be the game of the year for both teams.  OU was expecting the usual UT effort and physically got the crap kicked out of them.  They simply weren't prepared for it.

 

Iowa State was the same in reverse.  They manhandled us along with some of the poorest coaching I have seen in years.  Defensive as well as offensive

(On this note and as much as I love Charlie Strong, this kind of defeat to this kind of team will be his coaching death knell at UT.  His won/loss record will be important, but not as much as another ISU type of embarrassment)

 

[Mike Roach]

Here's how everything shook out (my picks in bold)

 

 

QB - Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma

RB - Mike Warren - Iowa State

RB - Samaje Perine - Oklahoma

FB - Winston Dimel - Kansas State

WR - KD Cannon - Baylor

WR - Allen Lazard - Iowa State

WR - James Washington - Oklahoma State

TE - Mark Andrews - Oklahoma

OL - Kyle Fuller - Baylor

OL - Orlando Brown - Oklahoma

OL - Patrick Vahe - Texas

OL - Connor Williams - Texas

OL - Tyler Orlosky - West Virginia

PK - Clayton Hatfield - Texas Tech

KR/PR - KaVontae Turpin - TCU

 

Defense

 

DL - Will Geary - Kansas State

DL - Jordan Willis - Kansas State

DL - Charles Walker - Oklahoma

DL - Vincent Taylor - Oklahoma State

DL - Josh Carraway - TCU

DL - James McFarland - TCU

DL - Noble Nwachukwu - West Virginia

LB - Elijah Lee - Kansas State

LB - Jordan Evans - Oklahoma

LB - Malik Jefferson - Texas

DB - Dante Barnett - Kansas State

DB - Jordan Thomas - Oklahoma

DB - Jordan Sterns - Oklahoma State

DB - Davante Davis - Texas

P - Austin Seibert - Oklahoma

 

Offensive POY - Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma

Defensive POY - Malik Jefferson - Texas

Big 12 Newcomer of the year - Kenny Hill - TCU