Big 12 Players To Watch In 2013

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 6, 2013

Big 12 Players To Watch In 2013

DE Jackson Jeffcoat

Jeffcoat missed the second half of the 2012 season with a ruptured pectoral muscle, and that injury will limit him during spring practice. Still, if past performance is any indication, he'll be a force to be reckoned with upon his return. Jeffcoat accumulated 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in six games last season -- including four tackles for loss against Oklahoma State alone. In a full 2011 campaign, he tallied 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

DE Devonte Fields

Fields wasted no time making his mark at TCU, amassing 10 sacks and a conference-best 18.5 tackles for loss en route to AP Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors as a freshman. Fields notched three tackles for loss in his debut against Grambling State, and he recorded at least half a sack in each of his first seven games. Here's the scary part for Big 12 offenses: Fields should be even more disruptive with a full year of experience.

RB Lache Seastrunk

After sitting out a year following his transfer from Oregon, Seastrunk made up for lost time in 2012. He rushed for 1,012 yards on just 131 carries -- a ridiculous 7.7 yards per carry average. Seastrunk split carries with fellow running back Glasco Martin and still ran for more than 100 yards in five of his last six games. If the explosive back gets his touches, he's poised to shine in 2013.

CB Jason Verrett

As far as quality pass coverage in the Big 12 went last year, there was Verrett and then there was everyone else. The junior cornerback racked up 22 passes defended (tied for the most in the nation) and six interceptions; no other player in the conference had more than 15 passes defended. The Horned Frogs' secondary seems to be in good hands with the All-America defensive back entering his third season as a starter.

CB Aaron Colvin

He may not have matched Verrett's production at TCU, but Colvin was a shutdown corner in 2012. He recorded 15 passes defended and four interceptions. Now, with little experience returning to Oklahoma's secondary, Colvin will be tasked with leading the Sooners' group of defensive backs, which boasted the top-ranked pass defense in the Big 12 last season.

RB John Hubert

With quarterback Collin Klein out of the picture, it'll be up to Hubert to lead Kansas State's offense in 2013. Though he was overshadowed by the eventual Heisman finalist last year, Hubert scampered for 947 rushing yards, fourth in the Big 12. He also tallied 15 rushing touchdowns, trailing only Klein and and Texas' Joe Bergeron in the conference.

WR Josh Stewart

In a league with a pass-happy reputation, the leading returning receiver always warrants some hype. Entering 2013, that hype belongs to Stewart. The Oklahoma State standout averaged 7.8 receptions and 93.1 yards per game last season, and he finished the year with seven touchdowns. Even the Cowboys' quarterback injuries couldn't halt Stewart's production -- so there's little reason to assume anything else will in the coming campaign.

C Gabe Ikard

Oklahoma offensive line coach James Patton is off to Indiana, and left tackle Lane Johnson is gone to the NFL. That puts the Sooners' offensive line leadership responsibility on Ikard, a two-time first-team All-Big 12 center. Ikard's task will be to maintain the performance of an OU offensive line that allowed just 15 sacks last season, tied for 17th fewest in the nation.

WR Eric Ward

If new Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury can come close to replicating the passing success he helped foster at Texas A&M last year, then Ward could be primed for a monster 2013. Ward fared just fine in Tommy Tuberville's attack, catching 82 balls for 1,053 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. A quality red-zone target, Ward also hauled in 11 receiving scores as a sophomore in 2011.

RB James Sims

For a team that didn't beat an FBS opponent last season, Kansas can at least take pride in its running game. There may not be very many reasons to be excited for football season in Lawrence, but Sims' return should be at the top of the list. The dynamic running back averaged a Big 12-best 112.6 yards per game despite sharing carries with Tony Pierson and Taylor Cox. Any hope for a successful Jayhawks' campaign rely on Sims, the first KU player to top the 1,000-yard rushing plateau since 2006.