Big 12 players to watch in 2015

As teams continue preparing for the upcoming season, here are 10 players to watch who will be big names in the Big 12 in 2015.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 3, 2015

Big 12 players to watch in 2015

Trevone Boykin, TCU QB

Boykin is arguably the top returning player in college football. He nearly led the Horned Frogs' high-powered offense to the College Football Playoff last season, throwing for over 3,900 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Shawn Oakman, Baylor DE

Oakman doesn't just frighten opponents with his muscular physique—he frightens them with his talent, too. The towering defensive lineman recorded 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss last season.

Samaje Perine, Oklahoma RB

Perine hit the ground running as a true freshman in Norman. He carried the ball 263 times for over 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns. The more he was trusted with ball, the more gaudy the numbers Perine posted, including a 427-yard, five-touchdown rushing performance against Kansas. That set the FBS record for rushing yards in a game.

Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State QB

Rudolph took over the starting quarterback job for the Cowboys' last three games of 2014 and threw two touchdowns in each contest. That dose of success makes the former four-star recruit the leading candidate to win the starting job for '15.

Spencer Drango, Baylor OT

Drango rebounded from back surgery in 2013 to stake his claim as one of the best left tackles in college football in '14. His consistent dominance on the line will be needed this fall as Baylor moves on from star quarterback Bryce Petty.

Karl Joseph, West Virginia S

Joseph could have entered the NFL draft but chose to come back to West Virginia for his senior season. He has been one of the Mountaineers' best defenders since he stepped on the field as a freshman, and he'll bring leadership in addition to immense talent to their secondary.

Eric Striker, Oklahoma LB

Striker's athleticism makes him one of the best linebackers in the conference. His slender build—6'0", 221 pounds—allows him to rack up tackles, drop back in coverage or rush the passer all with equal effectiveness.

Seth Russell, Baylor QB

Russell is the likely successor to Bryce Petty as the leader of the Bears' offense. He's shown flashes of his talent in the past—the rising junior threw for 438 yards in Petty's absence against Northwestern State last season—and his running ability should help keep Baylor's offense as explosive as it always has been under Art Briles.

Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State DE

Ogbah is a menace along the defensive line for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State needed every one of his 11 sacks last season, and Ogbah will have to repeat his performance to slow down some of the conference's high-scoring offenses.

Corey Coleman, Baylor WR

Coleman was an integral part of Baylor's vertical offense last season. What the 5'11" receiver lacks in height, he makes up for in explosiveness. Coleman averaged over 17 yards per catch last season en route to 11 touchdowns and had some success running out of the backfield.