Best of the Big XII South

By John Hillman  |   Monday, August 25, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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Monday's column reviewed the cream of the Big XII North. Today’s piece takes a look at a group many consider the toughest in the nation from top to bottom -- the Big XII South.

1. Best quarterback – Graham Harrell (senior, Texas Tech)

Harrell needs only 42 touchdown passes to tie Colt Brennan for the major college career record. After tossing 43 scoring passes in 2007, the mark certainly appears obtainable.

Texas Tech’s passing-oriented offense fits Harrell perfectly. Last season, he completed 505 passes for 5,600 yards to a bevy of talented receivers. However, the Red Raiders’ soft schedule may prove the quarterback’s biggest obstacle to reaching record heights.

Texas Tech faces Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU and Massachusetts in nonconference action. If Mike Leach continues to play Harrell in runaway games, a backlash will certainly occur.

2. Best running back – Mike Goodson (junior, Texas A&M)

After showing much promise and limited results his first two years, Goodson should benefit greatly from Mike Sherman’s newly installed pro-style offense. Look for the Aggies to utilize the fleet tailback, who gained 711 yards on 153 carries in 2007, on sweeps and swing passes.

Goodson, who scored only four rushing touchdowns last season, won’t be sharing carries with the massive Jorvorskie Lane in 2008. A&M coaches moved Lane to fullback during spring drills, freeing up Goodson to serve as the Aggies’ primary runner.

3. Best receiver – Michael Crabtree (sophomore, Texas Tech)

Crabtree’s freshman numbers defy belief. The former Dallas (Texas) Carter quarterback caught 134 passes for 1,962 yards last season while scoring 22 touchdowns. However, many believe the outstanding receiver can improve his performance.

Texas Tech looks to break out of its also-ran mode this season, and the combination of Harrell to Crabtree will play a large role in the success of that plan. The sophomore wideout has established himself as the Red Raiders’ go-to guy, and Harrell will look for him in clutch situations.

4. Best kick returner – DeMarco Murray (sophomore, Oklahoma)

Murray, who missed spring practice and did not play the final three games of the 2007 season because of a dislocated kneecap, showed no lingering effects during fall drills. Last season, the Las Vegas native returned 15 kickoffs for a 29.3-yard average, the second highest in Oklahoma history. Murray went the distance twice, going 81 yards against Tulsa and 91 versus Baylor.

The running back/kick returner scored 15 touchdowns as freshman, tying the Sooner record held by Adrian Peterson.

5. Best defender – Auston English (junior, Oklahoma)

English, the Big XII Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, suffered a setback with an emergency appendectomy in late July. He returned to practice last week, however, and appears ready to go for the 2008 season.

The defensive end from tiny Canadian, Texas (population 2,233), recorded 11.5 sacks in 2007, ranking 15th in the nation, and collected 13 tackles for losses, highest on the Sooner defense. The consensus All-Big XII selection has been placed on the watch list for the Outland Trophy, Chuck Bednarik, Bronco Nagurski and Ted Hendricks Awards.

6. Best team – Oklahoma (predicted record 12-0, 8-0 Big XII)

Sam Bradford quarterbacked the Sooners to a Big XII title as a freshman. With a year of experience under his belt, claiming another South championship shouldn’t pose a problem.

Bradford threw a freshman-record 36 touchdown passes in 2007, and talent galore surrounds in the running and receiving corps. DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown pack a solid one-two punch in the backfield, and receiver Juaquin Iglesias experienced a breakout year last season with 68 catches for 907 yards.

Oklahoma returns 15 starters off last year’s team, including the entire offensive line. If the Sooners find some secondary help, they will be tough to stop.

Rest of the pack:

Texas Tech (predicted record 10-2, 6-2 Big XII)
Texas (predicted record 9-3, 5-3 Big XII)
Texas A&M (predicted record 7-5, 4-4 Big XII)
Oklahoma State (predicted record 6-6, 2-6 Big XII)
Baylor (predicted record 3-9, 1-7 Big XII)
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About John Hillman

John Hillman graduated from Baylor University in 1974 with a BBA in accounting and earned an MBA from Baylor in 1987. He worked for accounting firms until 1982 when he became the chief financial officer for an independent insurance claims adjusting service, a position he still holds today. ...
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