1. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU – Easily the No. 1 offensive player going into the Big 12. The returning Heisman finalist and reigning Big 12 offensive player of the year will be looking to bring home a national title for his Horned Frogs. After throwing for 3,901 yards and rushing for 707 yards, Boykin will come out of the gates playing hungry. TCU was just short of a playoff spot last year, so I can definitely see Boykin playing with a certain drive to his game. Expect a huge year from him.
2. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma – During last year’s campaign, the Sooner notched 1,713 total yards as a freshman in just eight games. His season was highlighted by an NCAA record-breaking 427 yard game against the Kansas Jayhawks, where he scored five touchdowns. Playing with an offensive line that has four seniors, Perine is about to have a huge season.
3. Spencer Drango, LT, Baylor – Physicality and aggressiveness defines this returning Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, who is about to have a huge year in his final season with the Bears. Going into the 2015 season, he has 35 career starts as a fifth-year senior, so experience is certainly on his side. The two-time first-team All-Big 12 honoree helped push his squad to an average 235 yards per game on the ground and should have no issues protecting quarterback Seth Russell’s blindside.
4. Sam Richardson, QB, Iowa State – Sam Richardson could be looking at bringing Iowa State to a few significant upsets against Big 12 opposition. Richardson set a Cyclone school record of 254 completions. He also threw for 2,669 passing yards while rushing for 421 yards, all in 11 starts. Plus, as strong as the Iowa State wide-receiver corps is this year, Richardson will definitely be making waves.
5. Josh Doctson, WR, TCU – This Horned Frog is the No. 1 wideout on the No. 2 ranked team with the returning Big 12 offensive player of the year throwing to him. He is about to take flight. Coming off of a 2014 campaign with 65 receptions, 1,018 yards and 11 touchdowns, Doctson will be a key player in a TCU team that is looking for an undefeated season and a national championship.
6. Cody Whitehair, T, K-State – Whitehair is an extremely versatile blocker, playing at both guard and tackle. With 38 career starts and being a two-time All-Big 12 second team each of the last two years, this senior is about to lead a team of Wildcats to a few upsets over top Big 12 opponents. Expect him to give redshirt sophomore quarterback Jesse Ertz some serious coverage.
7. Shock Linwood, RB, Baylor – With an extremely successful passing offense such as Baylor’s, some might feel Linwood doesn’t get enough attention; however, as a running back who notched 1,252 yards and 16 TDs last year, Linwood deserves some recognition. With five returning starters on the offensive line and a new quarterback, expect Linwood to get a few more carries this season.
8. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma – This guy has the athleticism and IQ to get open whenever he wants to. Despite a groin injury that limited his season, he still managed to pull in 51 passes while racking up 970 yards and five touchdowns. Look forward to Shepard being a reliable target.
9. Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech – Though his Red Raiders might not be the most talented squad, Clark still manages to push an offense well enough. Last season he helped Texas Tech to its first 1,000-yard rusher since 1998. He is going into this 2015 campaign as a four-year starter who has recorded 38 consecutive starts.
10. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor – Despite Coleman missing the first three games of the 2014 season due to a hamstring injury, he still managed 1,119 yards with 11 touchdowns on 64 receptions.
