In a recent list from 247Sports’ Carter Bahns, the most exciting player for each Preseason Top 25 Big 12 team was listed, with four different teams represented.
Bahns listed the most exciting player for Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Utah, and Kansas State, each of which earned a spot in the Top 25.
NO. 23 OKLAHOMA STATE – RB OLLIE GORDON
“Gordon has a real chance to become just the fourth player to ever repeat as the Doak Walker Award winner. He led college football with 1,732 rushing yards last season despite spending the first three games in a backup role.”
NO. 22 WEST VIRGINIA – QB GARRETT GREENE
“West Virginia boasts one of the nation’s top running back rooms, but that group could fly under the radar if Greene overshadows it with another stellar rushing season. He racked up 772 rushing yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns a year ago.”
NO. 18 UTAH – QB CAM RISING
“Now a seventh-year senior, Rising is the key to Utah’s Big 12 title candidacy. The Utes were pitiful offensively without him all last year, but this should again be a formidable squad with him back under center.“
NO. 17 – KANSAS STATE – QB AVERY JOHNSON
“This first-year starter is a Heisman Trophy dark horse candidate. Johnson promises to deliver elite dual-threat ability, as he displayed last season with five rushing touchdowns against Texas Tech and another 249 yards of total offense and three scores in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.“
Johnson, Rising, Greene, and Gordon are the headlining pieces for each of the four Big 12 teams featured on the list, and for good reason. Each of the four will be leaned on heavily in the upcoming season as they look to make a case for Arlington.
Just missing out on the Preseason Top 25 are the Arizona Wildcats and the Kansas Jayhawks. While they did not get listed in the list from 247Sports, Arizona’s most exciting players would likely be either Tetairoa McMillan or Noah Fifta, and for Kansas, Jalon Daniels or Devin Neal.
