LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD BIG 12 SPOTLIGHT 10B A weekly look inside the conference Wednesday, May 7, 2008

SORRENTINO BIG 12 SOUTH PREVIEW SPRING SCALE

More returning 1 talent than any other Big 12 Eric Sorrentino Locked & loaded team [email protected] Also returns 2 everyone, but has to beat OU North to dethrone OU

Expectations in making 3 Austin higher than Holiday strides Bowl Dream season, Comparing the Big 12 Part II could North football division to the 4 depend on pro- Big 12 South division a few duction of years ago used to be like unproven D- comparing the NBA Eastern line Conference to the Western Conference. Michael Crab- It never really took much 5 tree best WR in thought. The answer was nation; can more obvious than a ques- defense hold tion on one of Jim Harrick’s up? basketball exams at the Uni- versity of Georgia. Nowadays, it’s different. Defensive There has been a shift of 6 prowess power in the last year in the switched to Big 12. Thanks to a recent hoops last year trend, the following state- ment next fall won’t sound as senseless as it did just two years ago: The Big 12 North Five players is a superior division to the 7 just got taken Big 12 South. in draft ... how Crazy? Thanks to Kansas was A&M 7-6? and Missouri, not so crazy anymore. Consider that last year was the first time in nine years If you don’t the Big 12 North won more 8 know the name head-to-head battles against Darrell Scott, the Big 12 South. The North you will by went 10-8 against the South season’s end in 18 regular-season games. Kansas and Missouri, both 7-1 in 2007, brought the Receiver Deon North to a level not seen in 9 Murphy has big the division since 1999, when shoes to fill K-State and Nebraska both were 7-1 in the conference. There’s no reason the Big 12 North’s supremacy should last just one year. Looking Putting stock ahead to 2008, it’s not out of 10 in JUCO kids on the question for the North to defense trump the South again. Missouri, which represent- ed the North in the 2007 Big 12 Championship game, will have expectations to get back Not ready to there. Everyone knows about 11 compete with 2007 Heisman finalist Chase Harry Cabluck/AP Photos MU, KU Daniel, but what will make QUARTERBACK (14) REACTS in this file photo near the end of the the Tigers a likely preseason championship game from Dec. 1, 2007. Bradford will orchestrate a high-octane offense in Norman this fall. Top-10 team is what will return around Daniel: home run threat /spe- Not ready to cial teams returner Jeremy 12 compete with Maclin and running/receiv- OU beams with returning talent OU, UT ing threat Derrick Washing- ton, the tailback. Further- By Eric Sorrentino 2008 outlook: Fireworks on more, Missouri will return 10 offense are expected with the return starters on defense. Journal-World Copy Editor of senior quarterback Graham Har- Kansas could start the year When it comes to the Big 12 South, rell (5,705 yards, 48 ) and near the Top 10 as well. KU the Red River Rivalry between Okla- sophomore wide receiver Michael returns Todd Reesing and homa and Texas typically decides Crabtree (134 catches, 1,962 yards, 22 What will surround him with a which team will advance to the con- touchdowns). There’s a running- plethora of weapons, includ- ference championship game with a back battle brewing, but with Mike Keegan ing running backs Jake Sharp chance at a BCS berth. Leach’s spread offense scoring at the and Jocques Crawford, who This year shapes up to be no dif- pace of Jerry Rice in Tecmo Bowl, it says led all junior-college running ferent, although Texas Tech has likely won’t matter who emerges. backs with 1,935 rushing higher expectations than any of The Big 12 North won in yards last year. Reesing loses coach Mike Leach’s eight other years Oklahoma State the standings, finishing Marcus Henry from the with the program. 2007 record: 7-6 two games above .500 receiving corps, but will On to the Big 12 South preview: Bowl: Insight, def. Indiana, 49-33 against the South. Even on return Dezmon Briscoe, Dex- Key players lost: WR Adarius NFL draft day, the North ton Fields and Kerry Meier. Oklahoma Bowman, RB Dantrell Savage edged the South, 15-14. The KU defense is experi- 2007 record: 11-3 2008 outlook: It will be interest- Much of the credit enced, particularly in the Bowl: Fiesta, lost to West Va., 48-28 ing to see how the six junior-college belongs to Missouri coach secondary and at linebacker. Key players lost: WR Malcolm recruits impact the defense next fall. Gary Pinkel, Kansas coach Nebraska has to be better Kelly, LB Curtis Lofton, CB Reggie Brutal road schedule: Missouri, Mark Mangino and their than last year, when it went Kelly, RB Allen Patrick. TEXAS QUARTERBACK COLT MCCOY Texas, Texas Tech and Colorado. two quarterbacks, Chase 2-6 in the Big 12 and gave up has 2008 outlook: Sam Bradford set Daniel and Todd Reesing. 37.9 points per game. First- Texas fans dreaming big. an NCAA freshman record with 36 Texas A&M Still, to believe the North year coach Bo Pelini, who passes and had only 2007 record: 7-6 has passed the South per- was the defensive coordina- Key players lost: WR Limas eight last year. DeMar- Bowl: Alamo, lost to Penn St., 24-17 manently would be to tor for LSU’s championship Sweed, RB , TE Jer- co Murray had 787 rushing yards and Key players lost: TE Martellus believe pigs fly, politicians team last season, should help. michael Finley, OT Tony Hills, DT 13 touchdowns, all while missing the Bennett, C Cody Wallace, DT Red never lie and boys don’t cry. Colorado, after a 4-4 con- last three games. Murray wasn’t even Bryant, DE Christopher Harrington, As that fiddler on the ference season, also should 2008 outlook: UT has offensive the featured back. He could have a OT Corey Clark roof was fond of hollering, be on the rise. Freshman run- experience returning in junior quar- monstrous 2008: All five starters will 2008 outlook: The Aggies return “tradition, TRADITION!” ning back Darrell Scott, one terback Colt McCoy and senior return on the Sooners’ offensive line, quarterback Stephen McGee (3,210 rules, and the history of of the top recruits in the receivers and Jordan and three have made the preseason total yards, 17 total TDs) and work- Texas and Oklahoma is nation, should take pressure Shipley. Replacing Charles could be Outland Trophy watch list. Heaven horse Jorvorskie Lane (16 TDs). such that and off quarterback Cody the biggest question mark, as Von- help the Big 12 if OU’s offense stays still get the Hawkins. CU won’t have to drell McGee, Chris Ogbonnaya and healthy. Success is measured at OU first crack at the top talent play OU or Texas Tech and Fozzy Whitaker competed for the Baylor with national title banners, and the from Texas, the lifeblood of drew UT at home. starting job in the spring. 2007 record: 3-9 expectations will be such in Nor- Big 12 recruiting. The shift of power started 2008 outlook: The classic quar- man, Okla., this fall. The recent success last season, and it likely Texas Tech terback battle is taking place in enjoyed by MU and KU won’t be fully recognized 2007 record: 9-4 Waco, where incumbent Blake Szy- should help close the gap, until the North wins the Big Texas Bowl: Gator, def. Virginia, 31-28 manski is competing against Miami but the gap still exists. 12 championship, something 2007 record: 10-3 Key players lost: WR Daniel transfer Kirby Freeman and fresh- it hasn’t done in five years. Bowl: Holiday, def. Ariz. St., 52-34 Amendola, S Joe Garcia man Robert Griffin. — TOM KEEGAN It’s up to these four teams to [email protected] make it happen.