From high to backside, the Big 12 was as aggressive as any convention in America. TCU made the College Football Playoff National Championship and 7 different convention colleges have been bowl eligible. West Virginia was one win wanting the postseason and Iowa State, who completed in final place at 1-8 in the league, got here out on the quick finish of the stick in six one-rating video games.
Related: College Football’s NFL Draft Deadline Winners and Losers
With so many proficient groups come gamers that can go away early for the NFL. In flip, there might be a brand new wave of Big 12 athletes that need to present that they’re able to attending to the following stage as nicely. Here are 10 Big 12 gamers who’re leaving early to enter the upcoming NFL draft early entrants and the names of those that may doubtlessly fill their footwear in 2023.
Texas
Gone: Bijan Robinson, RB
The solely names forward of Robinson on the all-time Texas speeding record are Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and Earl Campbell. And Robinson compiled his numbers in simply three seasons. The newest Doak Walker Award winner will most likely be the primary operating again chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In: Cedric Baxter Jr.
Counting on a real freshman is all the time dangerous, however operating again is a place the place a newcomer could make a right away impression and Baxter is the highest-ranked ball service in the 2023 highschool class. As a senior at Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, he had 1,375 yards in simply 9 video games. Baxter additionally thought-about affords from Florida State, Florida, Texas A&M, and Ohio State.
TCU
Gone: Quentin Johnston, WR
Johnston was a great participant that turned a famous person in 2022 due to the brand new offensive scheme introduced in by head coach Sonny Dykes. The first-workforce All-Big 12 choice caught 60 passes for 1,069 yards and might be one of many first receivers off the board.
In: Jordan Hudson
Hudson caught 14 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns as a real freshman, however extra is predicted in the long run. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder was a high-100 recruit in the category of 2022 and had affords from Alabama, Texas, LSU, and Oklahoma.
TCU
Gone: Kendre Miller, RB
Certainly, TCU was not going to beat Georgia in the nationwide championship recreation, however not having a very wholesome Miller didn’t assist. Much like Quentin Johnston, Miller was a unique participant below the brand new regime, speeding for 1,399 yards as a junior after going for simply over 1,000 in his first two years in Fort Worth.
In: Trey Sanders
Miller and fifth-yr senior Emari Demercado obtained just about all of the significant carries in 2022, so a chance is there for somebody. Sanders might be in the fitting place on the proper time. In 2021, Sanders rushed for 314 yards at Alabama and the previous 5-star prospect could have a recent begin with the Horned Frogs.
Kansas State
Gone: Deuce Vaughn, RB
Because of his dimension (5-6, 176), Vaughn will most likely not be chosen till someplace in the center of the draft. But that does not diminish what he meant to the Wildcats. In 2022, his 1,936 all-function yards tied for first nationally and his play down the stretch was a main purpose why Okay-State gained the Big 12 championship.
In: Treshaun Ward
Vaughn’s spot will not be stuffed by only one participant and DJ Giddens will see his function enhance subsequent fall. But Ward is the brand new face, transferring from Florida State the place he had 1,241 speeding yards and 13 touchdowns in his profession. A former stroll-on that has two years of eligibility remaining, Ward additionally caught 22 passes in 2021.
Kansas State
Gone: Felix Anudike-Uzoma, DE
The edge rusher adopted up a primary-workforce All-Big 12 2021 season with a second-workforce All-American marketing campaign this fall. Anudike-Uzomah is sixth in Kansas State historical past in sacks and fourth in pressured fumbles. He is projected to be chosen on the finish of the primary spherical or early on Day 2.
In: Donovan Rieman
There might be a number of candidates to fill the vacant finish spot, however Rieman is probably essentially the most intriguing. Undersized coming in final yr, Rieman could have had greater than a yr to construct up mass and if he can add dimension with out dropping his explosiveness, he might be a havoc producer on the skin.
Okla
Gone: Marvin Mims Jr., WR
The Oklahoma passing recreation could have taken a dip this previous season with the change from Lincoln Riley to Brent Venables as head coach, however Mims noticed his manufacturing soar. After two stable seasons below Riley, Mims turned the Sooner’s No. 1 move-catching risk with 54 receptions for 1,083 yards and 6 scores.
In: Jalil Farooq
Farooq caught 37 passes and scored 5 touchdowns in his sophomore season and the Landham, Maryland, product could also be poised for even larger issues in 2023. The 4-star prospect in the 2021 class held affords from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State .
Okla
Gone: Anton Harrison, OT
Harrison has been the anchor at left sort out for 2 years and attributable to his efficiency there and interesting dimension (6-5, 315), he’s displaying up in some mock drafts as a possible first-spherical decide. His play this season earned him first-workforce All-Big 12 accolades.
In: Jacob Sexton
Because Harrison opted out of the Cheez-It Bowl, Sexton obtained a begin towards Florida State – and Seminoles star finish Jared Verse – in the Sooners’ 35-32 loss. Sexton had proven sufficient in his freshman season to get the nod in the bowl recreation and the Oklahoma employees has excessive hopes for him transferring ahead.
(*12*)Baylor
Gone: Siaki Ika, DT
Stats do not inform the story in terms of Ika. The LSU switch was in on simply 24 tackles in 12 video games, however he was a consensus All-Big 12 first-workforce choice and Phil Steele had him as a 3rd-workforce All-American. Ika’s dimension (6-4, 358) makes him a prototypical house-eater and may assist him discover a house in the NFL.
In: Tre Emory
In actuality, until Baylor brings in a late switch, there aren’t many different choices. Emory will not be Ika-sized, however he is not small (6-2, 318). Coming out of Mount Pleasant, Texas, the redshirt freshman additionally thought-about Arkansas, Oklahoma State, and SMU.
Iowa State
Gone: MJ Anderson, DE
Anderson transferred into Ames from Minnesota, the place he had registered eight whole tackles in two years. In 2022 for the Cyclones, Anderson had 37 tackles with 9 of them ensuing in misplaced yardage. While Anderson noticed his numbers spike this fall, he’s a borderline draft prospect and will not get picked in any respect.
In: Joey Petersen
Petersen is subsequent in line and after two years on campus, he needs to be able to assume the beginning duties subsequent season. An unheralded recruit out of Eldridge, Iowa, Petersen nonetheless wants so as to add some dimension (listed at 6-4, 238). Also be careful for incoming freshman edge David Caulkner.
(*10*)Kansas
Gone: Lonnie Phelps, DE
The arrival of Phelps from Miami (Ohio) was one of many many causes the Jayhawks certified for his or her first bowl recreation since 2008. An excellent participant in the MAC, Phelps put up comparable stats in the Big 12, garnering 57 tackles and 7 sacks , which led to his inclusion on the All-Big 12 second workforce.
In: Austin Booker
Booker did not do a lot in his two years at Minnesota, however he was a prospect that had affords from Washington, Oregon, Michigan State, Nebraska, and several other different Power 5 packages popping out of highschool. He visited Indiana earlier than deciding on Kansas.
– Written by Jon Kinne, who has been a part of the Athlon Contributor Network for 3 years, specializing in the ACC and Notre Dame. Follow him on Twitter @JonRKinne.