One year ago, the Oklahoma Sooners led the Big 12 conference to its first appearance in the College Football Playoff with star quarterback Baker Mayfield leading the way. Mayfield returns to Oklahoma this season looking to take care of unfinished business but winning another conference title and getting back to the playoff will not be easy with a number of key players from other teams looking to help stop the Sooners. Here is a look at the most important players in the Big 12 right now.
QB: Baker Mayfield
Oklahoma Sooners
The former walk-on threw for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions last season and was clearly the biggest reason for Oklahoma’s success. The Sooners’ offense averaged 47.6 points per game the rest of the year following an October 10th loss to Texas en route to their first outright Big 12 title in five years. Expectations are just as high for Oklahoma heading in to this season with plenty of returning talent including Mayfield as the most important player on the roster. The Sooners have what it takes to repeat as Big 12 champions and the real goal this season will be finding a way to go further than they did a year ago as they look to contend for a national championship.
QB: Mason Rudolph
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Rudolph threw for 3,770 yards and 21 touchdowns with nine interceptions last season including six 300-yard passing games. His 71.5 adjusted QBR means there will be room for improvement overall but the raw talent is clearly there. The 6’5’’, 235-pound junior has an elite arm and a little progress with his decision-making could lead to Rudolph emerging as an elite Big 12 quarterback this coming season.
Rudolph grew quite a bit from his freshman season to his sophomore season, but we need to see that type of leap from him again in the third year. He now has a full season of starting under his belt and he has to take that three-game losing skid to end the season personally, and use that sting to improve himself. Still, he’s as important as they come. In the 11 games he hasn’t started in his time with the team, they’re 5-6. In the games he’s started, they’re 12-3.
QB: Skylar Howard
West Virginia Mountaineers
Howard is coming off an inconsistent 2015 season but the potential is there for him to become one of the best in the Big 12 if he can put it all together this year. Howard threw for 3,145 yards and 26 touchdowns a year ago and he ended the season by setting Cactus Bowl records with 532 passing yards and five passing touchdowns in a win over Arizona State. The Mountaineers are hoping to take a major step forward in the Big 12 this season and it will be Howard leading the way for them under center.
However, there is the downside here, which is what makes Howard so important. If he doesn’t play consistently and the team doesn’t take that next step forward, that could be the end of the current regime. Head coach Dana Holgorsen is on thin ice as he hasn’t been able to deliver quality results. If Howard stumbles, then West Virginia stumbles, and the Mountaineers will be looking for a new head coach.
QB: Kenny Hill
TCU Horned Frogs
Hill will have massive shoes to fill as he takes over for the departed Trevone Boykin at TCU but the raw talent is there and there is no doubt about his importance to the Horned Frogs’ success. Hill threw for 2,649 yards and 23 touchdowns in eight starts for Texas A&M back in 2014 but for the most part, he was a disappointment. Remember that he started out like he was shot out of a cannon, but then cooled off immensely. He ended up losing his starting job.
He’s transferred and landed in a good situation, but we’ll have to see what he’s capable of. The Horned Frogs have ample talent on both sides of the football heading in to 2016 but no player will be more important to their success than the quarterback Hill.
