Big 12 Teams Most Likely to Start True Freshmen in 2016
With national signing day over, the rosters for 2016 are about 99 percent set. Now comes the true offseason when two-deeps are formed, crumpled up, thrown in the trash and then drawn back up. (And then the process is repeated again. Probably a few times.)
With high school football and summer camps creating a year-round sport, incoming freshmen are more prepared than ever to play, and in some cases start, right away. In the following slides are the teams most likely to start key 2016 signees next season.
The reality is every Big 12 program will play some freshmen—and it's hardly alone in that, too—so where's the fun in projecting that? Rather, we're taking a look at teams that are most likely to start multiple first-year players, whom we identify as well, from Week 1 based on talent and depth-chart needs.
Baylor
1 of 6
Most likely to start: WR Devin Duvernay, WR Jared Atkinson, OL Patrick Hudson, DE Brandon Bowen, DT Bravvion Roy
Baylor coach Art Briles isn't afraid to play freshmen, especially at the skill spots. There's no 2016 signee more hyped than Devin Duvernay, whom Briles called the "fastest player we've ever signed" (h/t Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).
The interesting possibility is Hudson. The Bears lose both starting guards along the O-line, and Patrick Hudson still signed with Baylor despite a late push by Texas. Traditionally, O-linemen aren't quite ready to start as first-year players, but Hudson is talented enough that he could make a push. Coaches talk up their new signees all the time, but Briles is simply raving about Hudson.
Iowa State
2 of 6
Most likely to start: DE JaQuan Bailey, DT Joshua Bailey, OT Sean Foster
When you're breaking in a first-year head coach, as Iowa State is doing with Matt Campbell, a lot of freshmen can see the field immediately. It's a new regime, and Campbell will get a pass on his first season.
A portion of Campbell's first class was made up of junior college players, which you'd expect, given there are holes that need to be filled immediately, but a big problem last year was stopping the run. The duo of JaQuan and Joshua Bailey along the defensive line could be a solution for that right away.
“JaQuan came in last Monday for the Kansas game, which was awesome to see that environment, and then Josh came last weekend, the last weekend for us,” Campbell said (h/t Dylan Montz, the Gazette). “Both of them had a ton of options, but I think ultimately the opportunity to play together—and they had opportunities at the places to play together as well, but I thought that was huge for us.”
Kansas
3 of 6
Most likely to start: CB Kyle Mayberry, LB Maciah Long, RB Khalil Herbert
Let's face it—head coach David Beaty has been forced to start from scratch. The 2015 class was technically his first at Lawrence, and it produced quarterback Ryan Willis, but the second class is usually when things pick up.
If nothing else, Kansas needs bodies. In Beaty's first year, the Jayhawks played with about 60 scholarship players.
You can start at a lot of places, but defense needs addressing. Maciah Long is the highest-rated prospect in the class, and Kansas sorely needs a "quarterback" on that side of the ball. Kyle Mayberry and Khalil Herbert have the chops to start as well, but the reality is a lot of first-year players could see the field in 2016.
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Oklahoma
4 of 6
Most likely to start: DE Mark Jackson Jr., DE Amani Bledsoe, WR Mykel Jones
Oklahoma's needs at edge-rusher are noteworthy. Charles Tapper and Eric Striker are gone, so there's room for incoming freshmen to make an immediate impact.
Mark Jackson, a Texas A&M commit, was a huge flip for the Sooners and can fill that Tapper role right away. As noted by Bob Przybylo of Scout.com, Jackson is a perfect fit for Oklahoma's speedy, blitz-happy defense. At 6'2" and 221 pounds, Jackson has the frame to put on a bit of weight, so his offseason conditioning will be key.
Additionally, Mykel Jones was a huge signing-day get and comes into an offense that can never have enough receivers. With Sterling Shepard and Durron Neal departing, Oklahoma needs a new No. 1 (and No. 2) guy, and Dede Westbrook is close to graduating as well.
Texas
5 of 6
Most likely to start: QB Shane Buechele, DT Jordan Elliott, CB Eric Cuffee
How could Texas not start some players from its 2016 class? Head coach Charlie Strong became the story on national signing day when he closed better than anyone else in college football. The Longhorns ascended to the top of the Big 12 recruiting standings and finished with the No. 11 class nationally. Among the late additions and/or flips were linebacker Erick Fowler, safety Brandon Jones, cornerback Eric Cuffee and running back Kyle Porter.
The thing is, though, Texas was terribly young last year. A good chunk of the two-deep was made up of freshmen and sophomores. With time running out on Strong to win games, turning over and playing more freshmen isn't ideal.
Still, the quarterback competition will be re-opened, and Shane Buechele, an early enrollee, is "going to have a chance to compete," according to Strong (h/t Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News).
Defensive tackle was a huge need for this class too because of the departures of Hassan Ridgeway and Desmond Jackson. Poona Ford does return, but Jordan Elliott, a 4-star DT, or anyone of Texas' four new interior D-linemen could crack the top of the depth chart.
Texas Tech
6 of 6
Most likely to start: WR T.J. Vasher, DE Houston Miller, DE Noah Jones, CB Desmon Smith
Texas Tech didn't sign a monster class, but it is underrated and head coach Kliff Kingsbury should get some solid contributions from it.
The primary need addressed was height, both on offense and defense. "I did not like our vertical passing game [last season],” Kingsbury said (h/t Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). “I thought, we have a passer like Pat [Mahomes] who’s so good at the deep ball, you’ve got to give him some longer targets out there to take some shots."
At 6'2", Desmon Smith gives the Red Raiders that length on the outside to match up with the Big 12's top receivers. Additionally, Tech needs to replace its edge-rushers, so Houston Miller and Noah Jones should compete once they arrive on campus.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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