2011 College Football: The 10 Most Indispensable Players in the Big 12

In the past few years, the Big 12 has had several key players suffer injuries.

Sam Bradford, a season after he won the Heisman Trophy, missed nearly all of 2009 for Oklahoma when he suffered a shoulder injury. In that same season, Sooners tight end Jermaine Gresham also missed significant time with a knee injury. Oklahoma dropped to 8-5 without its top players.

Also in 2009, Robert Griffin III, Baylor's electrifying quarterback, tore his ACL in late September and didn't play for the rest of the year. Baylor finished with four wins before they made a bowl last fall with a healthy Griffin.

In 2009, Missouri's Blaine Gabbert suffered an ankle injury in Week 5 against Nebraska. Before the injury, Gabbert hadn't thrown for an interception. After the injury, Gabbert threw for seven interceptions in the next four games.

Texas' Colt McCoy suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to miss nearly all of the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.

Last year, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez suffered a leg injury in the eighth game of the year against Missouri. Before the injury, Martinez rushed for 870 yards, but after the injury, he rushed for 95 yards for the rest of the year. Nebraska lost three of its final six games after Martinez was hurt and finished 10-4.

Here are the 10 most indispensable players for the Big 12 this season, players that must stay healthy for their teams to have a solid year.

Travis Lewis Is Key to Sooners' Defense

The Sooners' offense has plenty of weapons with quarterback Landry Jones, wideout Ryan Broyles and four returning offensive linemen. But it's going to be the Sooners' defense that will likely determine whether Oklahoma plays for the national championship.

In four of the last five seasons, the national champion has allowed less than 20 points a game. When Oklahoma won the national championship in 2000, it allowed 14.9 points per contest.

Last season, Oklahoma allowed 21.8 points per game. They also permitted 149 rushing yards per game and 4.1 yards per rush—the team's worst totals since 1997.

This year, Travis Lewis will have to anchor a defense that lost four of its top five tacklers, including Jeremy Beal, its leader in sacks and tackles for loss. Lewis, who led the Sooners with 109 tackles last season and was named 2011 Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, will need to have a big season—and stay healthy—if the Sooners are to contend for a Big 12 and national title.

Gray Key for A&M's Rushing Attack

Texas A&M finished first in the Big 12 South in 1997 and '98 with records of 6-2 and 7-1 in conference play, respectively. From 1999-2009, the Aggies never won a Big 12 South crown and never won more than five conference games in any season.

Part of the reason was the lack of a feature back. In those 10 years, Texas A&M had just one running back clear 1,000 yards when Courtney Lewis rushed for 1,024 yards in 2003.

Last year, the Aggies went 6-2 in conference play and 9-4 overall partly because of running back Cyrus Gray, who rushed for 1,133 yards and 12 scores.

A healthy and productive Gray will also take the pressure off a passing attack that threw for 15 interceptions last year, tied for 88th-worst in the country.

Randall Key Cog in Middle for 'Horns

Lost in Texas' slide to 5-7 last season was excellent play from the Longhorns' defense. Texas still finished seventh nationally in total defense, allowing just 300 yards a contest. This year, Manny Diaz, formerly the Mississippi State defensive coordinator, will take over for Will Muschamp, who left to become the head coach at Florida.

Diaz will have three players that earned first team Preseason All-Big 12 honors in defensive lineman Kheeston Randall, linebacker Keenan Robinson and defensive back Blake Gideon. Nobody is more important than the 6'5", 295-pound Randall, who collected 39 tackles and 12 tackles for loss in 2010.

While Texas has strong backups at other positions, Randall is backed up by two players that have a combined one game of college experience. Plus, if Randall can effectively clog the middle, it can allow the Horns' linebackers—such as Robinson—to roam freely and make plays.

Weeden To Direct Cowboys' Offense

Brandon Weeden had a unique role in the offseason. After offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen left for West Virginia, Weeden had to teach the Cowboys' offense to new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, a coach who has never been an offensive coordinator at any level before.

Weeden, who passed for 4,277 yards and 34 scores last season, may not be the Cowboys' most dynamic offensive player (wideout Justin Blackmon is a first team All-American and the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year), but the quarterback's knowledge of the Sooners' offense is critical to the team's success.

Egnew Is One of the Nation's Top Tight Ends

Missouri will have a new quarterback this fall in James Franklin, who passed for 106 yards in 10 games last season. Franklin will look to continue in the footsteps of recent strong Tiger quarterbacks such as Brad Smith, Chase Daniel and Blaine Gabbert.

Most of the time, first-year quarterbacks need a wideout they can check down to and complete short passes. For the Tigers, that player is tight end Michael Egnew, a first team All-American who caught 90 passes for 762 yards last year.

Last year, according to statistician Phil Steele, Egnew was the recipient of most of the team's bubble screens. This season, Egnew will need to be able to catch those short passes again to give Franklin confidence and help the Tigers consistently score.

Bryce Brown Needs Big Year

Kansas State ranks last in the Big 12 with 25 percent of its offensive yards returning and stands second to last with just 42 combined starts from its offensive line returning, according to Phil Steele.

In addition, the Wildcats lost Daniel Thomas, the second-leading rusher in school history, its starting quarterback in Carson Coffman and its leading wideout in Aubrey Quarles.

Running back Bryce Brown, Rivals.com's No. 1 running back coming out of a high school and a Tennessee transfer, will be expected to carry the offense.

Brown rushed for 460 yards as a true freshman with the Vols before he sat out last year because of transfer rules. A full year from Brown is essential for the Wildcats. Among returners, only quarterback Collin Klein rushed for more than 50 yards last season.

Offensive Line Needs To Carry Texas Tech

The Red Raiders lost its top running back, quarterback and top wideouts but returns all five of its starting offensive lineman, including guard Lonnie Edwards, a second team All-Big 12 selection from last season and a preseason first team selection this year.

The other returners are center Justin Keown, right guard Deveric Gallington, right tackle Mickey Okafor and left tackle LaAdrian Waddle, who suffered an injured knee early in spring practice. A healthy line is needed for the Red Raiders to win at least eight games for the 10th straight year.

Griffin Must Stay Healthy

Baylor's Robert Griffin III is probably the conference's most indispensable player.

In 2009, the quarterback led Baylor to a school record 4.9 yards per carry and helped the Bears average 28 points per game—the program's highest total since 1994.

In '09, Griffin had to take a medical redshirt when he suffered his knee injury in the first quarter of Week 3. Baylor slipped to 3.5 yards per carry and 20.8 points per game.

Last year, the Bears had a healthy Griffin and reached their first bowl game since 1994. Griffin passed for 3,501 yards, rushed for 635 yards and helped Baylor average 31.2 points per game and reset the school record for yards per carry (5.4).

Knott To Lead Cyclones' Defense

Iowa State can rarely match the talent of the Big 12's top teams. But what the Cyclones can do is force turnovers.

In the last 10 years, Iowa State has finished with a negative turnover margin in a season on four occasions. In those four years, Iowa State has a 16-34 record. In the six seasons when the Cyclones finished with a positive turnover margin, they were 35-28.

Last year, Iowa State was plus-six in turnovers, but finished 5-7. Still, the Cyclones finished 3-1 when they won the turnover margin, including victories against Texas Tech and Texas. For Iowa State to have a positive turnover margin this year, they'll likely have to rely on Jake Knott, a second team Big 12 selection last season.

Knott led Iowa State with 130 tackles and four interceptions in 2010.

Tharp Key for Kansas' Defense

Among returners, Kansas' most decorated player in sophomore weakside linebacker Huldon Tharp, who earned first team freshman All-American honors in 2009. But Tharp has a history of injuries. In 2008, Tharp suffered a knee injury before his senior year at Mulvane (Kan.) High School. In 2009. Tharp had 59 tackles, fifth-most for the Jayhawks, for a team that went 5-7 and allowed 28.4 points per game.

Before last season started, Tharp had a foot injury that forced him to miss all season. Without Tharp in the middle of the field, Kansas went 1-7 in conference play and allowed 34.4 points per game—the Jayhawks' highest total since 2002.

A healthy Tharp will lead to an improved defense for the Jayhawks.