Big 12 players to watch
From USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg
No. 1 Yodny Cajuste West Virginia OL
At the very least, West Virginia's coaching staff is convinced that Cajuste, a redshirt freshman, is heading in the right direction.
He could be more than just an up-and-coming line prospect: Cajuste may end up as the Mountaineers' starting left tackle, a testament not just to his long-range potential but his ability to handle that vital position in his first season of on-field eligibility.
No. 2 Grant Campbell, Baylor LB
It won't be easy to replace former middle linebacker Bryce Hager.
Matching Hager's wide-ranging impact may be too tall an order to ask of senior Grant Campbell, a former junior-college transfer who spent last season as the Bears' backup in the middle. But Campbell fared well during the spring as the starter, giving Baylor's staff reason for optimism despite the changing cast at the heart of the defense.
No. 3 Vincent Taylor and Villi Leveni, Oklahoma State DT
Both will play, as part of the Cowboys' fairly deep interior rotation, but look for Taylor to get the starting nod over Leveni. That both are sophomores — and that Oklahoma State has just two seniors in its post-spring line depth chart — bodes well for the defense's production moving forward. Taylor is more advanced at this point, but Leveni was a clear bright spot during spring drills.
That Freeze occupies the starting spot at middle linebacker coming out the spring is surprising for three reasons: one, he's a true freshman just months into his college career; two, he was a safety in high school; and three, he missed his entire senior season with a shoulder injury. That hasn't prevented the rookie from making an extremely strong case to be the Horned Frogs' starter in the middle of Gary Patterson's 4-2-5 attack.
No. 4 Mike Freeze, TCU LB
No. 5 D'Onta Foreman, Texas RB
It would be too easy to praise freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson, the likely starter at middle linebacker, but Jefferson's terrific spring performance was to be expected: Texas expected the five-star recruit to be a star— and he may not be as a rookie, but those days are coming soon. In Foreman, the Longhorns discovered a pounding and physical back to team with senior Johnathan Gray, the unquestioned starter. He could mesh well as a bigger back teamed with Gray's burst.
