2007 Big 12 Preview - Unit Rankings

2007 CFN Preview - Big 12 Unit Rankings from top to bottom

2007 CFN Big 12 Preview

Unit Rankings

Team Previews, Offenses, Defenses & Depth Charts
North Colorado | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State
Missouri | Nebraska

South Baylor | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State
Texas | Texas A&M | Texas Tech

- CFN All-Big 12 Team & Top 30 Players
- Big 12 Team-by-Team Capsules
- Big 12 Unit Rankings
- Big 12 Schedules & Predictions

Offenses
1. Oklahoma
If a quarterback comes through and shines, this could be the nation's most effective offense. If the offensive line isn't the best in college football, it's number two, the running backs are very fast and very talented, and the receiving corps, led by top pro prospect Malcolm Kelly, is very big and very fast. It all comes down to the quarterback battle between junior Joey Halzle and redshirt freshman Sam Bradford. Whichever one can be steady will get the plum gig with a chance to lead the loaded attack in a national title chase.

2. Texas
3. Texas A&M
4. Missouri
5. Oklahoma State
6. Texas Tech
7. Nebraska
8. Colorado
9. Kansas
10. Iowa State
11. Kansas State
12. Baylor

Quarterbacks  
1. Texas
After all the weeping and gnashing of teeth, would UT fans trade Colt McCoy for Ryan Perrilloux? A better player than he ever got credit for last year, McCoy has the ability to use all the weapons around him to make the offense explode. He'll spread it out, make better decisions, and come up with an All-America caliber season. In a perfect world, John Chiles doesn't see the field until next year, and Sherrod Harris is brought along for a series or two.

2. Texas Tech
3. Missouri
4. Texas A&M
5. Oklahoma State
6. Nebraska
7. Iowa State
8. Kansas
9. Kansas State
10. Oklahoma
11. Colorado
12. Baylor

Running Backs
1. Texas A&M
The formula should work again with Mike Goodson setting them up and Jorvorskie Lane knocking them down. In a perfect world, the Aggies run like they did against Missouri (despite only gaining 180 yards) when the ground game dominated the second half and Lane turned into a closer. The backs will lead the way to another top ten finish in rushing offense.

2. Oklahoma State
3. Oklahoma
4. Texas
5. Missouri
6. Texas Tech
7. Colorado
8. Nebraska
9. Kansas State
10. Iowa State
11. Kansas
12. Baylor

Receivers
1. Texas
The receiving corps is loaded with veterans, and several, like Quan Cosby, Jermichael Finley and Jordan Shipley, will be back next year. The coaching staff is understandably excited about this group that should make the offense fly. Now everyone has to play up to potential and talent level and take the overall production to another level.

2. Oklahoma
3. Missouri
4. Texas Tech
5. Nebraska
6. Colorado
7. Oklahoma State
8. Iowa State
9. Kansas
10. Texas A&M
11. Baylor
12. Kansas State

Offensive Line
1. Oklahoma
A major concern going into last year eventually turned into a phenomenal strength. Even with injuries and a little bit of shuffling, the line was killing defenses over the second half of last year. Now it's even better with what might be the best line in the Bob Stoops era. Obviously, he's had some decent ones over the years.

2. Texas A&M
3. Missouri
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma State
6. Nebraska
7. Texas Tech
8. Colorado
9. Kansas
10. Iowa State
11. Kansas State
12. Baylor

Defenses
1. Texas
Duane Akina goes from co-defensive coordinator to the head man in charge, and there will be changes. Last year's defense was all about stopping the run, and the talented secondary got torched. This year's D will focus on doing everything, with an eye towards being more aggressive and generating more pressure. The strength is at tackle and in the linebacking corps, with NFL caliber talent that should keep the Longhorns among the nation's leaders against the run. The ends will be fine, in time, and they'll get to pin their ears back and go to the quarterback. All the pressure should help out a secondary in transition, with only one starter returning from a group that loses Thorpe Award winner Aaron Ross and All-American Michael Griffin.

2. Oklahoma
3. Nebraska
4. Colorado
5. Kansas State
6. Missouri
7. Oklahoma State
8. Texas A&M
9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas
11. Baylor
12. Iowa State

Defensive Lines
1. Texas
It's not all doom and gloom after losing 16 sacks and 96 tackles from Brian Robison and Tim Crowder. The tackles will make up for any problems on the outside early on, and eventually, there will be an excellent rotation of active defenders at the end. The line has reloaded and will be dominant at times.

2. Oklahoma
3. Nebraska
4. Kansas State
5. Texas A&M
6. Missouri
7. Colorado
8. Oklahoma State
9. Kansas
10. Texas Tech
11. Baylor
12. Iowa State

Linebackers
1. Texas
The receiving corps might be the strength of the offense, but the linebackers are the strength of the team. The possible second teamers, whoever they might become, will all get big looks in NFL camps and could start almost anywhere else in the Big 12. This group will dominate at times in the more aggressive defensive system. an the coaching staff find the right rotation? Sure, it's complaining about the Porsche for not having enough cup holders, but it could be a problem to develop the right chemistry considering all the star defenders need time.

2. Nebraska
3. Oklahoma State
4. Colorado
5. Oklahoma
6. Kansas State
7. Baylor
8. Missouri
9. Texas A&M
10. Kansas
11. Iowa State
12. Texas Tech

Defensive Backs
1. Oklahoma
Loaded, loaded, loaded. There are ten players with appreciable experience and at least four all-star candidates, probably six. With all the movement, the hope will be for an even better year against the run and when plays are there to be made in the open field. After allowing 11 touchdown passes before the Fiesta Bowl, this group will make amends.

2. Texas Tech
3. Missouri
4. Kansas State
5. Nebraska
6. Texas A&M
7. Colorado
8. Texas
9. Oklahoma State
10. Kansas
11. Baylor
12. Iowa State

Special Teams
1. Oklahoma State
If the coverage units improve just a little bit, OSU might have the nation's best all-around special teams. A little more help for Perrish Cox in the return game would be nice, but that's nitpicking.

2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Kansas
5. Iowa State
6. Colorado
7. Kansas State
8. Texas A&M
9. Missouri
10. Texas Tech
11. Nebraska
12. Baylor