By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
In the middle of July, the Big 12 will release its preseason All-Conference team with the new members along with the preseason poll. Ballots had to be submitted by Wednesday. Your publisher submitted his and where Baylor stands. The entire ballot won’t be listed. However, here’s it breaks down.
Preseason Poll
1. Texas
2. Kansas State
3. TCU
4. Texas Tech
5. Oklahoma
6. Baylor
7. Kansas
8. UCF
9. Oklahoma State
10. Cincinnati
11. Iowa State
12. BYU
13. West Virginia
14. Houston
The Why: Well, Texas is probably the favorite by default. It’s a very solid team that traditionally has never played up to its capabilities. However, with Oklahoma in transition and TCU expecting to come back to the pack, Texas appears to be the one to get the nod.
Baylor’s selection is pretty fair and likely where you should see them if you’re looking at other magazine preseason polls. With so much turnover on both fronts, QB Blake Shapen coming off a rough season and really no clear answers in the secondary or at wide receiver, you could also consider it to be a generous selection.
However, the four new teams in the league are not expected to be very good. That helps.
Baylor preseason picks
Offense: RB Richard Reese, OL Clark Barrington
Defense: LB Matt Jones, DB Ajani Carter
Newcomer of the Year: WR Ketron Jackson
The Why: Reese is coming off a near 1,000-yard season and there is the thinking he can be equally productive this fall. Although he’s changing positions to center, Barrington may be overlooked. He had a very solid career at BYU.
Jones could be on the verge of becoming that next great Baylor defender. He showed some signs of that. Carter, the transfer from Utah State, creates turnovers. If he performs the way Baylor hopes, those aforementioned secondary concerns disappear.
Gabe Hall may make this team. He was considered but in the end, there are decent number of defensive linemen in the league.
It’s doubtful Jackson wins this preseason nod. That may go to Texas safety and Arkansas transfer Jalen Catalon, Jackson’s former teammate. However, this is the season where Jackson takes the next step.
Publisher
In the middle of July, the Big 12 will release its preseason All-Conference team with the new members along with the preseason poll. Ballots had to be submitted by Wednesday. Your publisher submitted his and where Baylor stands. The entire ballot won’t be listed. However, here’s it breaks down.
Preseason Poll
1. Texas
2. Kansas State
3. TCU
4. Texas Tech
5. Oklahoma
6. Baylor
7. Kansas
8. UCF
9. Oklahoma State
10. Cincinnati
11. Iowa State
12. BYU
13. West Virginia
14. Houston
The Why: Well, Texas is probably the favorite by default. It’s a very solid team that traditionally has never played up to its capabilities. However, with Oklahoma in transition and TCU expecting to come back to the pack, Texas appears to be the one to get the nod.
Baylor’s selection is pretty fair and likely where you should see them if you’re looking at other magazine preseason polls. With so much turnover on both fronts, QB Blake Shapen coming off a rough season and really no clear answers in the secondary or at wide receiver, you could also consider it to be a generous selection.
However, the four new teams in the league are not expected to be very good. That helps.
Baylor preseason picks
Offense: RB Richard Reese, OL Clark Barrington
Defense: LB Matt Jones, DB Ajani Carter
Newcomer of the Year: WR Ketron Jackson
The Why: Reese is coming off a near 1,000-yard season and there is the thinking he can be equally productive this fall. Although he’s changing positions to center, Barrington may be overlooked. He had a very solid career at BYU.
Jones could be on the verge of becoming that next great Baylor defender. He showed some signs of that. Carter, the transfer from Utah State, creates turnovers. If he performs the way Baylor hopes, those aforementioned secondary concerns disappear.
Gabe Hall may make this team. He was considered but in the end, there are decent number of defensive linemen in the league.
It’s doubtful Jackson wins this preseason nod. That may go to Texas safety and Arkansas transfer Jalen Catalon, Jackson’s former teammate. However, this is the season where Jackson takes the next step.
