It's that time of year again. After careful consideration, we've ranked the top 25 players in the Big 12. We continue the series today with Nos. 6-10:
6. Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia: The most accomplished defender in the Big 12. Joseph has been a fixture in the Mountaineers' defense from day one, a 38-game starter whom coach Dana Holgorsen says has already played more than 3,000 snaps. He's collected 264 total tackles and a reputation for game-changing hits (eight forced fumbles) in his three years of patrolling the secondary. This season, he'll also get to be the veteran leader of one of the conference's best defenses.
7. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma: True freshmen should not look or play like Perine did in 2014. In addition to rewriting the NCAA single-game record book with his 427-yard explosion, Perine chipped in games of 242, 213, 151, 134 and 110 rushing yards and put the Sooners on his back at times. Not bad for a kid who started the season as the third-stringer. The perfectly built power back is trimmer and stronger for his sophomore campaign, and that should terrify Big 12 defenders.
8. Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech: Clark is as quiet a star as you'll find in the Big 12, but his play speaks volumes. Last year, Texas Tech gave up just 13 sacks (tied for No. 8 in FBS) and enjoyed its finest season of running the ball since 1998. He will be a three-year starter at the left tackle spot, has fared well against Emmanuel Ogbah, Shawn Oakman and the league's top pass-rushers and is even better on the move in the run game.
9. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma: Shepard was poised for a monster season as a junior before an untimely groin injury to start November. He surpassed 100 yards in five of the Sooners' first seven games and was on pace for way more than 1,500. Oklahoma's offense just wasn't the same without him. But the good news is this: Lincoln Riley's arrival as offensive coordinator guarantees we'll get to see Shepard at his very best in 2015. He has all the tools and traits needed to shred defenses in an Air Raid attack.
10. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor: After busting onto the scene in 2014 as the next great Baylor receiver, what can he do as an encore? Coleman's 111.9 receiving yards per game last season ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 behind Tyler Lockett (and ahead of Kevin White), and he finished with 12 total TDs in just 10 games after coming back from a hamstring injury. The tough, consistent wideout with 4.32 speed can even play a little running back, too, when he's not beating defenses over the top.