Our weekly effort to identify one player poised for a breakout on each Big 12 team told you Samaje Perine was going to have a big night against West Virginia. Who's going to be the star of Week 5? Here are eight players we'll be watching:
Oklahoma State QB Daxx Garman: The junior is playing on a national stage tonight, and I can't wait to see how he handles the pressure. Texas Tech DC Mike Smith has a rep for loving to blitz, and he's going to find ways to get after a quarterback making his second career start. The OSU run game can set him up to succeed against Texas Tech.
Texas Tech CB Nigel Bethel II: His three-game suspension is over. Now it's time to find out if the freshman from Miami was worth the hype and the second chance. The Red Raiders have found some promising young DBs in Bethel's absence, but let's see what he can do with a few snaps in Stillwater.
Kansas State WR Curry Sexton: Really like how Sexton showed up against Auburn, with 11 receptions for 121 yards. He's just what K-State needs in terms of a go-to No. 2 when Tyler Lockett draws double coverage and has developed a nice rapport with Jake Waters. Watch him score his first touchdown since 2012 this week.
TCU RB B.J. Catalon: Well, SMU does have one of the worst run defenses in FBS. These TCU running backs haven't shown all they can do yet -- they recorded just 13 carries against Minnesota -- but it's an intriguing stable led by Catalon, who has just 58 rushing yards through two games. He should more than double that number this week.
Texas DE Cedric Reed: The preseason All-Big 12 lineman is off to a quiet start statistically (16 tackles, one TFL, 0.5 sacks) but did a solid job of getting pressure against UCLA. With defensive tackle Desmond Jackson out for the season, Texas needs Reed to get back to getting in the backfield. He'll get some takedowns this weekend.
Kansas RB Corey Avery: The freshman running back from Dallas is going to be motivated to shine against Texas, a program that recruited him on and off throughout 2013 and did bring him in for a January official visit. KU will try to pound the middle of Texas' defense, but Avery has the burst to pick up some big gains outside or inside.
Baylor DE Javonte Magee: The breakthrough is coming soon for Magee, the nasty 6-foot-5, 275-pound lineman who rejoined the program this offseason and racked up three TFLs and a sack in nonconference play. With all the attention Shawn Oakman will get from Big 12 foes, Magee has the potential to catch people by surprise.
Iowa State RB Aaron Wimberly: The Cyclones don't stand a chance if they can't keep Baylor's offense off the field as much as possible. They don't want a shootout. Mark Mangino needs his running backs to step up and pick up the tough conversions if they hope to achieve the kind of ball-control offense required to make Baylor uncomfortable. Wimberly hasn't surpassed 40 rushing yards in a game this season, but he needs a big night.