| 1. Dantrell Savage, RB, Oklahoma State |
 Savage might not exactly be "under the radar," but he definitely doesn't get the respect he deserves. I've rarely seen his name mentioned among the Big 12's elite backs, but I think that will change in 2007. He's a homerun threat that can go the distance every time he touches it, and is especially deadly when cutting back against the pursuit. Savage got off to a slow start, but ultimately put up big numbers during his first year in Stillwater. Two of his better efforts came against prominent Big 12 foes gaining 134 yards against Texas A&M and 117 yards and two scores against Nebraska.Savage plays in an offensive system that seems primed for great things this season. He'll also be under less pressure to perform with the talent that Mike Gundy has quietly amassed around him. So far the hype seems focused on quarterback Bobby Reid and wide receiver Adarius Bowman, but watch out for Dantrell Savage in 2007. |
| 2. Joe Garcia, S, Texas Tech |
 It's not too difficult to get lost in Lubbock, especially if you aren't a quarterback or receiver in Mike Leach's vaunted offensive attack. Garcia is neither, but he is a punishing tackler from his safety spot. In 2006, he finished second on the Red Raiders in tackles with 87 and also collected an interception and a fumble recovery. Garcia is big At 6-2 and 215 pounds, and hits like a linebacker. His play reminds me a lot of former Texas safety Van Malone from the early 1990s. Garcia teams with another fine safety Darcel McBath, to make the secondary the most talented portion of the Texas Tech defense.Garcia doesn't get much love from casual college football observers, but in watching Tech play it is hard to keep your eyes off his attacking style of play. My hunch is NFL scouts will also notice Garcia's tenacious attitude and ability to set the tone for his teammates. |
| 3. Corey McKeon, LB, Nebraska |
 The Nebraska defense has been rather inconsistent during Bill Callahan's tenure in Lincoln. One consistent component, however, has been the steady play of middle linebacker Corey McKeon. McKeon was a break out star in 2005 when he finished with a team-high 98 tackles, and 22 TFL, which was a school record for linebackers. McKeon was rewarded for those efforts with Second-Team All-Big 12 from the AP. In 2006, McKeon continued to display a nose for the ball and finished 3rd on the team in stops. His efforts were limited some by injuries, but the junior still served as a vocal leader for the Blackshirts.Despite his reliable play over the past two seasons, McKeon has continually been overshadowed by teammate Bo Ruud, who many argue garners recognition based solely on the name his brother made. Whatever the reason, McKeon continues to go unrecognized. But his solid play and entertaining interviews will clearly be missed by Husker fans after this season. |
| 4. Shannon Woods, RB, Texas Tech |
 Mike Leach's offense makes it easy to forget about the running back, which in turn, only makes Shannon Woods' job all that easier. But when your quarterback is chucking it 50-60 times per game, you're unlikely to find the spotlight. Woods' efforts, however, speak for themselves. A year ago he finished 14th nationally and first in the Big 12 with 1680 all-purpose yards. His quick burst and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield allow Leach to utilize him in the same way as former Tech star Taurean Henderson.Woods could arguably be the number one player on this list, if not for one minor detail. He finished the spring second on the depth chart at running back after finding himself in Coach Leach's doghouse. Now, that's underrated. We can expect Woods to earn back his starting gig with a little hustle and effort in fall camp. If that occurs he'll be back terrorizing Big 12 defenses before you know it. |
| 5. Marcus Watts, S, Kansas State |
| Kansas State's defense hasn't gotten much attention after a sub par 2006 season (#70 nationally in total defense). When fans or the media do mention the Wildcat's defense, the first name most think of is Ian Campbell, the team's talented defensive end. While Campbell is certainly deserving of praise, an often-overlooked piece of the defense is the consistent play of safety Marcus Watts. Watts has started 15 games over the past two seasons and has shown to be effective in pass coverage as well as in run support. He missed several games in 2006, but still finished the season with 26 tackles, including three TFL and two sacks. He also led the Wildcats with three interceptions. All of that garnered him second team All-Big 12 honors the league's coaches despite the time he missed. Watts isn't flashy and will never be the fastest, strongest or most athletic player on the field. The guy just makes plays without worrying about the accolades and attention. He can probably expect more of both this fall. |
| Honorable mention |
| Todd Blythe, WR, Iowa State Nic Harris, S, Oklahoma Mike Rivera, LB, Kansas Cortney Grixby, CB, Nebraska |
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