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Here are 16 football players to watch next season in the Big 12 Conference
TL;DR
The Big 12 Conference features 16 football players to watch for the upcoming season, including key transfers and returning stars. Notable players include Arizona's Malcolm Hartzog and Oklahoma State's Caleb Hawkins, both poised to make significant impacts.
Key points
- Big 12 features 16 players to watch for the upcoming season
- Malcolm Hartzog is a key transfer for Arizona's defense
- Owen Long led the FBS with 151 tackles last season
- Caleb Hawkins set a record for total touchdowns by a freshman
ArizonaArizona StateOklahoma State
Players in the Big 12 Conference this spring who could have big impacts for their teams in the fall:
Arizona
S Malcolm Hartzog. With its three top defensive backs gone, Arizona will count on the Nebraska transfer who started 32 of his 38 games, recording 108 tackles and eight interceptions. He was a regular for Nebraska from 2022 until a groin injury limited him to two games last year.
Arizona State
LB Owen Long, a transfer from Colorado State. He was seemingly everywhere during Arizona State's spring session, using his athletic ability and smarts to make plays up the middle and to either sideline. Long was the FBS leader last season with 151 tackles.
Baylor
RB Dawson Pendergrass is back after missing all last season with a foot injury and will have a prominent role for Baylor after leading rusher Bryson Washington transferred to Auburn. As a true freshman in 2023, Pendergrass ran for 338 yards with five TDs, and in a two-man rotation with Washington in 2024 had 671 yards with six TDs. He also has 37 career catches for 302 yards and three TDs.
BYU
LB Cade Uluave fills a huge hole in BYU’s defense left by the graduation of Jack Kelly and promises to be the same type of disruptive defender. Uluave transferred from California, where he had 235 tackles the past three seasons. He had 97 tackles, 11 1/2 for loss, and three sacks last season.
Cincinnati
WR JV Gibson caught three TD passes in Cincinnati's final spring scrimmage, two of those from new QB JC French. Gibson, a redshirt senior, spent last season at Oklahoma. That was after 70 catches for 1,215 yards and nine TDs at Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2024, when he was an AP second-team FCS All-America pick.
Colorado
WR Danny Scudero joins the Buffaloes after a season at San Jose State, where he had 88 catches for 1,297 yards and 10 TDs and was a second-team AP All-American. Coach Deion Sanders believes Scudero’s style of play resembles that of longtime New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman. Both find ways to get open while not being the biggest targets; Scudero is 5-foot-9, an inch shorter than Edelman.
Q&A
Who are the top football players to watch in the Big 12 Conference for 2024?
Key players include Malcolm Hartzog from Arizona, Owen Long from Arizona State, and Caleb Hawkins from Oklahoma State, among others.
What impact will Malcolm Hartzog have on Arizona's defense?
Malcolm Hartzog is expected to fill a crucial role in Arizona's defense after transferring from Nebraska, where he recorded 108 tackles and eight interceptions.
Which player led the FBS in tackles last season?
Owen Long from Arizona State led the FBS with 151 tackles last season and is expected to be a key player for his team.
What are Caleb Hawkins' achievements before joining Oklahoma State?
Caleb Hawkins led the FBS with 1,434 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns last season at North Texas, setting a record for the most total touchdowns by a freshman.
