Another year, another occasion to give pundit Phil Steele a big ol' bear hug. The college football aficionado annually tallies up college football's returning starters, and today, we look at how that shakes out for the Big 12.
Something to keep in mind: Kansas State and Oklahoma had the second- and third-most returning starters in the Big 12 last season. They were co-Big 12 champions. Amazingly, Texas leads the nation in returning starters. At the bottom of the list, only Troy and Louisiana Tech has fewer returning starters than Kansas State, which returns all of one defensive starter. Let's take a closer look.
Offense: 10 (QB returns)
Defense: 9
Total: 19
National rank: T-1
Key returnees: QB David Ash, WR Mike Davis, DE Jackson Jeffcoat
Offense: 6 (QB returns)
Defense: 9
Total: 15
National rank: T-24
Key returnees: DE Devonte Fields, CB Jason Verrett, WR Brandon Carter
Offense: 7 (QB returns)
Defense: 7
Total: 14
National rank: T-41
Key returnees: WR Josh Stewart, CB Justin Gilbert, DT Calvin Barnett
T-4. Baylor Bears
Offense: 6
Defense: 7
Total: 13
National rank: T-58
Key returnees: RB Lache Seastrunk, S Ahmad Dixon, WR Tevin Reese
Offense: 5
Defense: 8
Total: 13
National rank: T-58
Key returnees: WR Eric Ward, DL Kerry Hyder, TE Jace Amaro
T-6. Oklahoma Sooners
Offense: 7
Defense: 4
Total: 11
National rank: T-98
Key returnees: CB Aaron Colvin, FB Trey Millard, OL Gabe Ikard
T-6. Kansas Jayhawks
Offense: 5
Defense: 6
Total: 11
National rank: T-98
Key returnees: RB James Sims, LB Ben Heeney, RB Tony Pierson
T-8. Iowa State Cyclones
Offense: 5
Defense: 4
Total: 9
National rank: T-117
Key returnees: DB Jacques Washington, QB Sam Richardson, RB James White
T-8. West Virginia Mountaineers
Offense: 3
Defense: 6
Total: 9
National rank: T-117
Key returnees: DB Karl Joseph, RB Andrew Buie, LB Isaiah Bruce
Offense: 7
Defense: 1
Total: 8
National rank: T-122 (out of 125)
Key returnees: RB John Hubert, WR Tyler Lockett, S Ty Zimmerman
