This week we held the Big 12 Imaginary Draft, a 22-round snake draft selection featuring Jake Trotter, Max Olson and myself looking to build the best team out of the current stars of the Big 12.
Part I featured Trevone Boykin being selected No. 1 overall as the centerpiece of Olson's team. Trotter hit the trenches hard to begin Part II, adding Kansas State's Travis Britz and TCU center Joey Hunt. Meanwhile, I landed the best value pick of the entire draft in Part III, taking Baylor's Seth Russell with my final selection.
Here's a look at the teams and our takes on the squads we assembled.
Brandon Chatmon’s team
QB Seth Russell, Baylor
HB Aaron Green, TCU
HB Shock Linwood, Baylor
WR Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
WR James Washington, Oklahoma State
WR Quenton Bundrage, Iowa State
T Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech
G Adam Pankey, WVU
C Kyle Fuller, Baylor
G Kent Perkins, Texas
T Zach Crabtree, Oklahoma State
DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma
DT Andrew Billings, Baylor
DT Hassan Ridgeway, Texas
LB Elijah Lee, Kansas State
LB Eric Striker, Oklahoma
LB Dominique Alexander, Oklahoma
CB Daryl Worley, West Virginia
CB Kevin Peterson, Oklahoma State
CB Xavien Howard, Baylor
S Dante Barnett, Kansas State
S Jason Hall, Texas
What Brandon says about his team: “Max and Jake don’t want any part of the middle of my defense. Billings and Ridgeway will cause havoc and force double-teams while Alexander will take advantage of the freedom to roam sideline to sideline. Meanwhile I have Striker off the edge, Tapper taking advantage of one-on-ones and a budding sophomore in Lee. And three quality cornerbacks. On offense I’ll have plenty of balance with two of the conference’s top running backs and Shepard as a primary pass-catcher. Oh, by the way, Seth Russell will prove to be the steal of the draft. Best of luck in your pursuit of second place, fellas!”
Max Olson’s team
QB Trevone Boykin, TCU
RB Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
WR KD Cannon, Baylor
WR Josh Doctson, TCU
IR Jakeem Grant, Texas Tech
TE LaQuan McGowan, Baylor
OT Spencer Drango, Baylor
OG Blake Muir, Baylor
C Jared Kaster, Texas Tech
OG Boston Stiverson, Kansas State
OT Cody Whitehair, Kansas State
DE Pete Robertson, Texas Tech
DT Beau Blackshear, Baylor
NT Desmond Jackson, Texas
DE Jamal Palmer, Baylor
OLB Taylor Young, Baylor
ILB Mike Mitchell, Texas Tech
CB Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma
CB Danzel McDaniel, Kansas State
CB Ranthony Texada, TCU
S Derrick Kindred, TCU
S Dravon Henry, West Virginia
What Max says about his team: “In 1944, Navy set an NCAA record by averaging 56 points per game. My team intends to destroy that record, easily hitting 80 a game thanks to the weekly fireworks of teaming up Trevone Boykin, Samaje Perine, KD Cannon, Josh Doctson and LaQuan McGowan. Having two of the Big 12’s three best tackles (Spencer Drango and Cody Whitehair) helps ensure Boykin will have a clean pocket and all the time he needs to dice up defenses. But don’t worry, we’ll still find time to get Perine over 2,000 yards. My defense is loaded with underrated studs like Jamal Palmer, Danzel McDaniel and Taylor Young, and my secondary is loaded with guys who’ll rack up INTs. They’re not going to pitch many shutouts, but did I mention my offense is going to score 80 points a game?”
Jake Trotter’s team
QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
HB DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech
FB/TE Glenn Gronkowski, Kansas State
WR Corey Coleman, Baylor
WR Brandon Sheperd, Oklahoma State
WR Kolby Listenbee, TCU
C Joey Hunt, TCU
G Alfredo Morales, Texas Tech
G Nila Kasitati, Oklahoma
T Brock Dagel, Iowa State
T Halapoulivaati Vaitai, TCU
DT Davion Pierson, TCU
DT Travis Britz, Kansas State
DE Shawn Oakman, Baylor
DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
LB Seth Jacobs, Oklahoma State
LB Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia
CB Morgan Burns, Kansas State
CB Nigel Tribune, Iowa State
S Kamari Cotton-Moya, Iowa State
S Karl Joseph, West Virginia
S Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State
What Jake says about his team: “Like the St. Louis Rams, I’ve built my team through the defensive line. It’s not a stretch to say I own four of the best five defensive linemen in the conference. Yet while the biggest, D-line isn’t my only strength. I also have the Big 12’s two biggest hitting safeties in Joseph and Sterns, and a tackling machine at inside linebacker in Kwiatkoski. We’ll be powerful against the run; and if you dare to pass, well, good luck with that with Ogbah and Oakman coming around the edge. On the other side of the ball, we boast a 1,000-yard rusher, three receivers with 1,000-yard potential and perhaps the best quarterback in the league outside of Trevone Boykin. Oh, and by grabbing 'Gronk' late in the draft, we’ll boast a toughness tone-setter, too.”
Which team is the best? Was there another Kevin White-like omission? Let us know in the comments below.
