Our official list of the Big 12's top 25 players entering the 2012 season marches on. Here's more on my criteria for who makes it, who doesn't and who lands where.
The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we'll be revealing one player a day leading up to the season.
Next up on the list:
No. 15: Gabe Ikard, OL, Oklahoma
2011 numbers: Made 88 knockdowns in 860 plays and had the best blocking grades of any interior lineman for the Sooners. Also helped the Sooners rank third in the Big 12 with more than 512 yards of offense.
Most recent ranking: Ikard unranked in our postseason list of the Big 12's top 25 players.
Making the case for Ikard: You've got to love offensive linemen who can be versatile and excel at different positions, and no lineman in the Big 12 has done this better lately than Ikard. He's technically Oklahoma's starting right guard, but last season, moved over to start seven games at center when teammate Ben Habern broke his arm.
After Habern decided to quit football earlier this month, Ikard is back on the move, assuming the position of the Sooners' starting center. The coaches and the media both recognized his excellence last season, voting him to the first-team of both All-Big 12 teams.
Ikard already started 12 games at guard as a redshirt freshman in 2010, but entering his junior season in 2012, he's made his argument as the Big 12's best offensive lineman. It's solid, and it'll take a lot for somebody to knock him off his perch this season.
The rest of the list:
No. 24: Ben Habern, C, Oklahoma
No. 23: Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
No. 22: Josh Boyce, WR, TCU
No. 21: Cyril Richardson, OL, Baylor
No. 20: Trey Millard, FB/TE, Oklahoma
No. 19: Quandre Diggs, CB/KR, Texas
No. 18: Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
No. 16: Stansly Maponga, DE, TCU
