The official list of the Big 12's top 25 players is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing the list day by day here on the blog. Here's a refresher on my exact criteria.
No. 17: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
2010 numbers: Caught 78 passes for 952 yards and seven touchdowns, and also completed both of his pass attempts for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Most recent ranking: Wright was unranked in our postseason list of the Big 12's top 25 players.
Making the case for Wright: Wright has led Baylor in receiving for all three seasons on the field, and don't expect that to change in 2011 with Robert Griffin III running the show in Waco. Wright's production has steadily risen from his freshman year in 2008 to last season's flirtation with 1,000 yards, and he finally debuts on our preseason top 25.
Wright can just about do it all for the Bears, whether it be finding space, running over the top of defenses or making plays with the ball in his hands. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound blur won't go over every defender, but his career has been one of the most underrated in the Big 12's history. Few have equaled his consistency and he already holds career records for receptions (174) and single-season receptions after his 78 catches in 2010. He holds or shares five receiving records and should help a talented Baylor receiving corps make plenty of noise in 2011.
The rest of the list:
No. 18: Elvis Fisher, LT, Missouri
No. 19: Keenan Robinson, LB, Texas
No. 20: Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma
No. 21: Shaun Lewis, LB, Oklahoma State
No. 22: Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
No. 23: Brad Madison, DE, Missouri
No. 24: Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas
No. 25: Zaviar Gooden, LB, Missouri