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Ranking the Big 12's top 25 players: No. 16

We’re continuing our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players from the 2012 season. Here's more on my criteria for the list. You can take a peek at how the preseason list looked here.

The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we'll be revealing one player a day moving forward.

On with the show ...

No. 16: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State

2012 numbers: Carried the ball 274 times for 1,417 yards and 14 touchdowns. Caught 28 passes for 224 yards. Completed 2 of 2 passes for 37 yards.

Most recent ranking: Randle was ranked No. 6 in our preseason list of the Big 12's top 25 players.

Making the case for Randle: Randle had a huge year and helped stabilize Oklahoma State's offense while three different quarterbacks started about a third of the season apiece. He led the Big 12 in rushing by more than 300 yards, though he was passed up a bit by other players in the league on this postseason list. It's not so much a knock on Randle, though his yards per carry average dropped more than half a yard from last season. He topped 100 yards in eight games this season, and had the best game of his career in a breakout, early season game against Texas that ended in a painful loss.

Randle's leaving Oklahoma State early, and is definitely ready for the NFL, capping his career in Stillwater with a strong junior season. A well-deserved spot on the list for Randle, the Big 12's best running back this season.

The rest of the list: