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:
No. 17: Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma
No. 18: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
No. 19: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
No. 20: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
No. 21: James Sims, RB, Kansas
No. 22: Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma
No. 23: Josh Stewart, WR, Oklahoma State
No. 24: Nick Florence, QB, Baylor