Big 12 Dominates AP First Team

The Big 12 which is regularly left out of conversations about college football's elite conferences managed to place eight players on The Associated Press All-America team. The conference's dominance is particularly noticeable at the receiver positions where Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree, Kansas State's Jordy Nelson, and Missouri's tight end Martin Rucker were honored. Jeremy Maclin of Missouri, another wide receiver, was recognized as the first team all-purpose player. The rest of the Big 12 honoree's were Kansas tackle Anthony Collins, Oklahoma guard Duke Robinson, Colorado linebacker Jordan Dizon and Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib.

Much of the Big 12's representation can be attributed to the emergence of Kansas and Missouri as national powers. Both teams placed two players on the AP's list. Overall, the Big 12 outgunned the SEC (four players), the Big 10 (four players), ACC and Pac-10 (three players), and the Big East with two players. I've always hated the conference sniveling that goes on a year-to-year basis, but where is all that much ballyhooed SEC speed? Sorry couldn't help it.

The bottom line is that the Big 12, which has been maligned by many critics in recent years isn't quite as dead as folks might have thought. In addition, Kansas and Missouri have also been relatively hot on the recruiting trail this year, which could be indicative of transfer of power to the lower Midwest. Or not, but even one-hit wonders deserve their recognition.