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July is almost upon us which means four new teams officially join the Big 12, while two exit stage left for the SEC. No more Oklahoma Sooners or Texas Longhorns in the conference they called home since 1996. As they leave, the four corner schools of the Pac-12 join the new-look 16-team conference known as the Big 12. Or perhaps we would be saying the Allstate 12 or Allstate 16 in the near future.
The naming convention of the conference isn’t important, after all, we have an 18-team Big Ten getting ready to welcome four new members of their own in 2024. When it comes to the Big 12 there will be plenty of action as the 16 teams begin jockeying for position as the new top brand or brands of the conference.
With our focus aimed at the upcoming season, there will be plenty of opportunities for these new teams. When it comes to the players, newcomers such as Cam Rising and Travis Hunter will take center stage. Don’t forget Freshman All-American quarterback Noah Fifita as he leads the Arizona Wildcats into a new era.
Those are the names you are aware of, here we discuss the breakout candidates who look to make a name for themselves in 2024.
Arizona Wildcats
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Reymello Murphy, Wide Receiver
Despite losing head coach Jedd Fisch to the Washington Huskies, the Wildcats were able to hold on to quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Reymello Murphy of Old Dominion is joining the group to give Fifita another outlet this upcoming season. The former Monarchs’ receiver accounted for 502 yards on 28 receptions and three touchdowns. Murphy will need to show he can step up when it comes to Power Four competition.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Troy Omeire, Wide Receiver
After signing with the Texas Longhorns in 2020, Omeire had to wait for his opportunity due to injuries. He finally got on the field with the Burnt Orange in 2022 but only caught one pass in four games that season. Last year, Omeire hauled in 20 receptions for 223 yards and three touchdowns over nine games. All eyes will be on him this upcoming season as Arizona State joins the Big 12. Quarterback Sam Leavitt will need to look his way early and often.
Baylor Bears
Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Dominic Richardson, Running Back
Richardson returns to Waco for a second year after spending three seasons with Oklahoma State. The Baylor Bears running back will likely split time with Richard Reese and Dawson Pendergrass again in 2024. Richardson received the most carries and snaps at running back for the Bears, they will need him to help climb out of the doldrums of the Big 12 with four more teams joining. He led the team with 393 yards after contact last season.
Brigham Young Cougars
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Gerry Bohanon, Quarterback
Gerry Bohanon is returning to the Big 12 after a two-year hiatus with South Florida. This will be his seventh season of collegiate football but only active for six. Bohanon didn’t play in 2023 for the Bulls, now he must lead BYU. His strongest season came in 2021 with Baylor, when the Bears finished 12-2 and won the Big 12. Can Bohanon give the Cougs their first conference title since 2007 when they were members of the Mountain West?
Central Florida Knights
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Ja’Varrius Johnson, Wide Receiver
Ja’Varrius Johnson is the latest SEC wide receiver to join the UCF Knights. Javon Baker had a good two-year run after seeing the field minimally during two seasons at Alabama. Johnson could see a similar output of Baker’s 2023 campaign with the Knights. Johnson played for Gus Malzahn in 2020, but only appeared in one game. He could easily double his collegiate production with K.J. Jefferson at quarterback.
Cincinnati Bearcats
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Brendan Sorsby, Quarterback
Brendan Sorsby showed flashes of what he can be at the collegiate level. Against Penn State and Illinois, Sorsby threw six touchdowns and 558 yards combined. He should be an improvement over what head coach Scott Satterfield saw from former Florida quarterback Emory Jones. Xzavier Henderson and Tony Johnson should be big targets for the redshirt sophomore quarterback.
Colorado Buffaloes
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Will Sheppard, Wide Receiver
There is plenty of excitement with the Colorado Buffaloes returning to the Big 12, a place they called home from 1996 to 2011. Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter have lofty expectations in 2024. Vanderbilt transfer Will Sheppard could be a major player on that offense as long as the rebuilt offensive line holds up. Despite playing for the Commodores, who aren’t known for offensive prowess, Sheppard hauled in 107 passes for 1,460 yards and 17 touchdowns in the past two seasons. What can he do in 2024 with Sanders throwing the ball his way?
Check out Colorado Wire for more on the Buffs
Houston Cougars
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Maliq Carr, Tight End
Maliq Carr is trading in his Spartan green for Houston red this upcoming season. Quarterback Donovan Smith will have a new weapon at the tight end position. The converted wide receiver hauled in 54 passes for 696 yards and five touchdowns over three years in East Lansing. He should be targeted plenty in the new offense led by tight ends coach and OC Kevin Barbay.
Iowa State Cyclones
Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
Daniel Jackson, Wide Receiver
The Cyclones were a surprise team last year after losing starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers to the Iowa gambling probe but redshirt freshman quarterback Rocco Becht was a welcomed sight for the team. Jackson showed flashes of being a top receiver against Oklahoma State with 90 receiving yards and two scores. He should factor into the offense even more this year alongside Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Kansas Jayhawks
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Jalon Daniels, Quarterback
I know football fans are well aware of Jalon Daniels, but hear me out. Daniels didn’t get to play a lot last year due to a lingering back injury. Going into 2024, he could finally live up to the expectations. Can he expand on what he built in 2022 or will he continue to struggle with staying on the field as Kansas looks to contend for the Big 12 title this season?
Kansas State Wildcats
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Avery Johnson, Quarterback
Replacing a quarterback that led the Kansas State Wildcats to a Big 12 title isn’t an easy task but dual-threat passer Avery Johnson should be up to the challenge. He accounted for 12 total touchdowns and 775 yards of offense in limited snaps, filling in for the now-departed starter, Will Howard. Teams now know Johnson’s play style, how do both groups adjust in 2024?
Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Obi Ezeigbo, Defensive End
We finally get to give some love on the defensive side of the ball. Obi Ezeigbo isn’t a household name yet but that could change for opposing offenses this upcoming season. Ezeigbo comes over after spending five years with Division II’s Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. He redshirted his freshman season in 2019. Last year he accounted for 54 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks.
Texas Christian Horned Frogs
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Drake Dabney, Tight End
The Frogs are aware of what former Baylor tight end Drake Dabney can bring to an offense after watching him snag four passes for 77 yards, an average of 19.3 yards per reception. Overall he caught 65 passes for 873 yards and eight scores in four seasons in Waco. Most of that production came last year. Dabney could see similar success to that of another former tight end transfer, Jared Wiley, who led the team in receptions and touchdowns in 2023.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Behren Morton, Quarterback
There are plenty of additions and returning talent to choose for the Texas Tech breakout candidate from standout freshman WR Micah Hudson to the newcomers Josh Kelly and Caleb Douglas. However, Morton seems like the most obvious choice. Tech hasn’t had a quarterback start every game of a single season since Nic Shimonek in 2017. Morton showed a lot of poise last season throwing for 1,757 yards and 15 touchdowns. Tech was 4-1 with Behren Morton starting in November and December, the only loss came to Texas in Austin.
Utah Utes
Taeshaun Lyons, Wide Receiver
Former four-star signee with Washington now moves on to the Utah Utes. He didn’t accumulate any stats last year in two games with just one target. As a senior at Tennyson High School in Hayward, California, Lyons hauled in 41 passes for 1,007 yards and 10 touchdowns. There is a bit of projection here but with the return of Cam Rising at quarterback, he could work his way into the rotation behind Money Parks, Dorian Singer, and Mycah Pittman providing production at wide receiver.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Jaden Bray, Wide Receiver
We had a bit of portal combat in the Big 12 with Jaden Bray moving from Oklahoma State to West Virginia this past offseason. Bray saw limited action in 24 games over three seasons with the Pokes, he hauled in 48 passes for 686 yards and four touchdowns. One of his best games came against WVU when he scored one of his two touchdowns against them last season. He should be a top target for senior quarterback Garrett Greene, as the Mountaineers prove that last year’s 9-4 record was more than a blip on the radar.
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Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/big-12-football-breakout-candidates-2024-season/