I wanted to add a little something to the Conference Chatter blog this college football season.
I have this feeling it may be one of the more memorable years in the Big 12. Kansas is going for its first outright North title. In the South, Texas and Oklahoma are as even as they’ve ever been. What makes it more interesting is that both juggernauts have BCS title aspirations. And five conference teams are in the top 25 again, just like last year.
Documenting this season will be fun. With that in mind, I decided to add another dimension to the blog. It’s called ConferenceChatterTV. Each week, I’ll record a short video on YouTube where I pick the games in the Big 12 and keep a running tally of my score. After the games are done, I’ll post a short reaction of the weekend’s action. Check out the first edition below for my preview of the first week of action:
Changing gears a bit … I started thinking today about Kansas wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe and Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant.
Oh, the similarities.
First and most obvious, the name. It’s perfect. Dez and Dez. I’ve heard some of Briscoe’s teammates call him Dez during interviews, so it could be said they have the same name.
Second, the year in school. Both juniors.
Then, there’s the home state. Bryant’s from Lufkin, Texas, and Briscoe’s from Dallas. A few hours apart, but in that goldmine of a recruiting state, you can’t go wrong in either city.
There’s also that whole talent factor. I’m trying to think of two better receivers in the Big 12 and can’t come up with anyone. I’ll do one better: I can’t think of two better receivers in the country. Rivals.com apparently can’t either. In the Web site’s latest power rankings at wide receiver, Bryant and Briscoe are 1-2 in the country, respectively.
How about last year’s numbers? The receivers’ production was once again similar:
Bryant: 87 receptions, 1,480 yards, 19 TDs
Briscoe: 92 receptions, 1,407 yards, 15 TDs
Both players are such game breakers that their coaches have decided to put them on special teams as well. As Jesse Newell pointed out in his recent Newell Post entry, the Jayhawks have benefited greatly from having Briscoe return kicks. Same for Oklahoma State and Bryant returning punts.
And finally, both players should approach the top of the career record books at their respective schools by season’s end.
Briscoe already owns the KU career record for touchdown catches with 22. Second on the list is Willie Vaughn and Vince Adams with 17 each. With 15 TD grabs last year, Briscoe almost broke the record in one season.
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Briscoe is currently second on the KU all-time receptions list. Mark Simmons is the leader in the clubhouse with 155. Not for long. Briscoe, at 135, is steadily approaching. That record is Briscoe’s by the end of the non-conference schedule at the very latest.
Vaughn’s 2,266 career receiving yards is tops on the KU list, for now. Briscoe, at 1,903 career receiving yards, is only 363 short of the school record.
Bryant, with 25 career TD grabs, trails only Hart Lee Dykes (29) and Rashaun Woods (42) in the OSU history books. With another year like last year, Bryant will approach the all-time mark in three years. Dykes and Woods totaled those numbers in four years.
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Bryant will likely still trail Woods in receptions and receiving yards, but should rank second in OSU history in both by season’s end.
Briscoe and Bryant should both make a career in the NFL before too long. If they decide to leave school after their junior seasons, both could be first-round NFL Draft picks.
I’d take either on my squad for the upcoming college football season.
That should be all for now, friends. Happy Week 1 to all. And as always, discuss.