Big 12 media days in Frisco didn’t exactly drift by quietly. Quarterback shakeups, coaching turnover and a few major roster swings made sure of that, with the two-day event leaving plenty for the league to sort through before the season kicks off.
One of the biggest quarterback stories centered on TCU, where Harvard transfer Jaden Craig is set to take over as the Horned Frogs’ starter in his final college season. He steps in for Josh Hoover, who moved on to Indiana after piling up 9,629 passing yards over his last two years.
TCU also had a little more to sell than just the quarterback change. Offensive tackle Ben Taylor-Whitfield, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound former Duncanville standout, has already built a sturdy résumé with more than 20 starts and 1,800 snaps.
Sonny Dykes said he expects Taylor-Whitfield to develop into an all-conference player with NFL potential. The Horned Frogs are coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons, and their hopes of pushing into Big 12 title contention are tied in part to a defense headlined by preseason All-Big 12 safety Jamel Johnson.
Texas Tech’s week carried a different kind of spotlight. The Red Raiders moved on from quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who had initially signed from Cincinnati for a reported $5 million, after the NCAA ruled him ineligible for betting on thousands of games, including his own team’s.
Texas Tech is trying to put that offseason mess behind it, and Joey McGuire told ESPN that Will Hammond is now the starter. Hammond, a four-star recruit who tore his ACL against Oklahoma State last season, could be back as early as the Sept. 5 opener against Abilene Christian.
Colorado also arrived in Frisco with momentum from the recruiting trail, even after a rough 3-9 season. Deion Sanders picked up four-star offensive lineman Dewey Young, helping the Buffaloes to the third-best recruiting class in the Big 12.
Colorado opens against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
There was plenty of movement on the coaching front, too. Oklahoma State’s new head coach, Eric Morris, brought 19 players and 35 staff members with him from North Texas to a program that had not won a conference game in two years. Utah introduced Morgan Scalley as its first new head coach in 20 years after Kyle Whittingham’s departure, and Kansas State elevated Collin Klein from his role as Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator to replace Chris Klieman.
West Virginia also made a notable transfer addition, with Rich Rodriguez landing former TCU running back Cam Cook from the portal. Cook led the nation in rushing last season with more than 1,600 yards at Jacksonville State, and he is expected to help anchor a backfield that has been completely rebuilt.
Commissioner Brett Yormark also used the stage to announce a new branding move: Monster Energy is now the entitlement sponsor of Big 12 football and basketball regular seasons, meaning conference games will be known as Monster Energy Big 12 Football.