Big 12 quarterbacks validate the hype
OU’s Mayfield leads stellar performers in opening games.
The arms of the Big 12 didn’t disappoint opening weekend. Need a quick recap? Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield was one throw away from perfection. It was a nice warmup for this Saturday’s road date at Ohio State, which will be the biggest game in the country.
“I used to have to calm him down a little but,” said OU coach Lincoln Riley of Mayfield. “I don’t anymore.”
Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph threw touchdowns of 77, 44 and 40 yards. He ran for a fourth. Over his last 10 games, Rudolph has 25 touchdown passes against only two interceptions.
Kansas State’s Jesse Ertz averaged an incredible 33 yards per completion. He didn’t even run that much — and running the ball had been the best part of his game.
“I can’t think of a segment of his game for the most part that really hasn’t improved,” K-State coach Bill Snyder said Monday. “I see improvement virtually everywhere.”
And TCU’s Kenny Hill threw four touchdown passes in only two quarters of play. Coach Gary Patterson won’t know for sure if Hill’s self-esteem is at a high level until after Saturday’s road game against Arkansas.
“I have a lot of confidence in the things he can do,” Pattterson said.
The new guys taking snaps could boast of nifty numbers.
Texas Tech’s Nic Shimonek completed 26 of his 30 attempts. He was perfect on his first 14 throws. Coach Kliff Kingsbury said he even was impressed with Shimonek’s decision to take a couple of sacks rather than trying to force a throw.
“Thought he ran the system very well,” Kingsbury said. “He has a really good supporting cast around him, he understands that.”
Kansas’ Peyton Bender earned his first-ever win by throwing four touchdowns. It prompted coach David Beaty to gush “Man, he did some really, really good things for us.”
West Virginia’s Will Grier, whose Mountaineers lost to Virginia Tech, attempted 53 passes, the most of any conference quarterback on opening weekend, with three scores. He leads the Big 12 in total offense — 371 via the air and 52 on the ground.
Baylor’s Anu Solomon, whose Bears were upset by Liberty, struggled some in the passing game early. But he rushed for 97 yards, which was the third best outing of any league runner.
Texas’ Shane Buechele’s 375 yards in a loss to Maryland were second-best in the Big 12. So were his 52 attempts.
Sooners limping: Oklahoma heads to Ohio State a player down in the secondary. Riley announced Monday that sophomore cornerback Jordan Parker suffered a season-ending knee injury in OU’s win over UTEP. Parker hurt his left knee while blocking on a punt return.
He started eight games last fall, but was listed as second-team behind Parnell Motley for the Sooners.
Baylor’s Hasty out: Baylor’s Matt Rhule said that tailback Ja’Mycal Hasty suffered a “non-surgical” knee injury and will miss four games. The Bears already were without Terence Williams, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last fall. Rhule said that Williams, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, will be out another two weeks. True freshman John Lovett will start Saturday against UT-San Antonio. Lovett averaged 6.4 yards on his 14 carries and scored two TDs.
Rhule was forced to use a makeshift secondary against Liberty, which was using a spread offense for the first time. Receiver Blake Lynch was switched to cornerback days before the game. Rhule said he played about half of Liberty’s 103 offensive snaps. True freshman cornerback Harrison Hand, who started the game, was in on about 80.