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Big 12 Football: Biggest offseason question for every team

By Rob Wolkenbrod

Nov 5, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; The Big 12 logo on the chains during a game between the TCU Horned Frogs and Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. TCU won 62-22. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; The Big 12 logo on the chains during a game between the TCU Horned Frogs and Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. TCU won 62-22. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops walks the field prior to their game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

With the college football season steadily approaching, we took a look at the biggest question for each Big 12 Football team.

Big 12 Football always proves to be exciting during the season. Some of college football’s most prolific offenses have passed through this conference, including the 2016 Texas Tech squad. They were led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who put up historic numbers.

However, this conference also faced its issues off the field. This was prominently due to Baylor’s lengthy sexual assault investigation, which marred the program throughout the 2016 season.

There’s a new year of college football approaching, though, especially with the spring sessions just about completed. That leaves us with big questions for each Big 12 Football program, which we took a look at.

Apr 15, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Apr 15, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorn quarterback Shane Buechele (7) smiles with Texas head football coach Tom Herman during the Texas Longhorn 2017 Orange-White Spring Game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Apr 15, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorn quarterback Shane Buechele (7) smiles with Texas head football coach Tom Herman during the Texas Longhorn 2017 Orange-White Spring Game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas – Who will step up in the Tom Herman-era?

After three underachieving seasons under Charlie Strong, Texas fired him and brought in Houston’s Tom Herman as the replacement. Herman had been rumored for just about every major coach opening in college football.

Herman’s being tasked with leading a team that has talent, but just couldn’t get by in games they were expected to win (Kansas) and had one of the worst defenses in the Big 12, allowing 5,379 total yards during the season. So, if things are going to improve, someone or multiple players have to step up.

First, it’s going to be replacing 2,000 yards of offense from outgoing running back D’Onta Foreman. That job may go to freshman Toneil Carter, who came over in the 2017 recruiting class. He was the only scholarship running back healthy for the spring game and delivered with 10 rushes for 60 yards. It’s early, but that should give the staff some hope that Carter can be the man to take a handful of carries in the 2017 season.

Inside linebacker Gary Johnson is another incoming player that’s a candidate to step up and fill a role for the Longhorns. He’s known for his bursts of speed through the offensive line at JUCO, racking up tackles for a loss. There’s a chance he develops into a defensive leader and solidifies at least one of the cracks shown from last year.

It’s going to take more than Carter and Johnson to improve Texas Football, but they’ll be two of the leading forces toward this.

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