Heisman Watch 2016: Week 12 players to watch
By John Buhler
There are a few teams in the Power 5 that are likely on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff that nobody in their right mind would want to play right now. One of those teams in the Big 12 behemoth Oklahoma Sooners.
After beginning the year in a 1-2 hole with losses to the Houston Cougars and the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Sooners are spanking every team they’ve played in the Big 12 this season. While one could easily argue Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield into the 2016 Heisman Trophy discussion, it cannot be stated enough how well wideout Dede Westbrook is playing for the Sooners.
On the year, Westbrook has 68 catches for 1,254 yards and 14 touchdowns. His yards per catch of 18.4 is otherworldly. It essentially points out that Westbrook can and will routinely torch Big 12 secondaries on vertical bombs from Mayfield’s rocket right arm.
No. 8 Oklahoma has a huge Week 12 matchup against the No. 10 West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday. Should either Westbrook or Mayfield have monster days offensively against a strong Mountaineers defense, one and possibly both could make it to the Heisman Trophy presentation.
Kickoff from Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown will be at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 19. ABC will have the primetime Big 12 telecast.