Breaking news: Gary Gibbs has access to an early roster for the 2024 Wildcats and Big 12 football.
A team that defeated Oklahoma, finished with ten games this season, and returned a large number of starters—including offensive players who are All-America caliber—will be the preseason Big 12 football favorite in 2024.
Right now, I think the Wildcats have a slight advantage over the Sooners. They have a seven-game winning streak, which included an exciting victory over them in the Alamo Bowl. They will likely finish somewhere around No. 10 in the final AP poll. Oklahoma State, which finished 10-4 and made it to the Big 12 title game during an unexpected season of its own, won’t be far behind.
Injury reports, coaching changes, and transfer transactions (players can still enter the football program during the two-week window from April 16 to April 30) can all have a minor or major impact on a team’s projected lineup.
The NCAA’s decision to grant Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman a seventh year of eligibility came as major news just this past week. This season, he has passed for 3,460 yards, 402 of which came in a bowl victory over Texas A&M.
Johnny Nansen, the defensive coordinator for the Wildcats, announced on Saturday that he was leaving for Texas, where he will take on the roles of co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. The Wildcats defense has significantly improved under Nansen’s direction during the last two seasons.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and Nansen get along well, so there had been rumors that this move was in the works.
Although Nansen’s exit is not ideal and will put coach Jedd Fisch to the test in terms of finding the next guy up (perhaps that coach is already on the staff), this is more of a “small news” story. Fisch has strong ties in both the NFL and college, and he can offer whoever he chooses to target a great job opportunity.
Fisch has my confidence in this.
Additionally, I wouldn’t object if he named the legendary Duane Akina as the new coordinator. As the safety coach, Akina, a mainstay on Dick Tomey’s staff at Arizona, returned to the program following the 2022 season and infused a fresh batch of Wildcats with vigor, passion, and knowledge.
Mike Luke of the PHNX Wildcats will give a one-minute analysis of Johnny Nansen’s departure.
The Wildcats’ rise from 125th place in the country in 2022 (with 36.5 points per game) to 29th place this year (21.1) in scoring defense is largely attributable to Akina’s presence.
Give credit to Nansen’s adaptable 4-2-5 plan and his coaching staff, but without players, no plan can succeed. Additionally, the Wildcats currently have eight defensive starters returning in 2024.
Linebacker Jacob Manu, a tackling machine who is expected to add All-Big 12 accolades to his first-team All-Pac-12 ranking this season, tops the list. The Wildcats feature linebacker Russell “Deuce” Davis II, edge rusher Russell Prysock, tall covermen Tacario Davis and Gunner Maldonado, an Alamo Bowl hero in safety, Treydan Stukes, who is versatile, and line anchor Bill Norton.
Fisch intends to choose a couple more pieces for the portal.
To replace Taylor Upshaw, another pass rusher would be good. It seems essential to have a plug-and-play middle linebacker, particularly in the run-heavy Big 12 (the Big 12 led all conferences with 4.69 yards per rush). Never be able to turn down more interior-line rotational players.
Therefore, it makes the most sense for Arizona and Oklahoma State to lead the revamped Big 12 next season. The majority of college football attention will be focused on the SEC and Big Ten’s expanded lineups, but the Big 12 is full of hard-working, resilient teams that should finish near the bottom of the Top 25.
Will Howard, the quarterback for Kansas State (9-4), was lost to Ohio State, but rookie Avery Johnson is expected to be unleashed alongside 1,200-yard rusher DJ Giddens. In 2023, West Virginia roared to a 9-4 record, more than saving coach Neal Brown’s job.
Alongside quarterback Jalon Daniels, who missed most of the season due to injury after winning the Big 12 preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Devin Neal is returning for his senior year at Kansas (9-4) after rushing for 1,280 yards.
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