Oklahoma Sooners' Top 10 Players for 2012

The powerful Texan played in 10 games, starting five, at guard last year as a redshirt freshman. Interior linemen like Ben Habern, Gabe Ikard and Tyler Evans are more known, but the sky is the limit for Shead. A knee injury slowed him at the end of last season, but the rising sophomore – whose father played at Nebraska – looks primed to become the Sooners next great run blocker.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

The Oklahoma middle linebacker had 71 tackles last season with 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Wort also added two interceptions and a fumble return for a touchdown. The Sooners defense lost some key players but has a chance to be excellent in 2012, and the tackling Texan should be one of the leaders for new coordinator Mike Stoops.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

The speedy linebacker from Dallas had 59 tackles with 5.5 sacks in 2011. Nelson really started showing his potential in last November when he had back-to-back nine-tackle performances against Baylor and Iowa. Besides excelling on the gridiron, the rising junior also made Academic All-Big 12 first team.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

The Owasso native is the team’s leading returning tackler, with 84 stops in 2011, including 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage. He also added six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Colvin has shown versatility during his first two years in Norman, playing cornerback in 2010 before starting at safety a year ago.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

The physical fullback is one of the most valuable players on the Sooners roster. He’s known more for lead blocking than getting touches (169 yards rushing, 127 receiving yards and three total touchdowns), so his 61-yard TD run versus Kansas State was a true highlight. Millard also led OU with 14 special-teams tackles and was voted first-team All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches for his all-around play.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

The California native should take the reins as OU’s top pass catcher and be one of the best receivers in the country. Stills had 61 catches for 849 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and he will assume Ryan Broyles’ role as the leading target for quarterback Landry Jones. The junior has started all 25 games he’s played at Oklahoma and is a definite All-America candidate in 2012.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

The 2010 Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year continued his consistent and productive play as a sophomore last season. Jefferson totaled 74 tackles with 4.5 sacks, while also adding a team-high four interceptions and a forced fumble. The San Diego-area product is definitely an All-America and All-Big 12 candidate for the 2012 campaign.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

The senior signal caller is already Oklahoma’s s all-time passing leader with 12,379 career yards, and he owns 13 school passing records. In 2011, Jones threw for 4,463 yards with 29 touchdowns, but he also tossed 15 interceptions. Backup quarterback Blake Bell’s running in the red zone may hurt No. 12’s statistics, but this is still Jones’ offense and his play could determine if OU returns to winning the Big 12 title.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

After starting 12 games as a freshman in 2010, the Oklahoma City native became a star last season. Ikard earned All-America and All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore, playing both left guard and shifting to center when starter Ben Habern was injured. Look for more of the same for the star junior, as he paves the way for a team that averaged over 500 yards per game and scored over 500 points a year ago.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals

The senior cornerback has played in 40 games during his career, and his leadership will be a key for the OU defense in 2012. Hurst had 55 tackles last season with four behind the line of scrimmage. He also compiled two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown against Texas. In the pass-happy Big 12, veteran corners like Hurst give the Sooners a major advantage.

Related Oklahoma Content

• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Preview
• Can Landry Jones Be a National Championship Quarterback?
• Oklahoma Sooners 2012 Team Predictions
• Oklahoma Sooners Top 10 Greatest Players Since 1967
• The Greatest Moments in Oklahoma Football History
• Oklahoma Sooners Cheerleader Gallery
• Jokes About Oklahoma Rivals