Spring Practice Preview: Big 12

College football spring practices are well underway, which means RotoWire is previewing key job position battles at schools across the country. This article will feature the top job battle at each school within the conference and provide a projected outlook for the group for the 2019 campaign.

From a College Football Playoff perspective, the Big 12 looks to have a two-team race on its hands between Oklahoma and a resurgent Texas program. As fantasy players, we know that the Big 12 has plenty more to offer beyond that. This is a conference that routinely churns out some of fantasy's top producers thanks to its high-powered offensive systems and its trove of talented players. It doesn't hurt that defense is optional in this conference, either. Or, at least it looks that way sometimes. 

Looking at the Big 12 landscape this spring, one might think that a school like Oklahoma having to replace yet another Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback would carry the headlines. But Jalen Hurts' arrival in Norman has led us to expect more of the same from the Sooner offense this fall. Elsewhere we have several schools replacing some all-time contributors (Iowa State) and others undergoing culture change with new coaching staffs (Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, West Virginia). The trio of Baylor, TCU, and Oklahoma State all have designs on rekindling the success they had earlier in the decade, too. Without further adieu, let's jump into the biggest storylines coming out of each Big 12 program this spring.

Baylor

Spring Storyline: Replacing Jalen Hurd

Hurd was one of the more pleasant surprises in all of college football in 2018. He disappeared from CFB's collective consciousness while sitting out of 2017 to fulfill NCAA transfer requirements and returned last season in a completely new role. Hurd, a former blue-chip running back for Tennessee, transformed into a lethal weapon for the Bears, primarily as a slot receiver but also as a running back on occasion. Expecting any one player to replace Hurd's 69 catches for 946 yards and four touchdowns to go with 48 carries for 209 yards and three scores is living in dream land. But Baylor has to press on and find a third option beyond Denzel Mims and Chris Platt.

The answer could lie in sophomore Tyquan Thornton, who impressed in limited action last season. Thornton (6-3,168) caught 20 of 29 passes for 354 yards (12.2 YPT) and three touchdowns. The listed measurements paint a picture of someone too thin to hold up to triple-digit targets over the middle, but Baylor is likely making sure that he's putting on good weight to get him ready for a bigger role.  Beyond Thornton, fellow sophomore Joshua Fleeks -- a high four-star --  got his feet wet as a true freshman with 11 games and should be ready to be a bigger contributor in 2019. Look for the duo of Thornton and Fleeks to combine to replace Hurd's role as a receiver, while Hurd's rushing role gets redistributed to the running backs. 

Iowa State

Spring Storyline: Running back

Iowa State is losing some top-flight talent to the NFL this spring between receiver Hakeem Butler and running back David Montgomery. While Butler's unique frame and skill set are almost impossible to replace, there is reason to believe this Iowa State passing game can still be successful under Brock Purdy. Montgomery, though, might be tougher to replace.

Montgomery absorbed 56 percent of Iowa State's rushing attempts -- 257 total -- in 2018 while no other Iowa State back had more than 38 rushes. It's not just that the next group up, which consists of Kene Nwangwu, Johnnie Lang, and Sheldon Croney Jr., is inexperienced. The limited sample we have isn't overly impressive.

Nwangwu was the only runner of the group to average over 4.0 yards per carry, but even David Montgomery only managed 4.73 YPC in his junior year. So this could be an indictment of the offensive line and blocking schemes rather than this group of running backs. But the raw numbers don't look great for this returning group.

Iowa State also brought in freshmen Breece Hall and Jirehl Brock in this recruiting class, though Hall has the added bonus of being on campus this spring. This stands to be a wide open competition and unless one of the freshman is clearly a Next Montgomery type, Iowa State could be rolling with a committee approach heading into the fall.

Kansas

Spring Storyline: Quarterback

There's a lot to unpack here. Kansas is installing a new offense under Les Miles which levels the playing field between longtime Jayhawk Carter Stanley and junior college transfer Thomas MacVittie. 

Stanley has nine games of starting experience to his credit and has thrown for 2,371 yards in his career, but that experience isn't without its warts. He has more interceptions (14) than touchdown passes (13). So a shaky track record and a new coach somewhat negate any edge Stanley may have had coming into spring. 

MacVittie, on the other hand, is someone who Miles handpicked in this recruiting class as one of the top junior college quarterbacks in this cycle. He looks the part of a big-time quarterback at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds with some strong mobility for a player his size. 

There will be some required tea leave reading here given Miles' adeptness at not tipping his hand. And even then, we could very well be in the dark all the way up until August. The fact that this is his first year at a new program will likely make him all the more guarded. 

Kansas State

Spring Storyline: Adjusting to the new era

It's no secret that Kansas State's offense had been living in prehistoric times under Bill Snyder's direction. Not that there's anything wrong with that; the Wildcats went to eight bowl games after Snyder returned to the sidelines in 2009. And it gave us gems like this blessed formation, which will go down as one of my favorite bowl game moments ever:  

Now that's a formation you can set your watch to. 

The thing is, it's hard to sell recruits on this type of scheme when everyone else in your conference (read: everyone else in the nation) is going more spread and tempo. And I know that sometimes natural recruiting barriers force teams to zig where others zag, but with Snyder gone, it's time for Kansas State to usher in a new era. 

Former North Dakota State coach Chris Klieman is the man tasked with doing just that after winning four FCS titles. 

A quick aside: The Klieman hire was not met with the warmest reception from the K-State faithful, with much of the concern going towards his ability to recruit after coming from an FCS Program. That's not unreasonable, but when Bill Snyder was consistently finishing among the bottom two in the conference and outside the Top 60 nationally, it's not like Kansas State was going from Nick Saban to Paul Johnson in that regard. Patience, my friends. Klieman had to scramble to salvage the 2019 class, which ranked 63rd in the nation per 247 Sports. That's not great, but it's right in line with what Snyder had done in recent years. 

OK, enough of that. In terms of nuts and bolts, Klieman's scheme at NDSU relied heavily on the run and made use of the tight ends. So that won't be a culture shock for the current Wildcats. Receiver Wykeen Gill did note that his position group will have more pre-snap motion and described the new system as "intriguing" in an interview with the Wichita Eagle. Even if Kansas State is still hard-nosed at its core, this spring will be all about adjusting to life under the new coaching staff and instilling the concepts that helped Klieman be a major success at his last stop. 

Oklahoma

Spring Storyline: Finding Marquise Brown's replacement

Oklahoma's explosive offense isn't going anywhere even with the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray. The steady presence of Lincoln Riley's system along with the addition of Jalen Hurts from Alabama ensures that. So, we know the Sooners will be a juggernaut, but who will step up to fill Hollywood Brown's shoes?

It'll be tough for any one receiver to replicate 1:1 Brown's immense production (75 catches on 102 targets, 1318 yards, 10 TD, 12.92 YPT), but if there's a school with that level of untapped potential at receiver, it's Oklahoma. CeeDee Lamb is the obvious choice as the new WR1 in Norman, but a crop of five-star freshmen enrollees in Jadon Haselwood and  Theo Wease will have the chance to make their case, too. Haselwood was the No.4 overall player in the nation in this recruiting cycle and Wease wasn't far behind at 21. Trejan Bridges is no slouch himself s a high four-star ranking 66th overall in the nation per 247 Sports.

Lamb praised that trio of freshman midway through spring practice

"Them boys are very talented," junior wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said. "They adapt quickly. This is a hard offense to get into. I feel like with all the thinking they've done, they've put in some extra work to learn quicker, they've come in for extra time to ask me for help. They want to win. They want to learn."

Because it's so hard to parse out which one of these three is truly the best right now, this is a battle that might be fluid well into the season. In fact, there's likely enough room in the offense for two of these three to be impact players in 2019. My bet would be on Haselwood and Wease until there's evidence to the contrary. 

Oklahoma State

Spring Storyline: Quarterback

Spencer Sanders vs. Dru Brown is the one quarterback battle where the winner instantly becomes a Top 10 quarterback for fantasy purposes. As I wrote back in February, Oklahoma State is an evergreen program in terms of finding fantasy-relevant talent. What makes this quarterback job all the more appealing is the infusion of offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson, who comes to Stillwater after leading Princeton to an Ivy League-record 470 points in 10 games last year. The supporting cast, headlined by Tylan Wallace, is also strong.

So, how is this going to go? Scott Wright of The Oklahoman outlined a few key factors heading into spring, including a newfound emphasis on the quarterback run game.

If Gleeson -- and the influence of new offensive line coach Charlie Dickey -- brings anything notably new to the OSU offense, the quarterback run game would probably be atop the list.

Gleeson's offense at Princeton featured a dual-threat quarterback last season, and Dickey spent a decade coaching blocking schemes for running QBs at Kansas State.

This would seem to favor Sanders, who was rated as the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2018, according to 247 Sports. Sanders hasn't proven it on the field just yet, but his film dating back to high school shows some strong mobility from the young signal caller. That said, Brown proved back in 2016 that he too can run when called upon, taking 88 attempts for 306 yards and four scores when he was the starter for Hawaii. 

It's too early to name a favorite, and Oklahoma State could very well let this battle continue right up until kickoff of the first game. But there is no quarterback battle with more at stake in fantasy than the one taking place at Oklahoma State. 

TCU

Spring Storyline: Quarterback

TCU's quarterback situation was a mess last season, mustering a combined completion percentage of 58.3 along with a 6.7 YPA and 18:15 TD:INT mark. The main culprit behind those mediocre numbers was Shawn Robinson, who is now sitting out a year before regaining eligibility at Missouri.

That Robinson is gone isn't necessarily a worst-case scenario, but it means TCU is going back to the drawing board at quarterback. Kansas State transfer Alex Delton has showed varying degrees of promise through this point of his collegiate career, and a move to TCU's system will allow him to showcase his skills as a passer more than he ever could under Bill Snyder.  On the other end of the spectrum is Max Duggan, a freshman early enrollee. Then there's the player once thought to be a program-changer, Justin Rogers. He was the No.3 dual threat and No.5 overall quarterback in the class of 2018, but a devastating knee injury knee injury in his senior season led to him receiving a drop foot diagnosis last fall. Per the Dallas Morning News, coach Gary Patterson believed Rogers to be "90-95 percent" early in camp.

While that unscientific estimate is encouraging and all, it doesn't really mean much considering the severity of the injury from which Rogers is recovering. Thus, we have three capable quarterbacks with three unique backgrounds battling it out this spring. The TCU faithful would like to see Rogers return to full form and fulfill his potential, but my guess at this stage is that Delton emerges from spring as QB1, even if the final decision isn't made until fall camp.

Texas

Spring Storyline: Finding the new big slot

Replacing your top receiver is never easy, especially when it was someone like Lil'Jordan Humphrey. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound security blanket who racked up 1,109 yards and nine touchdowns is off to the NFL, leaving some big shoes to fill in the Longhorn receiving corps. There will still be some continuity at the position with Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay, but there still needs to be a chain mover and a red zone threat. 

Humphrey's departure could be a blessing in disguise, however. Texas has recruited at an elite level under Tom Herman and it's time to see what the Longhorns actually have in these four- and five-star talents. Bru McCoy is the obvious headliner; the five-star freshman is still in NCAA limbo after transferring to Texas from USC in January. He dealt with a minor shoulder injury earlier in spring but is set to return this week, per 247 Sports. If eligible, McCoy will almost certainly see the field early for the Longhorns. McCoy (6-3, 216) has the size to fill the role previously occupied by Humphrey, and while he won't have the polish that Humphrey brought to the table, he's a superior athlete who could be more explosive than his predecessor.

Beyond McCoy we have Brennan Eagles, a top-tier receiver from the 2018 recruiting cycle who appeared in just one game last season. He is at the top of the list in terms of players who could explode onto the scene for the Longhorns in 2019 thanks to Humphrey's departure, especially if McCoy does not gain eligibility. Joshua Moore and Al'Vonte Woodard are another pair of 2018 receivers who have the opportunity to make a move up the depth chart . The player who ends up winning that No.3 job for the Longhorns will immediately become a viable fantasy option. 

Texas Tech

Spring Storyline: Can Ta'Zhawn Henry move to the top of the depth chart?

Junior Da'Leon Ward is suspended indefinitely, which shows he's not off to the best start under new coach Matt Wells and his staff. Henry was arguably the best running back on the roster entering spring, but the Ward suspension opens the door for this rising sophomore.

Henry (5-7, 170) had eight rushing touchdowns on just 86 rushing attempts as a freshman and showed some skill in the passing game, bringing in 22 receptions on 27 targets. 

There's also the fact that Texas Tech's run/pass split will skew to the run more than it has in this century. Wells, who comes over from Utah State, had one of the most balanced attacks in FBS last season, sporting a 49.77/50.33 percent run/pass split. That same system also produced 1,736 rushing yards and 22 scores from its top two backs, with each of those two backs taking on at least 125 carries. 

The new emphasis on the run coupled with the lack of competition should springboard Henry into the top spot on the depth chart as Texas Tech wraps up spring ball. Whether Henry hangs onto that spot once Ward comes off suspension remains to be seen, but Henry's performance this spring can go a long way towards locking in some job security.

West Virginia

Spring Storyline: Starting Over

West Virginia has the tall task of replacing Will Grier and his 3,864 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. It also gets to fill the void left by its top two receivers (Gary Jennings, David Sills) who combined for 45 percent of the Mountaineers' receiving yards and 28 of the team's 38 receiving touchdowns. 

Well, if you're going to do a hard reset, it might as well be under a new head coach, too. Exit Dana Holgorsen, enter Neal Brown, who comes to Morgantown after a 35-16 tenure at Troy. 

In replacing Grier, West Virginia at least has options. Viable ones, too. Miami transfer and former four-star Jack Allison was already with the program in 2018 and former Oklahoma blue-chipper Austin Kendall arrived this semester. Both are battling it out this spring, but neither have much in the way in experience and both are learning a new offense under Brown. With those factors in mind, it'd be surprising to see either of them named the starter before fall camp. 

The receiver picture is slightly clearer, even if West Virginia is replacing two big-time starters. "I think T.J. is ready to take the next step and be a go-to guy," Brown said of T.J. Simmons, who was stuck in a reserve role behind the established starters last year, in an interview with the Morgantown News. An Alabama transfer, Simmons caught 22 of his 35 targets for 277 yards (7.9 YPT) and a score last season while Marcus Simms was the more explosive target, bringing down 46 of 65 targets for 699 yards (10.75 YPT). Look for these two to lock in as the top options in the offense while the likes of Dominique Maiden and Druw Bowen battle it out for the WR3 role. There should be room, even in a new system, for there to be three productive receivers for West Virginia.