Five Big 12 Players Off to Slow Starts, but Should Not be Given Up on
The college football offseason is full of takes. Whether or not those takes turn out to be good or bad depending on the results on the field. Some players meet expectations while others fail to reach them.
There are just twelve games in the regular season and even though we are a month in, there are a few key players off to slow starts. Everyone’s situation is different but here are five Big 12 players I am not giving up on just yet.
1. Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler
Spencer went from Heisman hopeful before the season to being booed by his home crowd just this past weekend. Outside of the Western Carolina game, Spencer has thrown for just three touchdown passes in those other three games combined. He also has three interceptions in those three games as well. While his number aren’t great this season, his completion percentage is still well above 70% at 74.1%. It doesn’t help that his offensive line is struggling but for whatever reason, Spencer doesn’t seem like that confident player like he was a year ago. At some point, I do believe it will click for him as this Oklahoma offense looks to get out of a rut.
2. Iowa State QB Brock Purdy
Much like Spencer Rattler, Brock Purdy came into this season with plenty of hype. While he did start the 2020 season a little slow, he has regressed this year. Outside of the UNLV game, Brock has just one touchdown pass. I know the offense for Iowa State mainly revolves around Breece Hall but at some point, Brock has to get it together if the Cyclones want to go back to Jerry World. With tight end Charlie Kolar getting healthy again, I think Brock will bounce back and if we are being honest, he was not all that bad in the Baylor game.
3. Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims
Coming out of the gates, Marvin Mims had a solid performance in week one catching five passes for 117 yards. Since the first game, he has a total of five catches for 76 yards. While he is still averaging over 19 yards a reception (which is second in the Big 12), his opportunities have diminished over the past few weeks. Why? Well, the play of the line and Spencer Rattler doesn’t help but Marvin also is sharing key targets with other wide receivers such as Mike Woods and Mario Williams. I said earlier that I do think the Oklahoma offense will get back on track and even if Marvin isn’t the number one target in this offense, he still would be a solid number two option for the Sooners.
4. TCU WR Quentin Johnston
While TCU has played just three games so far this season, Quentin Johnston was shut down against SMU last weekend. Johnston had zero receptions against the Mustangs but was targeted five times by Max Duggan. He did have a good performance against Cal but through three games, he has just a total of 133 yards. If TCU wants to be a serious Big 12 title contender this year, they need Quentin Johnston to have a big breakout year. The talent is there but I just need to see him be more consistent as a player.
5. Oklahoma RB Kennedy Brooks
Often times Kennedy Brooks is forgotten in the Big 12. When the conference has two great running backs like Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson, it is hard to get noticed sometimes when you are going up against those guys. Brooks is yet to have a 100-yard game, but he is splitting time with fellow running back Eric Gray. With Kennedy, I think it is more of a numbers game. If Lincoln Riley is willing to give him more opportunities, Kennedy Brooks will be just fine. He has proven time and time again that he is a productive running back, but he just needs the ball in his hands more.
