The 2010 Big 12 Bonanza

Don’t be surprised if the stands of Big 12 football games are silent in 2009. Aside from the student section, the rest of the stadiums will be filled with NFL scouts.

In 2010, the Big 12 is going to be one stop shopping for your mock draft. No less than six of the top ten prospects in the 2010 draft will be playing their senior seasons in the Big 12.

The state of Oklahoma alone has three such players that will be the topics of discussions on message boards across the NFL landscape.

Offensive tackles Russell Okung of Oklahoma State and Trent Williams of Oklahoma are looking like top 10 locks. In fact, there is a real possibility of both getting a lot of attention as the possible number one overall selection. Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham could be a top 10 pick as well. The 6’6″, 262 pound prospect could see his stock rise with a productive senior year and a good combine showing.

As usual, Mack Brown has a couple of his guys on the NFL radar. The Texas Longhorns have a Heisman hopeful in quarterback Colt McCoy and a guy who could be the Aaron Curry of the 2010 draft in outside linebacker Sergio Kindle.

The Blackshirts of Nebraska are anchored by Ndamukong Suh, a 6’4″, 305 pound defensive tackle who looks to be the best defensive lineman in the 2010.

Combine the above mentioned names with Missouri OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Texas OT Adam Ulatoski, Oklahoma RB Chris Brown and Texas WR Jordan Shipley and you’re sure to see an onslaught of Big 12 talent selected on the first day of the 2010 NFL draft.

Of course, these are just the seniors. Oklahoma junior Sam Bradford could very well be the top pick in the draft should he forgo his final year of eligibility. Many pegged Bradford as the top pick in 2009 had he declared, instead the Oklahoma City native opted to return to school and make a run at adding a second Hesiman trophy to his case.

If you’re a fan of Big 12 football, expect to catch Todd McShay and Mel Kiper exchanging heated banter on the sideline of the Red River Shootout this year. In fact, you can safely bet on seeing the two draft wizards making their rounds as they try to stay on top of all the prospects that fill the Big 12 rosters.