By Wendell Barnhouse
Big 12 Digital Correspondent
After four weeks of play, the current NCAA statistics reveal that the Big 12 is again rich with prolific quarterbacks.
Three of the top 10 quarterbacks in passing efficiency, including Baylor's Seth Russell are at the top of the list along with four of the top 10 in passing yards per completion, with Russell again leading the way. Trevone Boykin (third), Patrick Mahomes (fourth) and Mason Rudolph (10th) are in the top 10 in passing yards.
With so many outstanding QBs in the Big 12, it stands to reason the Conference also has plenty of talented wide receivers. And that assumption is true.
Baylor's Corey Coleman is leading the nation in touchdown receptions with eight while TCU's Josh Doctson is third with sixth. Doctson had 18 receptions – tying the Big 12 record – for 267 yards (a school record) and three touchdowns in the Horned Frogs' 55-52 victory at Texas Tech.
Coleman (153) and Doctson (148) lead the Big 12 in yards receiving per game while West Virginia sophomore Shelton Gibson is averaging 109 yards per game and Texas Tech's Jakeem Grant averages 103 per game.
"Coleman is extremely explosive, he's about as good as there is in the country," said Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, whose defense will try to slow down Coleman and the Baylor offense Saturday.
Doctson, a 6-3 senior, had his monster game even though Texas Tech knew he was Boykin's main option – particularly after teammate Ty Slanina suffered a season-ending broken collarbone during the game.
"He was the guy we had to go to," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "You're not going to win the ballgame unless you have an effort like we had from him."
Coleman, Doctson, Gibson and Grant are just some of the receivers who are more than capable of making big plays in the passing game.
"I've been in this league eight years now and it's been strong every year," Baylor coach Art Briles said of the receiving talent.
"From a production aspect, there are a lot of receivers in this league who can play," West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. "It's about as good as I've seen in terms of teams having guys who can get down the field and make plays."
Samaje Perine: Remember Me?
On his way to becoming the Big 12 rushing champion last season as a freshman, Oklahoma's Samaje Perine had his breakout game against West Virginia. The Sooners out-gunned the Mountaineers 45-33 thanks to Perine's four touchdowns and 242 yards rushing.
In three games, Perine is averaging 87.7 yards per game and has two touchdowns but is coming off his most productive game of the season (152 yards on 22 carries).
Sooners coach Bob Stoops, whose team faces West Virginia Saturday, reflected on Perine's big game in Morgantown.
"As you've seen over and over with him, he's a pretty special running back. That was a big night for him," Stoops said. "His ability, for a guy who's that big and powerful, he has such a unique ability to slide and to skip into holes and out of holes, and out of tackles and then to absorb the hits that he does as well and give out the hits that he does."
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Quick Slants
Oklahoma opens Big 12 play at home Saturday against No. 21 West Virginia. The Sooners are going for their ninth Conference championship since Bob Stoops took over in 1999. During that time, no other Big 12 school has won more than two titles.
Oklahoma State has benefitted from fast starts and strong finishes in winning its first four games. The Cowboys have outscored their opponents 44-9 in the first quarter and 53-7 in the fourth.
How much did Texas miss junior offensive tackle Kent Perkins, who was sidelined by an injury in the second half of Saturday's loss to Oklahoma State? With Perkins on the field, the Longhorns had 43 plays for 301 yards. Without him, they ran 16 plays for a total of 11 negative yards.
From the Something Has To Give Dept.: Kansas State is 175-5 when leading at the half since 1990. Since Mike Gundy became the coach in 2005, Oklahoma State is 70-6 when leading at the half. The teams meet in Stillwater Saturday (and if they're tied at halftime, this statistic becomes irrelevant).
Audibles
Senior offensive lineman Sedrick Flowers on Texas' offensive line needing to up its production:
"Coming off last season and how we played then compared to how we're playing now - we cannot go back to that. That's what killed us last year - the way the O-line played. There weren't running lanes, and we weren't able to protect the quarterback. We can't go back to that."
Baylor quarterback Seth Russell on facing Texas Tech at AT&T Stadium Saturday:
"The emotions are real. It's going to be a firefight."
TCU coach Gary Patterson on Texas Tech's last offensive play that started at the 50 and ended at the 10 after a completion and three laterals:
"How do you work on that play? I've been in it 33 years. I mean, you'd have to bring in a rugby coach."
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops when asked about the expectations for a college defense based on the high-powered offenses, especially in the Big 12:
"A win. A win. I think TCU's probably pretty satisfied with their win last weekend. You win differently every week and that's why it's a team (sport). One side of the ball doesn't win or lose for you. It's always a combination. A team win any way you can get it."