Best of the Big 12: Iowa State's Anthony Johnson, OSU's Jason Taylor top league DBs
These weeks before the start of the college football season have become known as the talking season.
There’s lots of talk.
Not much else.
But at least one other thing helps us pass the days until the games finally start: rankings.
Preseason rankings are all the rage in July and August. Conferences do them. So do media and coaches. While these rankings don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things ― no trophies for being ranked No. 1 in August ― they certainly get our attention. We debate and discuss, analyze and argue.
So, we figured we’d join the fun.
We continue our series of Big 12 rankings with defensive backs:
1. Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State
Johnson is the top returning player in the secondary for an Iowa State team that led the Big 12 last season in passing defense. Last season, Johnson recorded 55 tackles and four pass breakups. Iowa State allowed 188.2 passing yards per game and 19 touchdown passes.
A six-foot, 207-pound fifth-year senior Johnson has started in 41 straight games for Iowa State.
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2. Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma State
Taylor is the top defensive back on an Oklahoma State team that ranked second in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. A member of the all-Big 12 preseason team, Taylor is coming off a season in which he had two interceptions, four pass break-ups, 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries. Oklahoma State allowed 210.2 passing yards per game and 17 touchdown passes.
In his career, he has scored on an 85-yard interception return, an 85-yard fumble return and a 48-yard kickoff return.
3. Charles Woods, West Virginia
Woods is the top returning player in the secondary for a West Virginia team that ranked third in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. A cornerback and member of the all-Big 12 preseason team, Woods intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles in 2021. West Virginia allowed 211.5 passing yards per game and 17 touchdown passes.
A Dallas native, the 5-foot-11, 193-pound Woods played at Illinois State from 2018-20. He made 18 starts for the Redbirds.
More:Who is the best defensive lineman in the Big 12? Position loaded with big names
4. Julius Brents, Kansas State
Brents is the top returning player in the secondary for a Kansas State team that ranked fourth in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. A member of the all-Big 12 preseason team, Brents recorded 49 tackles and one interception last season. Kansas State allowed 215.2 passing yards per game and 15 touchdown passes.
Before transferring to Kansas State ahead of the 2021 campaign, Brents spent the first three years of his career at Iowa. The 6-4, 202-pound cornerback is on the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
5. D'Shawn Jamison, Texas
Jamison is the top returning player in the secondary for a Texas team that ranked fifth in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. Jamison has started in each of UT's last 18 games. Last season, he intercepted a pass and pounced on a fumble. Texas allowed 224.0 passing yards per game and 16 touchdown passes.
Since his arrival in 2018, Jamison has started 31 times at the cornerback position for Texas. He has also scored on two kickoff returns, a punt return and a blocked extra point.
More:Who is the top tight end in the Big 12? Ben Sims, Jahleel Billingsley make a strong case
6. Al Walcott, Baylor
Walcott is the top returning player in the secondary for a Baylor team that ranked sixth in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. During Baylor's 2021 campaign, the 6-2, 219-pound safety nabbed three interceptions, broke up five passes and blocked a kick. Baylor allowed 227.5 passing yards per game and 13 touchdown passes.
Walcott's 96-yard interception for a touchdown in the 2022 Sugar Bowl was the second-longest interception return in school history.
7. Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas
Logan is the top returning player in the secondary for a Kansas team that ranked seventh in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. A member of the all-Big 12 preseason team, Logan led the Big 12 last season with his average of 9.4 tackles per game. He totaled 113 tackles and broke up six passes. Kansas allowed 236.8 passing yards per game and 27 touchdown passes.
Logan is a six-foot, 210-pound safety. His 58 tackles were a team-high total during the 2020 season.
8. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Hodges-Tomlinson is the top returning defensive back in the secondary for a TCU team that ranked eighth in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. A member of the all-Big 12 preseason team, Hodges-Tomlinson scored off of one of the two passes he intercepted last year. TCU allowed 239.8 passing yards per game and 20 touchdown passes.
Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of TCU legend LaDainian Tomlinson. Hodges-Tomlinson has been placed on the first team of the all-Big 12 team in each of the past two seasons.
9. Woodi Washington, Oklahoma
Washington is the top returning defensive back in the secondary for an Oklahoma team that ranked ninth in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. Washington missed seven of Oklahoma's 13 games last year, but he still intercepted two passes and tallied 27 tackles. Oklahoma allowed 261.8 passing yards per game and 26 touchdown passes.
The 5-11, 196-pound Washington has picked off two passes in each of the past two seasons.
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10. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech
Taylor-Demerson is the top returner in the secondary for a Texas Tech team that finished last in the Big 12 last season in passing defense. Taylor-Demerson is coming off a junior year in which he broke up 10 passes and led Texas Tech with his three interceptions. Texas Tech allowed 268.2 passing yards per game and 29 touchdown passes.
A 5-11, 195-pound safety, Taylor-Demerson's 62 tackles ranked fourth among the Red Raiders in 2021.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Best of the Big 12: Anthony Johnson, Jason Taylor tops best DBs
