If you're a defensive star, you head to the SEC. If you want to be an offensive star, you head to the Big 12. That helps explain why our five most important newcomers in the Big 12 are on the offensive side of the ball.
1. Trey Metoyer, Oklahoma WR
Justin Brown, the Penn State transfer, was a big addition to the Sooners, but they already have their star at receiver and it's not Kenny Stills. Stills may have appeared on the preseason All-Big 12 team but expect Metoyer to get the most targets and love in Norman. The freshman was the star of the spring game when he caught six passes for 72 yards and his presence is one reason Bob Stoops said this might be the most talented group of receivers he's had at OU. Metoyer was Rivals.com's pick as the top high school prospect and right away he's expected to be one of the Big 12's best at receiver.
2. Dayne Crist, Kansas QB
Bringing Crist along with him to Lawrence immediately gave Kansas fans faith that Charlie Weis would give the Jayhawks a chance to win games right way. Yes, a chance. The Jayhawks were not competitive during the Turner Gill regime and part of the problem was the inability to find a quality QB after Todd Reesing left Lawrence. Crist never lived up to expectations at Notre Dame, but he also never had the chance to play for the man that recruited him. Now Crist gets one year to show that he is a pro prospect and help Weis begin the turnaround at KU.
3. Wes Lunt, Oklahoma State QB
Lunt, a true freshman, won the starting job in the spring over redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh. Lunt put up Oklahoma State-like numbers in his senior year at Rochester High School in Illinois -- 3,650 yards, 31 touchdowns, four interceptions and completing 73 percent of his passes -- but now he'll go up against Big 12 defenses. Lunt has one of the most challenging jobs in the conference taking over for Brandon Weeden; however, he has some help to make the transition. Lunt is surrounded by talent and gets to operate Mike Gundy's offense.
4. Lache Seastrunk, Baylor RB
What made Baylor's offense in 2011 was not only did the Bears have Robert Griffin III, they also had a great senior running back in Terrance Ganaway, who ran for 1,547 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Bears would be smart to lean even more on their running game this year without Griffin around. One of Ganaway's replacements will be Seastrunk. The Oregon transfer was a five-star recruit coming out of Temple, Texas in 2010 and will have an opportunity to utilize his speed in a spread offense that is more balanced than most realize.
5. Javon Bell, Texas Tech WR
The junior college transfer caught 69 passes for 939 yards and scored 10 touchdowns at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College last season. He has impressed during camp. From RaiderPower.com:
"I hate being repetitive, but Javon Bell is absolutely on the verge of becoming special. There is his blazing speed, which we’ve already mentioned. But additionally, his footwork and route-running are something to behold. At this point he is so quick in and out of his breaks that he’s just about impossible to cover. Bell, it’s safe to say, is the hardest cover on the roster right now and the receiver cornerbacks most dread attempting to cover. And if that’s not enough, he rarely drops a pass."
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12.