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| West Virginia QB Geno Smith is at the top of the Heisman watch list and is climbing up NFL Draft rankings. (Getty Images) |
Here's the latest on the conference's top players who are projected to go from playing on Saturdays to starring on Sundays.
1. QB Geno Smith, 6-3, 220, West Virginia
Why he has the top spot: He is now the favorite for the Heisman. He has as many touchdowns as incompletions in two weeks. His numbers are so good that it's tough to imagine he's gone up against actual defenses. Smith's latest showing was another display of pinpoint accuracy as he completed 34 of 39 passes for 411 yards and five touchdowns. Sure, it was against an FCS school, but James Madison is the seventh-ranked FCS school. We're still waiting for Smith to make one mistake, one bad toss.
Season stats (two games): 66 of 75 passing (88 percent), 734 passing yards, 9 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 83 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD.
Player ranking: Smith is ranked 12th overall and rated as the third-best quarterback in CBSSports.com's latest player rankings.
Up next: West Virginia welcomes Maryland (2-1) to Morgantown on Saturday. The Terps have allowed only 124.3 passing yards per game, but they have yet to go up against an FBS team that ranks in the top 100 in passing offense -- WVU ranks second.
2. WR Terrance Williams, 6-2, 205, Baylor
Why he has the second spot: Similar to Smith, Williams has been climbing draft boards through the first few weeks of the season. He started the year projected as a second-round pick by CBSSports.com and has worked his way into the first round. Williams is averaging better than 20 yards per catch. On Saturday, he caught six passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns against Sam Houston State. Through two games, he's on pace to have similar numbers to former teammate Kendall Wright, whose senior season production made him a first-round pick.
Season stats (two games): 13 receptions, 269 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns.
Player ranking: Williams is ranked 24th overall and the fourth-highest wide receiver in CBSSports.com's latest player rankings.
Up next: Baylor travels to Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. The Warhawks are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete only 47.5 percent of their passes against them.
3. DE Jackson Jeffcoat, 6-5, 245, Texas
Why he has the third spot: Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze pulled QB Bo Wallace out of the game in the fourth quarter to save him from more hits from Jeffcoat and fellow sack-master Alex Okafor. Jackson had four tackles, a sack and a QB hurry against Ole Miss, and he and Okafor both demanded a lot of attention. Jackson is expected to go slightly higher in the draft, but he is trailing his teammate in sacks thus far -- two to three.
Season stats (three games): 18 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 5 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble.
Player ranking: Jeffcoat is ranked 19th overall and the third-highest defensive end in CBSSports.com's latest player rankings.
Up next: After a bye week, Jeffcoat will be chasing a dual-threat QB similar to Wallace in Oklahoma State's J.W. Walsh, who is likely to start with QB Wes Lunt out with a knee injury.
Keep an eye on: WR Tavon Austin, 5-9, 172, West Virginia
Why you should watch him? Austin is a highlight waiting to happen. (Watch his latest jukes here.) He is also one of the reasons Smith has put up ridiculous numbers. Austin had 11 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown against James Madison. He is second to teammate Stedman Bailey in all-purpose yards in the Big 12, averaging 154 yards per game.
Season stats (two games): 21 receptions, 277 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns, 80 rushing yards on four attempts.
Player ranking: Austin is ranked 109th overall and the 14th-highest wide receiver in CBSSports.com's latest player rankings.
Up next: West Virginia plays Maryland, who has yet to see a talent like Austin this year. Last season, Austin had 11 receptions for 122 receiving yards against the Terps in a 37-31 win.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern).
