On Wednesday, 247Sports’ Carter Bahns released his picks for one player to watch on each Preseason Top 25 team, a group that includes four Big 12 programs.
Those units include No. 15 Arizona State, No. 17 Kansas State, No. 18 Iowa State, and No. 22 Texas Tech.
For the Red Raiders, Bahns believes the player to watch is Georgia Tech EDGE transfer Romello Height. He was a key member of Texas Tech’s top-ranked transfer portal class this offseason.
“As one of the headliners of Texas Tech’s historic transfer portal class, Height brings immense promise to a roster that may compete for a Big 12 crown,” Bahns said. “He is a key pickup for a team that will square off against countless high-end quarterbacks.”
Following Texas Tech is No. 18 Iowa State, which attempts to fill the void left in the wide receiver room by Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.
“Iowa State lost a pair of 1,000-yard receivers and needs a new go-to option for Rocco Becht,” Bahns wrote. “Enter Chase Sowell, an experienced target who flew under the radar at East Carolina but has star potential.”
For Kansas State, one of the biggest losses from the previous seasons was DJ Giddens, a running back who shined at the NFL Scouting Combine. Thankfully for Chris Klieman, the team has a rising star in junior running back Dylan Edwards.
“Edwards has big shoes to fill after DJ Giddens ran for 1,343 yards last season,” Bahns said. “He was fantastic in his change-of-pace role in 2024 and could thrive as the primary weapon next to Avery Johnson in a dynamic backfield.”
The fourth and final team featured in the Top 25 is the Arizona State Sun Devils, who have an interesting opening at the running back position. Cam Skattebo established himself as one of the best backs in the nation last fall, and now the team turns to Kanye Udoh.
“Replacing a Heisman Trophy candidate is no easy feat, but Arizona State might have its next great running back in Udoh, who last season crossed the 1,000-yard mark at Army.”
