Husker QB Taylor

Link to ESPN's Big 12 QB stats.

Had to do some analysis on Zac getting the Big 12 Offensive award, due to questioning in some quarters that he deserved it; I agree you can make a case for others, but can't say that the case for others is any better than Taylor's. I think you could make a case for several QB's and KU RB John Cornish. OU RB Adrian Peterson would have probably run away with it had he stayed healthy.

Taylor completed 62% of his passes for nearly 2800 yards with 24 TDs and only 4 INTs and averaged almost 9 yds/attempt. His efficiency rating was second in the conference and ninth nationally.

UT QB Colt McCoy completed 69% of his passes for almost 2300 yds with 27 TDs and 7 INTs and was first in conference and fifth nationally in ER, averaging just over 8 yds per attempt.

OSU QB Bobby Reid completed 56% for almost 2100 yds, had 23 TDs and 10 INTs, 8.6 yds/attempt, and was # 15 nationally in ER.

Tech QB Graham Harrell completed 67% for almost 4200 yds, 7.3 yds/attempt, 36 TDs and 10 INTs, and finished 23rd in national ER.

OU QB Paul Thompson completed 62% for nearly 2200 yds, 8 yds/attempt, 18 TDs and 7 INTs to finish #24 in ER nationally.

UM QB Chase Daniel completed 64% for almost 3200 yds, 7.6 yds/attempt, 26 TDs and 10 INTs, finishing #30 nationally in ER.

KU RB Cornish finished with almost 1500 yds rushing, 8 TDs, 5.8/attempt, and had 24 receptions for another 200 yds and a TD.

All of these players had good, if not great seasons. I think what got Taylor the nod was the real low 4 INTs on over 300 attempts, better yardage on a relatively comparable number of attempts, and the high yards per attempt, along with the 24 TDs. McCoy also got Newcomer of the Year honors, which probably contributed. Harrel comes from a system that produces huge QB numbers, he had nearly 600 attempts. Daniel had over 400 attempts.

Reid only had 240, Thompson 270, McCoy 280 and Taylor 315, and the numbers are pretty similiar, around 65% completions, 20+ TDs, 7-8 yds/attempt. Cornish is a very nice back, but for whatever reason, the award seems to go to a QB from a front runner, the only exception being Troy Davis in the first year of the Big 12. Not sure his numbers really outshine any of the QB's at any rate.