Big 12 Football 2015: Top 10 impact freshmen to watch

Dec 6, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs the ball while being pursued by Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Ramon Richards (18) during the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Big 12 conference plays an exciting brand of high-scoring football that most recruits find appealing. The 2015 season should feature a number of impact players from 2015 recruiting classes who will make their mark on the conference as freshmen.

The Big 12 features spread offenses. An offense that requires four and five wide receivers to be on the field at the same time is going to lend itself to early playing time for freshmen. The easiest positions for football players to make the adjustment from high school to college are those that are the farthest away from the ball.

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It is easy for wide receivers, defensive backs and running backs to play early because the physical difference between skill position talent at the high school and college level is usually minute. If you have the speed and the hands to play wide receiver in college, you can usually do it as a freshman.

That is why it is not unusual to see players like Baylor wide receiver K.D. Cannon step in as a true freshman and dominate. Cannon caught 58 passes for 1,030 yards in 2014 with eight touchdowns. Or Samaje Perine, who was an impact player for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2014 to put it mildly. He rushed for 1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns during his first season of college football.

The fact that offenses spread out defenses and take so many snaps in the hurry-up no-huddle spread means that there are plenty of opportunities for freshmen to make an impact on offense. The same holds true for defense where defensive backs who can cover and make tackles are in demand.

Texas safety Jason Hall started the first game of his college career against North Texas. He started six other games for the Longhorns and ended the season with 49 tackles and two passes broken up.

The Longhorns are rebuilding in 2015 and are expected to play a large number of freshmen in trying to get more talent on the field. Some of those freshmen will make a big impact on the team and in the conference.

This is a look at 10 freshmen who will make a big impact in the Big 12 in 2015.

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