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Big 12 Football: Top 20 quarterbacks since 2000

By Andrew Tineo

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts after losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts after losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 03: Collin Klein #7 of the Kansas State Wildcats looks to pass against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 03: Collin Klein #7 of the Kansas State Wildcats looks to pass against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

Career Stats: 61.3% completions, 4,724 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 2,485 rushing yards, 56 rushing touchdowns.

Outside of the bizarre 2012 run that Collin Klein put on, the lone other unorthodox trait was his throwing form. Klein drew similarities to Oklahoma’s Blake Bell, in terms of using the run option in the red zone.

I’d argue Klein’s arm is much better than Bell’s, and his accuracy was much better, especially in his final season in Manhattan.

Although the 2012 season from Klein is the most talked about, his 2011 season was just as impressive from a scrambling standpoint. Klein finished second in the country in rushing touchdowns, with 27, to go along with his staggering 1,141 rushing yards, which ranked fourth in the conference.

The Cats burst out to a blazing 7-0 start while defeating RGIII-led Baylor. The Wildcats plague was back-to-back games against the state of Oklahoma, where they lost both contests.

Klein however didn’t let that interfere, as he rushed for five touchdowns and over one hundred yards, in their final game and win over Texas A&M as conference opponents. Kansas State would go on to finish 10-2 and suffered a loss to Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl.

Just as the season prior, Kansas State got out to a blazing hot start. The Wildcats made sure to take care of the Oklahoma teams, with wins over both, while also besting West Virginia’s high-powered offense in Morgantown.

Klein showed he could outduel the track team that was West Virginia, with 350-plus total yards and seven touchdowns (three passing, four rushing).

The start Kansas State was getting out to elevated the program to unfamiliar territory. After a win over TCU, Kansas State was ranked No.1 in the country, with Collin Klein in the thick of the race for the Heisman.

Against a below .500 Baylor team, however, the fortune changed. Three Klein interceptions did not help as Kansas State was blown out in Waco. Fortunately, the season was not ruined as Klein added another one 100-yard rushing day to race past Texas and earn the Big 12 title.

Klein for two seasons showed immaculate plays and an unorthodox way to win. Even if Klein’s success didn’t last past college, the two seasons that he was the signal caller in Manhattan were magical.

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