Big 12 Freshmen I Look Forward To Seeing In 2009

There are always a few 5-star, can't miss recruits who are the talk of the nation around signing day, but end up redshirting during their freshman season, so we're left to wait a year before seeing if they are worth the hype. The usual players to merit a redshirt are offensive linemen, because time to develop in the weight room and learn the system will do them some good, but every once in a while, a stud skill position player is redshirted.

Jermie Calhoun of Van HS is one such player. A 5-star RB recruit, Calhoun was a Parade All-American in HS before redshirting with Oklahoma last season. I am interested to see if he cracks the two-deep this season, and what, if anything, he does when given a chance to play.

Another 5-star stud from Texas who signed with OU but ended up redshirting was Keller Fossil Ridge DE R.J. Washington. Washington was also a Parade All-American, and was ranked the #2 defensive end in the nation by Rivals, and the #13 recruit overall. Given that Auston English, Frank Alexander, and Jeremy Beal are returning at DE, it will be interesting to see if Washington cracks the depth chart.

texas didn't have any five-star students in their 2008 recruiting class, but they did have two intriguing prospects. DeSean Hales was a four-star ranked multi-purpose back coming out of Klein Oak High School. texas has moved him to WR during his redshirt season. It will be interesting to see how Hales does at receiver, because I think they'll feature him at the B-receiver position. texas' other intriging prospect is former Austin LBJ wide receiver D.J. Grant. texas' coaches moved Grant to TE during Fiesta Bowl practices, and I'm wondering if he'll see significant action at Y in 2009. Anyone else want to see if Tre Newton is the answer to texas' problems at RB?

Oklahoma State has a stud RS freshman RB in Kye Staley, a 4-star recruit who was considered the top football player in Oklahoma in 2008. Staley was recruited as an "athlete", but will now try to break into a lineup that includes Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston at TB.

Nebraska's only 5-star stud recruit is also the only 5-star recruit to ever come out of the state of Nebraska, OT Baker Steinkuhler.  Since arriving in Lincoln, Steinkuhler has switched to the defensive side of the ball, and is now listed at DT. He should be fun to watch this season, if only to hear announcers refer to his father, former Outland Trophy winner Blake Steinkuhler, every time he is on television.

These are only seven redshirt freshmen I am interested in seeing during the 2009 football season; who will you be watching for?