13) Frank Alexander, senior DE, Oklahoma
The Big 12 always goes through cycles with its pass rushers. The league is never necessarily short on them, as they're just as coveted as the record-breaking passers the league employs. Instead, the state of the league's pass rushers typically sit in two phases: loaded and reloading.
This year, the Big 12 is reloading, with many of the league's top pass rushers like Jeremy Beal and Sam Acho moving on to the NFL. But while the next generation of pass rushers prepare to make their mark, one of last season's top pass rushers remains to carry the flag in the transition.
Frank Alexander had 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks a year ago, but was overshadowed as Beal made a play as the league's top defensive end. Now that Beal is gone, however, it's Alexander's turn. He enters his senior year with 25 career tackles for loss, despite starting just 18 games in his Sooner career. He's seemingly been on the cusp of greatness ever since a redshirt freshman season saw him earn honorable mention All-Big 12 honors despite only playing in nine games, starting five.
Now that the 6-foot-4, 255-pound athlete from Baton Rouge is a full-time starter, he'll have a great chance to approach double digit sacks, and in doing so lay the foundation for the Big 12's up-and-coming quarterback chasers.
2010 Stats: 39 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble
No. 14: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill
No. 15: Oklahoma DB Tony Jefferson
No. 16: Texas LB Emmanuel Acho
No. 17: Oklahoma DB Demontre Hurst
No. 18: Baylor WR Kendall Wright
No. 19: Oklahoma OL Ben Habern
No. 20: Oklahoma State OL Lane Taylor
No. 21: Iowa State LB Jake Knott
No.22: Oklahoma State S Markelle Martin
No.23: Missouri DL Brad Madison
No. 24: Missouri WR T.J. Moe
No. 25: Texas Tech OL Mickey Okafor
No. 26: Missouri TE Michael Egnew
No. 27: Texas A&M CB Coryell Judie
No. 28: Texas DB Kenny Vaccaro
No. 29: Oklahoma DE/LB Ronnell Lewis
No. 30: Texas A&M RB Christine Michael
No. 31: Kansas OL Jeremiah Hatch
No. 32: Texas Tech OL Lonnie Edwards
No. 33: Missouri DE Jacquies Smith
No. 34: Oklahoma WR Kenny Stills
No. 35: Texas WR Mike Davis
No. 36: Texas DE Jackson Jeffcoat
No. 37: Kansas State DB David Garrett
No. 38: Oklahoma OL Gabe Ikard
No. 39: Texas Tech RB %%MATCH_44%%
No. 40: Baylor OL Philip Blake
No. 41: Missouri LB %%MATCH_43%%
No. 42: Texas DL Alex Okafor
No. 43: Texas A&M DL Tony Jerod-Eddie
No. 44: Kansas RB %%MATCH_47%%
No. 45: Texas Tech S Cody Davis
No. 46: %%MATCH_40%% State CB %%MATCH_41%%
No. 47: Kansas State S %%MATCH_46%%
No. 48: Baylor DE/LB %%MATCH_45%%
No. 49: Kansas State DE %%MATCH_42%%
No. 50: Kansas DE Toben Opurum