Big 12 Power Rankings: Corey Coleman helping Baylor soar to new heights
"That No. 1 is the best player in college football," the tired voice said. "You can put me on record for saying that. Corey Coleman is the best football player in college football."
That was West Virginia head coach Dana Holgerson in the postgame interview after his team's loss to Baylor, looking like a man who'd run out of answers.
Coleman, the mercurial Bears wideout, caught his 14th, 15th, and 16th touchdown catches of the year in Baylor's 62-38 win. Yes, 16 scores. It’s mid-October, people.
To put those numbers in perspective, last year's Biletnikoff Award winner, Amari Cooper of Alabama, had 16 total touchdowns the entire season.
Coleman ended the game with 10 catches for 199 yards and those three scores to help the No. 2-ranked Bears keep their Big 12 and national playoff hopes alive.
"He's as good as I've seen," Holgerson said in the weekly Big 12 coaches teleconference. "His strength is above average, as is his quickness. I don’t know if we tackled him the whole game. He had 10 touches with three touchdowns, so I don't recall if we tackled him at all."
For the season, Coleman now has 41 catches for 877 yards to go along with his 16 markers. Proving his game-changing status, in addition to leading all receivers in touchdowns, he is also second nationally in receiving yards per game with 142.6, despite having caught just 6.8 passes a game.
"He's got unbelievable top-end speed," Kansas coach David Beaty said this week. "But he's turned into more than just a speed guy. He's got so much agility. If you don't get your hands on him, he'll just go right past you. If try to play him with just one man on him, it's going to be a long day."
If Coleman's production stays even remotely consistent, Troy Edwards' FBS touchdown-receiving record of 27 could easily be toppled.
The only down side to Corey Coleman? He's a junior. Coach Art Briles is hoping he comes back for one more season, but with the freakishly talented receiver high on every NFL team's draft board, Briles is hoping against hope.
Here's a look at how the Big 12 shakes down after Week 7 with the conference power rankings:
Big 12 Power Rankings
1. Baylor (last week: 1)
With another monster offensive performance, the Bears join the 2008 Oklahoma Sooners as the only team in the modern era to score 50-plus in six straight games.
2. TCU (last week: 2)
What do you know, a road game in which the Frogs did not struggle. Now a week off to heal some defensive wounds and get ready for November’s rigorous stretch run.
3. Oklahoma State (last week: 3)
The Cowboys have one thing on their side that the other contenders don't: a defense. Question is, can their offensive line open some running lanes when they play TCU, Baylor, and OU?
4. Texas Tech (last week: 4)
A tougher-than-expected win at Kansas. But how about that offensive line? They've given up just seven sacks in 346 passing attempts this season.
5. Oklahoma (last week: 5)
The Sooners are 35-0 in regular season games following a loss since 1999. Rub your eyes. Do a double take. That's not a mirage. These guys are the Jekyll & Hyde of the Big 12.
6. West Virginia (last week: 7)
Only in the Big 12 can you have 471 total yards and get 22 first downs and still lose. West Virginia has now lost three straight, giving up 139 points in the process.
7. Kansas State (last week: 6)
What a lost weekend for the Wildcats. They suffered their first shutout since 1996 - a span of 234 consecutive games - and their worst loss in the Bill Snyder era.
8. Texas (last week: 8)
Will the Longhorns maintain the momentum from the Oklahoma win? Suddenly, their next five games look winnable against Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas, West Virginia, and Texas Tech.
9. Iowa State (last week: 9)
From the frying pan into the fire. The Cyclones must rebound from their thumping at the hands of TCU and get ready for the Baylor juggernaut.
10. Kansas (last week: 10)
Quarterback Ryan Willis set freshman records for attempts (50), completions (35), and yards (330) in a game in the Saturday loss.