Penn State receiver Justin Brown told the Oklahoman that he could be transferring to OU in the coming days. Brown, a senior, would be an immediate impact player for the Sooners. Last season he led the Nittany Lions with 35 receptions, 517 yards and two touchdowns.
Brown would also help fill the void early in the season left by suspended receivers Jaz Reynolds and Trey Franks. Reynolds and Franks were reinstated on Wednesday but coach Bob Stoops said both would miss a "considerable" amount of games.
Brown is still considering staying at Penn State and he has also been in contact with Cincinnati and Illinois.
Longhorns add kicker, receive three 2014 verbals: Thursday was a good day for Texas coach Mack Brown. First, the Longhorns got news that Penn State kicker/punter Anthony Fera was transferring to UT, then Brown secured three commitments from the 2014 class.
Abilene (Texas) athlete Lorenzo Joe was the first to go public with his commitment to the Longhorns and later in the day San Antonio (Texas) defensive end Derick Roberson and Houston (Texas) running back Donald Catalon made it known they are also planning to sign with the Longhorns.
Big 12 lands six on Paul Hornig watch list: The Big 12 tied for third with the Big Ten for most players nominated for the Paul Hornig Award, which goes to the "most versatile player in major college football." The Big 12 players to make the list were West Virginia's Tavon Austin, KU's D.J. Beshears, TCU's Brandon Carter, UT's Quandre Diggs, OSU's Justin Gilbert and Iowa State's Josh Lenz.
Other news and notes
- West Virginia began practice on Thursday and the team's top two recruits were not in attendance. Deontay McManus, a four-star receiver, and Sam Lebbie, a three-star linebacker, are at the Atlanta Sports Academy prep school in Georgia, the Charleston Gazette reported.
- At Iowa State, all focus is on quarterbacks Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett. Both split time at QB last season and coach Paul Rhodes said he will not make a decision until the final day of the team's full set of scrimages on Aug. 18 .
- As practice begins at Kansas, new defensive coordinator Dave Campo is trying to turn around the worst defense in the country. The Jayhawks are hoping improved conditioning will help.
- Texas Tech star running back Eric Stephens, who had his season cut short in 2011 by a knee injury, will not miss any practice time. Stephens, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported, will be ready to go as practice begins on Monday.
- Nice piece in the Oklahoman on Oklahoma State sophomore receiver Josh Stewart. Stewart relocated to the Dallas suburb of Denton in middle school and formed a close relationship with fellow Cowboy J.W. Walsh, which ultimately led to Stewart landing in Stillwater.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow@CBSSportsBig12.
