A&M’s Johnson best QB in country?

Texas A&M senior Jerrod Johnson had an interesting take on whom he thought would be the best quarterback in the country for the upcoming college football season.

“I feel that I am the best quarterback in the country,” Johnson said Monday at Big 12 media days in Irving, Texas. “I understand there are other players, and I think that it comes with hard work and preparation. But I think that the best quarterback in the country at the end of the year will win the most games.”

Johnson led the Big 12 with 30 touchdown passes last season and was fourth in the country with 4,085 yards of total offense.

“You can’t have success without confidence,” Johnson said. “At the same time, you need to respect your opponent enough to understand that they work and put in effort as well. That’s what makes this game so great.”

In addition to being the preseason offensive player of the year, Johnson was named to the preseason All-Big 12 first team.

Crick won’t crack

Nebraska’s junior defensive tackle Jared Crick isn’t about to buy into the fuss being made about him being named the Big 12 preseason co-defensive player of the year.

“Preseason? It’s just hype,” Crick said. “It’s an honor, being held in such high regard, especially with such great defensive players in the Big 12. But preseason accolades really don’t mean anything. You’ve gotta go out and prove your worth every single day, and that’s what I’ve got to do.”

Playing next to 2009’s Associated Press Player of the Year, Ndamukong Suh, Crick recorded 73 tackles and 9.5 sacks while helping provide the Huskers with one of the nation’s most dominant defenses.

ISU DE reflects on friendship with KU’s Harris

Iowa State senior defensive end Rashawn Parker has an interesting KU connection. Back in high school, Parker ran in track meets against a current member of the Kansas University secondary: senior cornerback Chris Harris. The two Oklahoma natives (Parker is from Ponca City, Harris from Bixby) remain friends today.

So who was faster in high school?

“I’m pretty sure he got me,” said Parker, laughing. “I was out there just for football for the conditioning. I’m pretty sure he got me in a foot race. He’s a little lighter than me.”

Harris weighs 190 pounds to Parker’s 254.

“I talk to him occasionally after games when we’ve played each other,” Parker said. “I know him on a personal level from back home. I talked to him the last time we were in Lawrence after the game. It’s always friendly.”

Baylor QB Griffin good to go

Baylor coach Art Briles spoke on the condition of starting quarterback Robert Griffin, who tore his ACL in week 3 last season.

Baylor finished the season 2-7 without Griffin.

“As far as where he’s at physically right now, he was 217 pounds this morning,” Briles said. “That’s up about probably nine pounds from where he was a year ago at this time, which I like. I’m all for it. Everything he’s done since his injury has been in a structured atmosphere. So in that structured atmosphere, he’s really in great shape.”