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Big 12 Media Days: Players leading their college teams who played their high school ball in the DFW area

At the 2022 Big 12 Media Days, seven of the 38 player representatives laced up their cleats in the DFW area in high school.
Credit: Big 12 Conference
Courtesy: Big 12 Conference (Twitter)

ARLINGTON, Texas — The 2022-23 season for the Big 12 Conference ushers in some big headlines, including the anticipated departure of powerhouses Oklahoma and UT and the arrival of a new commissioner. 

Big 12 Media Days kicks off the year with a statement from the new leader, Brett Yormark, CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and co-CEO of Roc Nation. Commissioner Yormark's introductory press conference will begin the festivities at 8:30 a.m. on July 13. 

The event will last two days, July 13 and 14, where media will get to ask coaches and players from all 10 Big 12 Conference teams. 

Here is a look at the schedule of press conferences on ESPNU: 

July 13: 

  • 8:30 a.m.: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and Baylor President Linda Livingstone
  • 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Baylor coach Dave Aranda
  • 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Baylor players
  • 10:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Kansas coach Lance Leipold
  • 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: Kansas players
  • 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: West Virginia coach Neal Brown
  • 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.: West Virginia players
  • 11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Kansas State coach Chris Klieman
  • 12 p.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Kansas State players
  • 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy
  • 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Oklahoma State players

July 14:

  • 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Oklahoma coach Brent Venables
  • 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Oklahoma players
  • 10:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire
  • 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: Texas Tech players
  • 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Iowa State coach Matt Campbell
  • 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.: Iowa State players
  • 11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.: TCU coach Sonny Dykes
  • 12 p.m. to 12:15 p.m.: TCU players
  • 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Texas coach Steve Sarkisian
  • 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Texas players

RELATED: Big 12 Conference ushers in Roc Nation co-CEO as next commissioner

This year's event features a significant amount of talent who played their high school football in the DFW area. Of the 38 players representing their colleges, seven played high school in or around Dallas-Fort Worth: 

Bryson Jackson, Baylor LB (Mansfield, Lake Ridge HS)

Jackson was a two-time all-district linebacker from Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield. He was rated the nation's 60th-best outside linebacker prospect in 2017 recruiting class by Rivals, ranked No. 64 by ESPN, No. 76 by Scout and No. 90 by 247Sports. 

For Baylor, Jackson has been primarily a special teams player, playing in eight of nine games in 2020 and 13 of 14 games in 2019. In 2021, Jackson played in 14 games and tallied 15 total tackles and two sacks. He will enter his senior season in 2022. 

Credit: AP
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, left, avoids the tackle by Baylor linebacker Bryson Jackson, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)

Marvin Mims, Oklahoma WR (Frisco, Lone Star HS)

Mims was a four-star wide receiver out of Lone Star High School in Frisco. Mims broke the Texas high school state record for receiving yards in a career (5,485) and in a season (2,629). He was rated the No. 24 wide receiver in the country by ESPN, No. 26 by 247Sports and No. 47 by Rivals. 

For Oklahoma, Mims made an immediate impact in his freshman season, tying for the Big 12 2020 season lead in touchdowns (9). The nine touchdowns were also a Big 12 Conference freshman record. In 2021, Mims was an All-Big 12 honorable mention after hauling in 32 passes for 705 yards and five touchdowns.

Mims enters his junior season for the Sooners.

Credit: AP
Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims carries during the Oklahoma NCAA college spring football game, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State QB (Denton, Ryan HS)

Sanders was the Texas 2017-18 Gatorade State Player of the Year and also named Mr. Texas Football by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. At Ryan High School in Denton, Sanders threw for 3,845 yards and 54 touchdowns during his senior season, leading the Raiders to Class 5A D1 semifinals in 2017. 

At Oklahoma State, Sanders redshirted and then started his redshirt freshman season in 2019. He's been QB1 for the Pokes ever since. Sanders was named the the first team All-Big 12 quarterback in 2021. 

Sanders said there's nothing like Texas high school football and he's honored to represent those athletes at the collegiate level. 

Sanders returns for his senior season in 2022.

Credit: AP
Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders (3) scrambles against Notre Dame during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State DE (Sachse, Sachse HS)

Lacy headlined a defense at Sachse High School that made an appearance to the 2017 UIL 6A D1 State regional semifinals. Lacy was rated a three-star defensive lineman by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports. He was ranked the No. 23 strong-side defensive end in the 2018 class and the No. 81 player in the state of Texas by 247Sports. 

At Oklahoma State, Lacy redshirted his freshman year, but then emerged into a All-Big 12 honorable mention pick by his junior season in 2021. Lacy tallied 34 tackles in his junior season, which were the second-most on the defensive line and ninth-most on the team. 

"I feel like we're the best in the nation ... the best athletes come from here in the DFW area," Lacy said.

Lacy returns for his senior season in 2022.

Credit: AP
Texas quarterback Casey Thompson (11) throws a pass under pressure form Oklahoma State defensive end Tyler Lacy (89) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Steven Avila, TCU C (Arlington, South Grand Prairie HS)

Avila was rated a four-star recruit by ESPN and ranked as the No. 9 offensive guard in Texas and No. 42 in the country. Avila redshirted his freshman season, then showed off his versatility on the offensive line by making starts at three different positions (six at center, two at right tackle and one at right guard). 

"One thing that it tells me, and I hold close to my heart, is that Texas football is one of the most elite states in the country," Avila told WFAA. "It's awesome to see people from the metroplex go out and excel."

In 2021, Avila started at center in 11 games and one game at right guard (versus Texas). 

Avila enters his senior season in 2022. 

Credit: TCU
Courtesy: TCU Football

Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech OL (Mansfield, Lake Ridge HS)

Rogers was a two-year starter at right tackle for Lake Ridge High School, making first team All-District in 2019 as a senior. He was rated as a three-star prospect according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals and ranked as the No. 68 offensive tackle in the 2020 class by 247Sports. 

For Texas Tech, Rogers made instant impact as a freshman, appearing in nine games (three starts). In his sophomore season, Rogers established himself as the team's starting right tackle and was the only underclassman elected to the team captains circle.

Rogers enters his junior season in 2022.

Credit: AP
Texas Tech offensive lineman Caleb Rogers plays against Mississippi State in the first half of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Myles Price, Texas Tech WR (The Colony, The Colony HS)

Price was a three-star wide receiver for The Colony High School and was named a second team All-State selection by the Associated Press. He finished his high school career with 3,884 total yards (1,606 rushing and 2,278 receiving) in three years.

For Texas Tech, Price became a dynamic threat for the Raiders as a freshman. Price appeared in nine games and started in three in his first year, leading all freshmen and ranking fourth on the team in all-purpose yards. In 2021, Price built on his freshman success, catching 38 passes for 523 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Price enters his junior season in 2022.

Credit: AP
Texas Tech's Myles Price (18) runs down the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)

The Big 12 Conference released the preseason poll on July 7, which showed Baylor as the favorites to win the conference in 2022. The Bears broke Oklahoma’s six-year streak as the preseason favorite.

Follow WFAA Digital Producer Paul Livengood for coverage of the 2022 Big 12 Media Days. 

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