The six best offensive minds in the Big 12 this season

The Big 12 deploys multiple styles of offense.

The Big 12 is known for great offensive play, and has been for over two decades. Since Mike Leach introduced the Air Raid at Oklahoma, the conference has been known to light up the scoreboard.

Critics of Big 12 defenses cited high-scoring games as proof of the lack of defense in years past. As Air Raid concepts like “Mesh” have permeated college football, other conferences are forced to adapt to the difficult style of play.

Since the early 2000s, the Big 12 has adopted multiple styles of offense. Iowa State and Kansas State heavily utilize tight ends and offensive line play to force teams to play different personnel.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, coaches like Steve Sarkisian have modernized their offensive philosophy to take advantage of opponents in space.

Here are my six best offensive minds in the Big 12 conference ahead of the 2022 season.

Former Texas WR Joshua Moore reveals his transfer location

Joshua Moore will face off with Texas in September.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders got some good news on the day they found out that Erik Ezukanma would be heading to the NFL draft. Former Texas Longhorns wide receiver Joshua Moore announced that he would be heading to Lubbock, Texas, to play for new head coach Joey McGuire.

Moore entered the transfer portal after an alleged argument with head coach Steve Sarkisian. After the game against Iowa State, Moore put his name in the portal which came as no surprise. The Longhorns will face off against Moore when Big 12 play opens on Sept. 24 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock.

Moore now joins an offense led by Zach Kittley, who returned to Tech after Sonny Cumbie left for the Louisiana Tech head coaching position.

This past season Moore caught 24 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. In 2020, Moore was the leading receiver with nine touchdown receptions. In the Texas Tech Air Raid offense, he will have ample opportunity to shine in this pass-heavy attack. Jerreth Sterns led the nation with 150 receptions, 1,902 yards, and 17 touchdowns in this offense in 2021.

This might be the best possible spot for the former four-star recruit.

WKU’s Bailey Zappe breaks Joe Burrow’s single-season touchdown record

We have a new single-season passing touchdown king as Joe Burrow’s 2019 mark gets passed.

It was only a matter of time before this record would be broken. After Joe Burrow set the FBS record for most touchdown passes during the 2019 season, we have a new touchdown king in college football. That wasn’t the only record he broke on the day as Zappe also set the new single-season passing yards record at 5,967. The original record was held by Texas Tech quarterback BJ Symons who threw for 5,833 yards in 13 games in 2003.

Zappe and the Hilltoppers beat Appalachian State in the Boca Raton Bowl on Saturday, 59-38. He finished with 422 yards passing and six touchdowns.

Zappe vs Burrow

(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Breaking down the final numbers for Zappe and how he compared to Burrow.

Zappe vs Burrow
14 Games 15
69.2 Comp % 76.3
5,967 Yards 5,671
426.1 Yards/Game 378.1
62-11 TD-INT 60-6

The fact that he broke the record in one less game shows just the kind of season that Zappe put together in 2021. His offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Zach Kittley will now take his high-powered offense to Lubbock, Texas, with the Red Raiders in 2022.

Burrow’s numbers were impressive given the level of competition he faced in that magical 2019 season. Which isn’t to take anything away from what the former Houston Baptist transfer acomplished. Burrow and Zappe are the only quarterbacks in FBS history to throw for 60 touchdowns in a single season.

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Former Vols’ offensive coordinator hires Zach Kittley

Former Vols’ offensive coordinator hires Zach Kittley.

Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton has hired Zach Kittley as the Hilltoppers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Helton served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018, Jeremy Pruitt’s first season as head coach with the Vols.

Vols Wire previously highlighted Kittley as a rising offensive coach in college football.

2020 was Kittley’s third season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at FCS Houston Baptist.

He joined Houston Baptist’s staff following a five-year stint at Texas Tech under head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Kittley joined the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days” in July to discuss his coaching career and offensive philosophies.

The show can be listened to here or below.

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A look at rising non-Power Five offensive coaches

A look at five rising non-Power Five offensive coaches.

The sport of college football is filled with top-tier offensive minds that are moving up the coaching ladder.

During the coronavirus pandemic, “Tennessee Two-A-Days” showcased numerous offensive minds throughout college football as they continue to grow their careers.

Vols Wire now highlights coaches that are up and coming that could be at the Power Five level soon.

NEXT: Scotty Walden

PODCAST: Houston Baptist OC Zach Kittley

PODCAST: Houston Baptist OC Zach Kittley

HOUSTON — Zach Kittley is a rising coach in college football.

Kittley enters his third season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at FCS Houston Baptist. He joined Houston Baptist’s staff following a five-year stint at Texas Tech under head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Under Kittley’s guidance, Houston Baptist’s offense averaged 394.3 yards per game in 2018 and 426.6 each contest last season.

Kittley joined the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days” to discuss his coaching career, offensive philosophies, football potentially being played during the spring and having players redshirt due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The show can be listened to here or below.

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