Kellis Robinett's Weekly Big 12 Report: Baylor receiver Corey Coleman makes his case for national awards

Who is the nation’s best college football player?

West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen isn’t waiting for Heisman Trophy voters to decide. He thinks he already knows the answer: Baylor receiver Corey Coleman.

“No. 1 (Coleman) is the best player in college football,” Holgorsen said Saturday, following a 62-38 loss to Baylor in which Coleman grabbed 10 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns. “You can put me on the record for that. He’s the best football player in college football.”

The argument for Coleman is picking up steam. The Bear’s top deep threat has 41 catches for 877 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first six games. He has already broken Baylor’s single-season touchdown record for a receiver, all while sitting out the second half of many games because his team was so far ahead.

Quite the feat, considering he topped current pros Kendall Wright, Terrance Williams and Josh Gordon.

“I’m trying to put it on another level. That’s my job,” Coleman told reporters Saturday. “I know how hard they worked to get it to ‘Wide Receiver U,’ and it’s my job to keep it alive and make it even better.”

At his current pace, he will break the national record for receiving touchdowns of 27. National media outlets are beginning to mention him as a Heisman hopeful.

Coleman even gave viewers an eye-popping highlight Saturday when he hurdled over West Virginia safety Jarrod Harper as Harper appeared to have Coleman cornered and lunged to make a leg tackle. Coleman cleared Harper with ease and scampered down the sideline for extra yards.

He is a daunting assignment for any defensive back to cover.

Of course, so is TCU receiver Josh Doctson. Some will argue Coleman is the nation’s best player. Others will say he isn’t the best receiver in the Big 12. That honor could go to Doctson, who has 60 catches for 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns through seven games.

They are both skilled players that give opposing coach nightmares, including Holgorsen. He gets to see Coleman and Doctson back-to-back when the Mountaineers travel to TCU on Thursday.

Doctson will have to do a lot to earn more praise than Coleman. He is a tough act to follow.

Midseason recognition

They don’t hand out awards halfway through a football season, but if they did here is who would win in the Big 12.

Best offensive player: Trevone Boykin, TCU. The Horned Frogs have endured injuries, defensive breakdowns and a road-heavy schedule, but they remain undefeated because their quarterback makes so many big plays.

Best defensive player: Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State. The defensive end leads the Big 12 with 7.5 sacks and the Cowboys are undefeated.

Best special teams player: Ben Grogan, Oklahoma State. The Cowboys’ kicker leads the Big 12 with 11 field goals, including game-winning kicks against Texas and Kansas State.

Best coach: Gary Patterson, TCU. He hasn’t allowed injuries to hurt his team’s record.

Power rankings

1. TCU (7-0, 4-0): Blame location for lack of blowout victories. Horned Frogs have already won four road games.

2. Baylor (6-0, 3-0): Bears have scored at least 56 points in all six of their games.

3. Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1): How again did the Sooners lose to Texas?

4. Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0): Cowboys should enjoy playing Kansas. Their closing schedule is difficult.

4. Texas Tech (5-2, 2-2): Red Raiders had trouble beating the Jayhawks.

5. West Virginia (3-3, 0-3): Mountaineers could lose to TCU and then win out to finish 8-4.

6. Texas (2-4, 1-2): Longhorns need to build off OU victory.

6. Kansas State (3-3, 0-3): Bill Snyder has turned things around at midseason before. But he’s never lost worse than 55-0.

8. Iowa State (2-4, 1-2): Next up is Baylor. Gulp.

10. Kansas (0-6, 0-3): Looks like David Beaty found his future quarterback, Ryan Willis.

Game times for Oct. 31 (announced Monday)

▪ West Virginia at TCU, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 (FS1)

▪ Oklahoma at Kansas, 2 or 2:30 p.m. (Fox or FS1)

▪ Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m. (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2)

▪ Texas at Iowa State, 6 p.m. (FS1)

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Kellis Robinett's Weekly Big 12 Report: Baylor receiver Corey Coleman makes his case for national awards."