Big XII Players of the Week - Week Six

Photo credit: Dede Westbrook/Twitter

*Originally published on ArmchairAllAmericans.com*

As the calendar turns to October, conference play is in full swing. A few teams have begun to establish themselves as legitimate contenders for the Big XII title, and these two Texas natives helped their teams win in close ballgames that could end up being the difference maker in the conference race.

Offense: Dede Westbrook SR WR – Oklahoma

Following a record-setting performance in the Cotton Bowl, Dede Westbrook became the most popular Westbrook in the state of Oklahoma, even if only for a day. Matched up with a struggling Texas defense, Westbrook torched the Longhorns for 232 yards on 10 receptions, and added three touchdowns. All three set career highs for Westbrook and his yardage mark also set the Oklahoma school record.

Westbrook did most of his damage on his three touchdown grabs, the last of which being a 47-yarders which would give the Sooners a lead they would never relinquish. The senior has been a fantastic weapon for Baker Mayfield in the past two games as he has racked up 17 receptions for 390 yards and five touchdowns.

Defense: Josh Carraway SR DE – TCU

For the third season in a row, Kansas gave TCU fits, but once again the Horned Frogs were able to escape, 24-23. The TCU comeback can in large part be attributed to the stellar play of senior defensive end Josh Carraway, who managed eight tackles (four for loss) and three sacks. While wreaking in the Jaykhawks backfield, Carraway filled up the stat sheet and set career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks.

As TCU came from behind in the fourth quarter to avoid an embarrassing upset, Carraway notched all three of his sacks. On the final Kansas drive, which would end in a missed, potential game-winning field goal, the senior defensive end had sacks on back-to-back plays. Even on a day where TCU narrowly avoided a disastrous defeat, Gary Patterson has got to like what he saw from Carraway as he helped preserve the victory.