By Chris Cuellar

Daily Staff Writer

The Big 12 has been a football conference with perennial competitors for the nation’s highest individual and team awards, and 2009 is no different. Excluding ISU players, here is a list of 10 of the top student-athletes through week six performances this season. Statistics and overall team impact were taken into account, but the list is by no means all-inclusive.

Ndamukong Suh:

The monstrous force in the middle of the field has become a household name this season, doing everything for a stout Husker defense while being double-teamed.

Six tackles, one sack and forced fumble, three hurries, one pass breakup and an interception. Those are Suh’s stats from only one week of work, but he single-handedly tore apart the Mizzou backfield with his 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound frame and scary speed.

Suh may have already earned himself a top-five NFL draft position, and Husker fans can stay hopeful if his performance stays the same: There may be Heisman talk in the future.

Colt McCoy:

Last year’s Heisman runner-up has put up great numbers in an undefeated start yet again for the Longhorns.

McCoy is starting in his fourth season in Austin, and with the Longhorns leading the conference and nation in scoring offense, it’s safe to call his career successful.

While his slow starts this season have kept him from the top of the list, a Big 12 South title and undefeated season would be a credit to his leadership and mobility.

Those two things were unaccounted for on the stat sheet that lets Texas compete with every team in the nation.

Blaine Gabbert:

The sophomore has made Tiger fans forget about last year’s leader Chase Daniel. 

While being a mobile gunslinger in Tom Brady’s body, Gabbert is passing an average of 259 yards per game and has tossed 11 touchdown passes, while only allowing two interceptions.

Making all the throw’s in an offense that Gary Pinkel balances with a obligatory running game, Gabbert’s size and skills have put the Tigers in the top 25 in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

Texas Tech QB’s:

Taylor Potts and “Sticks” Sheffield have seen the field this year as signal caller for the Red Raiders, and each has the distinction of throwing for seven touchdowns in a single game. Potts’ handlebar mustache and Sheffield’s 170-pound frame making throws in the Big 12 make for quite the odd duo, but Mike Leach makes quarterbacking in Lubbock look like child’s play.

The Red Raiders were supposed to be rebuilding with the spread as well, but with these two putting up 443 yards per game at a nearly 70 percent pace, Texas Tech is competitive again in the Big 12 South.

Dezmon Briscoe:

Briscoe is complemented by senior starter Kerry Meier out wide, but he is the team’s deep threat, as well as the Big 12’s leading receiver in yards per game.

Briscoe’s speed makes things happen within the spread, and at 17 yards per catch, it is also a key to victory.

129 yards receiving per game leads the conference and ranks second in the country, and opens up the field for slot receiver and honorable mention Meier.

Todd Reesing:

Briscoe’s quarterback has some pretty good moves himself, rocketing his 5-foot-10-inch frame into the spotlight with big game after big game in Mark Mangino’s offense.

The senior quarterback is a dual threat, both throwing from the pocket and scrambling outside it. Reesing’s 336 total yards per game is third in the conference, but leading an undefeated team into the Big 12 schedule and to the peak of the Big 12 North head his list of accomplishments.

His production has proved that 2008’s Orange Bowl berth wasn’t a fluke, and the Doug Flutie imitator has put his name into the ring for best quarterback in a conference that molds them.

Roy Helu, Jr.:

The Cornhuskers’ threat out of the backfield leads the Big 12 in rushing yards per game and has done everything asked of him from the demanding second year coach Bo Pelini.

The standout for Nebraska also ranks 13th in the nation in yards per game and is 21st in total rushing yards.

Helu’s 110 yards per contest and 6 yards per carry move the sticks consistently for the Big Red, and open up the field for an improved passing offense headed by Zac Lee.

The junior has lived up to traditionally amped Husker running back expectations, and his performance will be instrumental for Nebraska to compete for a division title down the stretch.

Travis Lewis:

The sophomore outside linebacker with 4.3 speed is tied for second in the Big 12 in tackles per game on a defense that is near the top of every major statistical category.

Lewis filled in admirably when now-senior Ryan Reynolds went out with a torn ACL last season and he’s picking up whatever slack is left this season, leading a defense that has posted 18 sacks and only five converted red zone trips.

Jordan Shipley:

The do-it-all receiver for the Longhorns, and McCoy’s roommate and best friend, Shipley can do a few things in his own right, scoring five touchdowns already this season on an average of 177 total yards per game.

The speedster also has 265 yards on punt returns in 2009, including two touchdowns.

Shipley leads the conference in receptions per game as the favorite target in a spread offense, but his play making ability from the slot will likely net him a job after college.

Perrish Cox:

Cox has punt return, kick return and defensive back all thrown on his label and has kept the Cowboys in games this year with his speed alone.

Sitting fourth in the conference on kick return average and leading the Big 12 with nine pass break-ups, Cox has taken away his half of the field against most quarterbacks, eliminating opposing teams’ best receivers.

Against Georgia’s A.J. Green in Oklahoma State’s spotlight game of the year, Cox held the All-SEC receiver to four catches for 52 yards and kept him out of the end zone.

The senior has averaged just 2.5 tackles per game, showing his opponents unwillingness to throw his way.

Honorable Mention:

Injuries and team performance left some names off the list, but non-ISU honorable mentions include Jerrod Johnson (TAMU; QB), Ryan Broyles (OU; WR), Brandon Banks (KSU; WR), Joe Pawelek (BU; LB), and Danario Alexander (MU; WR).