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Oklahoma Football: Five of the Most Dangerous Players Sooners Will Face in 2016

By Chip Rouse

Dec 5, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) rushes for a touchdown while Temple Owls linebacker Jarred Alwan (41) chases in the first half in the Mid-American Conference football championship game at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) rushes for a touchdown while Temple Owls linebacker Jarred Alwan (41) chases in the first half in the Mid-American Conference football championship game at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) scores a touchdown in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) scores a touchdown in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

KD Cannon, Baylor Bears Junior Wide Receiver

It has been well documented that dual-threat quarterbacks have been a huge problem for the Oklahoma defense in recent history. Another area where the Sooner defenders have been overmatched fairly regularly is when they go up against speedy sure-handed receivers like Baylor junior KD Cannon.

For the past couple of seasons, Cannon has operated in the shadows of a couple of the best receivers in the Big 12 in Anwan Goodley (2014) and Corey Coleman (2014-15). Both have now moved on to the NFL, leaving Cannon as the lead receiver in a highly potent Baylor offense.

Cannon possesses sprinter speed (timed in 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and is a two-time All-Big 12 selection, despite being the second or third leading receiver in the Baylor offense the past two seasons. He already owns six school receiving records in his first two seasons.

His freshman season was his most productive with 58 catches for 1,030 yards and eight touchdowns. Last season, Cannon had 50 receptions for 868 yards, with six touchdowns.

Last season, in a 44-34 home loss to the Big 12-champion Sooners, Cannon was the leading receiver for the Bears, with five catches for 77 yards.

With quarterback Seth Russell expected to be back and healthy to start the 2016 season, Cannon will have one of the country’s best passing quarterbacks launching the ball in his direction.

The Sooners already are down one starting cornerback this season with the early departure to the NFL by Zack Sanchez, and they could be down their other starting corner if Jordan Thomas is suspended for part or all of the season as a result of a recent off-the-field issue.

That is like blood in the water for an All-American wide-receiver candidate like KD Cannon. Cannon is on the preseason watch list for both the Maxwell Award, which recognizes the best college football player every season, and the Bilitnikoff Award honoring the most outstanding collegiate receiver.

Next: James Washington, Oklahoma State Cowboys Wide Receiver

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