This week, our colleague Adam Rittenberg took on the task of ranking college football’s top 50 returning players for 2017 in an Insider piece. So today, we’re taking a way-too-early look at the Big 12’s top 25 players for next season.

This list wasn’t easy to put together, since it features a mix of players with proven production and ones we’re projecting could do big things in 2017. We’ll revise these rankings again in the summer, but for now, here’s our initial top 25:

Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield (17-1 vs. the Big 12) makes the Sooners dangerous again in 2017. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

1. Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield: After finishing in the top five of the Heisman voting two straight years, Mayfield is the easy choice for the top spot. Mayfield, who broke the FBS season passing efficiency record last season, is 17-1 in Big 12 play as OU's starting QB.

2. Oklahoma State WR James Washington: After back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Washington could open as the favorite for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. Washington now has a dozen career 100-yard receiving outings, including his 171-yard shredding of Colorado in the December bowl game.

3. Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph: Like Washington, Rudolph opted to return for his senior season, making the Pokes absolutely loaded offensively for 2017. Among the FBS’ eight 4,000-yard passers last year, Rudolph threw the fewest interceptions with only four.

4. Texas OT Connor Williams: Williams allowed just one sack all last season, and helped paved the way for D’Onta Foreman to win the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back. As a result, Williams was a first-team Football Writers and Walter Camp All-American.

5. Oklahoma OT Orlando Brown: The reigning Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year has started 25 straight games for the Sooners. With Brown leading the charge, OU could boast one of its better offensive lines under Bob Stoops.

6. Oklahoma CB Jordan Thomas: Though he was up and down at times, Thomas was still a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2016. Entering his fourth season as a starter, Thomas will be one of the most experienced defensive backs in the country.

7. Kansas State OT Dalton Risner: A converted center, Risner was one of the top run-blocking tackles in the country last season. He gave up only sack, as well, as K-State ranked second in the Big 12 in 2016 in fewest sacks allowed.

8. Iowa State WR Allen Lazard: This past season, Lazard became just the fourth Iowa State player ever to go over 1,000 yards receiving. In 2017, he'll have a chance to topple several career Iowa State receiving records.

9. Oklahoma State RB Justice Hill: The reigning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Hill rushed for 1,142 yards and averaged better than 5.5 yards per carry in his first college season. His continued emergence will be a huge key to the Pokes’ Big 12 title hopes.

10. TCU WR KaVontae Turpin: Though injuries derailed his sophomore season, the talent is still there, underscored by his masterful performance early in the year against Arkansas. When healthy, there isn’t a more electrifying player in the league.

11. West Virginia RB Justin Crawford: The former juco transfer rushed for 1,184 yards and averaged a sparkling 7.2 yards per carry on his way to becoming the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. With Shelton Gibson, Daikiel Shorts Jr. and Rushel Shell all gone, Crawford figures to shoulder an even bigger load in 2017.

Kansas defensive end Dorance Armstrong had 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in 2016. Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire

12. Kansas DE Dorance Armstrong: Armstrong spearheaded an underrated Kansas defense last season, topping the conference with 20 tackles for loss. On top of that, only Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Willis had more sacks in the league than Armstrong’s 10.

13. TCU LB Travin Howard: He’s only produced a Big 12-best 235 total tackles during his first two seasons of playing linebacker while becoming a key leader for the Horned Frogs’ defense.

14. Oklahoma LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: As a junior, Okoronkwo stepped up and became one of the conference’s most effective pass rushers, finishing No. 3 in the Big 12 with nine sacks. As a senior, he’ll be one of the Sooners’ most important defenders.

15. Kansas State CB D.J. Reed: The Big 12’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year adapted quickly out of junior college and got better throughout league play. Reed looks like he’s going to be a special piece of the puzzle for K-State’s defense.

16. Texas LB Malik Jefferson: This very preliminary top 25 features a number of players poised to bounce back from disappointing 2016 seasons. Jefferson still hasn’t reached his full potential, but if new DC Todd Orlando utilizes him correctly, he could have a monster junior year.

17. TCU RB Kyle Hicks: Hicks emerged as one of the conference’s most versatile running backs with 1,459 total yards (1,042 rushing, 417 receiving) as a junior, which ranks best among all returning Big 12 backs. If the Frogs are determined to run the ball more in 2017, he’ll deliver.

18. Oklahoma State WR Marcell Ateman: The 6-foot-4 playmaker has a chance to be one of the Big 12’s best outside receivers next season. Ateman put up 766 receiving yards and five TDs on 45 catches in 2015 before missing all of last season with a foot injury.

19. Texas Tech WR Jonathan Giles: Became a go-to guy for the Red Raiders’ passing attack with 69 receptions for 1,158 receiving yards and 13 TDs. The former high school quarterback still hasn’t reached his ceiling as a receiver and will only get more dangerous.

20. Oklahoma OG Ben Powers: The former junior college transfer came in and immediately helped solidify the Sooners’ line. He got better throughout his debut season and should be one of the conference’s top interior linemen in 2017.

21. Texas RB Chris Warren III: Another player primed for a big comeback season, Warren rushed for 748 yards and seven TDs over his last six games before suffering a season-ending knee injury in October. With D’Onta Foreman off to the NFL, Texas should build its offense around the power back.

22. Kansas State DE Reggie Walker: There’s a reason why Walker beat out a lot of good players to win Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year from the league’s coaches. With Jordan Willis gone, he’ll have to step into a larger role after collecting 11.5 tackles for loss and forcing three fumbles in 2016.

23. Kansas State QB Jesse Ertz: Considering he missed pretty much all of 2015, Ertz did an admirable job in his first year as a starter and actually finished No. 15 nationally in QBR (77.5) while leading the Wildcats to a nine-win season. He’ll keep improving, too.

24. Baylor LB Taylor Young: He’s put up 265 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks over three seasons and yet Young is still somehow underrated. New coach Matt Rhule will enjoy his senior leadership of Baylor’s defense.

25. West Virginia S Dravon Askew-Henry: Too many good, deserving candidates for these last few spots, but we’re betting on a big comeback season from Askew-Henry after he missed all of 2016 with a knee injury. The runner-up for this last spot was Oklahoma State WR Jalen McCleskey, whose 73 catches last season rank No. 1 among all returning Big 12 wideouts.