It's hard out there for a Big 12 cornerback.

In a conference full of innovative offenses and gun-slinging quarterbacks, the job of the defensive back can seem impossible at times. They have to play faster, smarter and tougher than ever before. And when they don't, they get embarrassed.

In 45 conference games last season, Big 12 quarterbacks attempted throws of 20-plus yards more than 600 times. No other Power 5 conference comes close to matching that barrage. A year ago, the QBs in the conference produced 18 touchdown passes of more than 60 yards during league play. After just 15 games this season, there have already been 10.

Only one Big 12 team (Baylor) ranks among the top 60 in FBS in pass defense. Everybody else is just trying to survive the week.

"I wouldn't want to play that position, I can tell you that much." Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury

Welcome to the island and the many challenges of playing corner in the Big 12.

The challenge of being 'The Guy'

Oklahoma's Jordan Thomas had a hunch his junior season might play out like this.

He's arguably the best cover corner in the Big 12. He proved that with five interceptions in his breakout sophomore campaign. Todd McShay projects Thomas to be a top-10 pick if he comes out. But Thomas knew what comes with that hype.

"It's just what I expected out of this year of being The Guy," he said. "They're going to see if he really is The Guy. They're gonna throw what they can at me."

Thomas has nearly twice as many pass breakups this season (11) as any other defensive back in the Big 12. He's also given up five touchdown passes. Comes with the territory.

His game against Texas is a fine example of the boom-or-bust nature of the job. In the first half, Thomas shut down everything thrown his way. In the opinion of Bob Stoops, Thomas played "as well as anybody that's been here." In the second half, Texas receivers outran him for scores of 63 and 45 yards.

That's how it goes. The great days can always get spoiled on one or two mistakes.

"I laugh about it," he said. "It's not funny, but at the same time, you've just got to forget about it. Why complain, moan, cry about it? You just keep playing."

He's trying to help Oklahoma's young corners learn that mindset. Four different players have tried to hold down the Sooners' No. 2 corner job this season. For now, it's true freshman Jordan Parker.

Even if the young guys do everything the right way in film sessions and practice, they still need the right instincts come game day. As Thomas puts it, "Bow your neck and be a player."

"Yeah, it's difficult. Everyone loves to throw the ball around," he said. "Everyone watches film. Whatever weakness you show, they'll attack it. When you're out there by yourself, you find out how good you really are. At the same time, it's exciting and a fun thing to live in."

The challenge of all these receivers

One thing that amazes Oklahoma State cornerback Ramon Richards about playing in this pass-happy conference: the variety of dangerous pass-catchers.

"These aren't regular receivers," he said.

Every day in practice, he has to face an All-America-caliber player in James Washington. Some days, they have to stop speedsters like Baylor's KD Cannon, Oklahoma's Dede Westbrook and West Virginia's Shelton Gibson, who can run right past you. Other days, the 5-foot-11 Richards gets physical 6-foot-5 pass-catchers like Iowa State's Allen Lazard and OU's Mark Andrews. The Big 12's leading receiver, Texas Tech's Jonathan Giles, does his damage from the slot.

And it's not just the star power that bothers Richards, who has played in 31 games and grabbed seven career interceptions. It's the depth of these receiving corps.

The Big 12 currently has 34 receivers with 200-plus receiving yards and 37 who've caught more than 15 passes. Sixty have recorded at least one catch of 30 or more yards. And their coaches are rotating all of them in and out frequently to keep them fresh.

"We're playing 80 to 90 snaps a game, and sometimes you do have to play every snap," Richards said. "These guys are moving fast. You have no choice but to go the whole drive. You have to stay on your toes."

The challenge of inexperience

West Virginia's defense held the most-prolific passer in college football to 10 points last week. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 305 yards (his fifth-fewest in a Big 12 start) on 44 attempts before being pulled in the fourth quarter of a 48-17 loss to the undefeated Mountaineers. On paper, West Virginia's cornerbacks shouldn't have stood a chance against Mahomes.

Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is relying on four former transfers -- Rasul Douglas (junior college), Antonio Crawford (Miami), Maurice Fleming (Iowa) and Elijah Battle (juco) -- and veteran backup Nana Kyeremeh to survive.

Rasul Douglas is a first-year starter at West Virginia. The Mountaineers are giving up a little over 250 passing yards per game. Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire

"It's a totally new group," Gibson said. "That's the one position where we had nobody coming back who played any meaningful snaps."

How was going through an offseason with essentially a brand new group of corners?

"Very scary. Especially in this league," Gibson said. "Maybe if we were in the SEC, it wouldn't be as bad. In the Big 12, you better have a whole stockpile of 'em."

Gibson credits first-year cornerbacks coach Blue Adams with getting all five players ready to contribute. They had big shoes to fill after Daryl Worley -- now a rookie starter for the Carolina Panthers -- decided to go pro. There might not be as big a star in this group as Worley was, but they're winning on depth and learning as they go.

"They've got to play with extreme confidence and, no matter how good or bad the last play was, move forward," Gibson said. "Because stuff's going to happen to you in this league. That's one thing we stress a lot."

The challenge of getting beat

Texas was supposed to have one of the best groups of cornerbacks in the Big 12 this year. Davante Davis and Holton Hill both earned preseason all-conference recognition after showing serious promise as true freshmen.

Six games into the season, Davis is now a backup and Hill is mostly playing special teams. The Longhorns gave up 15 touchdown passes and 15 yards per completion over their first five games. Charlie Strong has had to make changes. And he doesn't make excuses for how hard it is to be a Big 12 corner.

"If you do your job, it's not very hard," he said. "The thing you can't do is give up the deep ball. You can't allow guys to run past you."

For Kris Boyd and Texas, simpler schemes and better tackling are answers to secondary woes. John Rivera/Icon Sportswire

Kris Boyd and John Bonney, the Longhorns' new starters, didn't give up those bombs. They've gone back to basics: Keep the ball in front of you and make the tackle.

Bonney, a sophomore, admits he didn't play with much confidence in the nickel spot last year. Now he's outside on the island, all by himself, against the conference's best. He's trying to get comfortable in that role while knowing if he gets burned, someone else can take his spot. How's that for pressure?

"I don't think it's for everyone," Bonney said, "or else everybody would be doing it."

The challenge won't ever get easier

As one of the offensive masterminds making these cornerbacks' jobs harder every week, Kliff Kingsbury can appreciate their plight. The high-tempo Big 12 offenses continue to evolve in ways that only further stress defensive backs.

The fast tempo is a problem. The quarterbacks getting the ball out in just a few seconds is a problem. The popularity of quick screens and those easy access throws Kingsbury and so many other coaches utilize to build rhythm means a corner has to be able to think fast at the line and make tough one-on-one tackles. And when defenses start taking that away?

"Now you've got to take your deep shot and throw it over their heads," Kingsbury said, "and then here goes some star receiver running as fast as he can."

And with the "touchy-feely" nature (Kingsbury's words) of how officials call pass interference these days, the risk-reward is in favor of taking that shot. The receiver's chances of getting either a big catch or a big gain off a penalty make it all worthwhile. The job of the Big 12 cornerback isn't getting any easier anytime soon.

"My hat's off to all the guys who play that position in this league," Kingsbury said. "I don't think they get enough credit.

"I wouldn't want to play that position, I can tell you that much."