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As Charlie Strong has learned in two years as Texas coach, the Big 12 is not a conference for a team trying to find an offensive identity. In a league filled with fast-paced spread attacks, it is difficult to hide deficiencies at quarterback.So before diving into identifying six pivotal players in the Big 12 this season, it should be noted: It is a given that whomever plays quarterback (sophomore Jerrod Heard or freshman Shane Buechele) for the Longhorns could end up as the most important player in the conference.As usual, the Big 12 has some star quarterbacks. None bigger than Oklahomas Baker Mayfield. Though Oklahoma States Mason Rudolph and Texas Techs Patrick Mahomes will likely put up numbers to rival the Sooners Heisman Trophy contender.Looking past the stars, here six players whose performances will be pivotal for their Big 12 teams in 2016.Denzel Johnson, S, TCUJohnson is one of those of those hybrid-type defensive players that every good defense needs when facing spread offenses. Looks like a safety (6-foot-2, 205 pounds), often plays like a linebacker up near the line of scrimmage (two sacks, eight passes broken up, 11 1/2 tackles for loss). While the Horned Frogs retool their offense this season, a defense that ranked second in the Big 12 in yards per play allowed (5.16) can help pick up any necessary slack, with Johnson as a prominent playmaker.Seth Russell, QB, BaylorRussell is coming off neck surgery that ended his 2015 season just as he was starting to get rolling (2,104 yards and 29 touchdown passes). Hes been cleared to play, but the senior hasnt taken a hit since last season. Making Russells recovery even more vital is the fact that Jarrett Stidham, last seasons promising freshman backup, has decided to transfer. The Bears are a hard team to predict after a tumultuous offseason, but this much is certain: Russell must be as good as new for Baylor to have any shot to finish near the top of the Big 12.Ian Sadler, WR, Texas TechJakeem Grant, maybe the fastest player in college football last year, is gone and the Red Raiders need to replace 1,268 yards and 10 touchdowns from their inside receivers. No one is saying Sadler (42 catches for 596 yards and three touchdowns) needs to double his production and make up for what Grant did alone. But Mahomes will need reliable slot guys who can turn a short gain into a big one occasionally and either Sadler or Cameron Batson will be asked to fill that role.Rushel Shell, RB, West VirginiaShell is a bruiser at 220 pounds and a former four-star recruit. Hes been a good player for the Mountaineers, sharing carries the last two seasons but never emerging as the best of a bunch. With Wendell Smallwood (and his 1,519 yards rushing) gone, Shell is the go-to-guy. The senior will be running behind one of the best lines in the league, too.Charles Walker, DE, OklahomaThe Sooners were second in the Big 12 in sacks last season with 39, but Erik Striker and Charles Tapper (combined 14.5 sacks) need to be replaced. That means a bigger role for Walker (six sacks in 2015). The Sooners will need the junior to turn into a terror. At 6-foot-2, 305 pounds, he has the potential to be the best defensive lineman in the conference.Michael Wilson, OG, Oklahoma StateThe Cowboys running game was awful last season (3.58 yards per rush, ninth in the conference) and a line filled with new starters was a big part of the problem. The good news is all those guys are back with a year of experience. Or is that the bad news? Singling out Wilson is not entirely fair. The whole group needs to play better, and maybe the senior can lead the way.----Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP Cheap Jaren Jackson Jr. Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. 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PHOENIX -- Ryan Schimpf toiled in the minors for seven years waiting for a chance to have a night like this.The 28-year-old rookie homered twice and the San Diego Padres beat Arizona 13-6 on Wednesday night to take two of three from the Diamondbacks.Schimpf has four major league home runs, three in the past two nights.Ive been working and preparing for this moment all the years I spent in the minor leagues, he said, just practicing and playing like I would be here at some point. Thats just kind of how Ive always played. Im definitely happy to be here and grateful for the opportunity.Schimpf was called up from Triple-A El Paso on June 14 to help an injury depleted infield. He was hitting .196 entering Wednesday nights game but manager Andy Green knew the 5-foot-9, 180-pounder could do better.Hes hit 20-plus (home runs) every year the last four years, Green said. It might not look like it in the package but hes got a lot of power.Yangervis Solarte drove in five runs, three on a homer, Wil Myers had three hits and drove in a run and Matt Kemp had a two-run single for the Padres, who scored 13 consecutive runs after Arizona took a 4-0 lead.Schimpf had a two-run shot off Shelby Miller in the Padres five-run fourth inning and a solo home run off Josh Collmenter in the ninth for his first career two-homer game.Miller (2-9) threw three scoreless innings, on one hit, before falling apart in the fourth. Miller, 0-7 at home, allowed six runs in five innings.It was almost like they got something on him, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. It was five runs on 12 pitches. It was quick and they did a good job of getting on the early pitches. It was a tough one to watch. He was so good for three innings. it was like `Is this guy going to throw a nine-inning shutout tonight? then boom.Jose Dominguez (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief of starter Colin Rea to get the win. The bases were loaded with two outs and the Padres up by one when Dominguez entered the game and struck out pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks Jr.dddddddddddd with a 99 mph fastball.Green called that the biggest moment of the game.Solarte fell a triple shy of the cycle. His three-run homer came off Collmenter in the ninth. Solarte had a run-scoring single in the fourth and an RBI double in the fifth.Brandon Drury and Jake Lamb homered for the Diamondbacks, who finished a 2-7 homestand.Arizona fell to 15-32 at home and is in a virtual tie with San Diego for last place in the NL West.Through three innings, Miller threw just 34 pitches.But the wheels came off in the fourth. The Padres had four straight singles to start the inning and an RBI groundout before Schimpf sent Millers 2-0 pitch into the seats in left field.PADRES MOVESan Diego claimed RHP Jake Smith off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and assigned him to Double-A San Antonio.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: 2B Jean Segura left the game with a bruised left triceps after being hit by a pitch in the second inning. X-rays were negative. ... Hale said RHP Zack Greinke has thrown lightly with trainers in the training room. Hale said Greinke (strained left oblique) will get on the field when the team goes to San Francisco this week and just play catch and see how it feels.UP NEXTPadres: RHP Drew Pomeranz (7-7, 2.65 ERA) gets the start Thursday night when the Padres open a three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. RHP Hyun-Jin Ru will come off the DL to make his season debut for the Dodgers.Diamondbacks: Arizona has Thursday off. LHP Patrick Corbin (4-6, 4.90) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series in San Francisco. RHP Jeff Samardzija (8-5, 3.97) goes for the Giants. ' ' '