If the topic is the best wide receiver in the Big 12 Conference, the discussion usually centers around Mike Crabtree, Dez Bryant and Jeremy Maclin. Each has become a well-known playmaker for one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, and each is an NFL-type talent.

It might be time for yet another super sophomore to enter the conversation.

Kansas’ Dezmon Briscoe, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound Dallas native, has mostly been a quiet contributor for the No. 19 Jayhawks this season. But after his record-setting performance at fourth-ranked Oklahoma last week, he’ll be impossible for Big 12 defenses to ignore.

Briscoe caught 12 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns in the 45-31 loss to OU, setting school records for receptions and yards in a game. No other receiver in the nation has racked up as many yards in a game this season, and it was the second-highest total in the history of the Big 12.

“He has shown that he is capable of being one of the top receivers in this league,” Kansas coach Mark Mangino said, “and we look forward to seeing him continue to develop.”

Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing called it an “amazing game,” and it vaulted Briscoe near the top of the Big 12 receiving charts. He now ranks third behind Bryant and Crabtree with 705 receiving yards for the season, and his eight TD receptions are tied for fourth-most in the conference.

Briscoe, who needs only two more TD receptions to tie the school career record of 17, tried to downplay the performance. He said his gaudy receiving numbers were a product of man-to-man coverage by the Sooners, and that it didn’t mean much to him because the Jayhawks lost.

It should provide a boost to Briscoe’s confidence, though, and create more opportunities for KU’s other receivers. Junior Kerry Meier, a converted quarterback, has a team-high 57 receptions for 632 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Johnathan Wilson has 22 catches for 342 yards and two TDs, and senior Dexton Fields, one of the Jayhawks’ leading receivers a year ago, is yet another weapon in the passing game.

“We’re not looking for one guy to make plays every time,” Reesing said. “We’ll throw it to anybody.”

After last week, when Briscoe notched his third 100-yard game of the season, Reesing might be inclined to throw it in his direction more often. Briscoe caught several jump balls and also flashed some breakaway speed with a 69-yard catch-and-run for a score.

Briscoe also excelled as a freshman, catching 43 passes for 496 yards and seven TDs, but Reesing said he’s become much more mature and consistent this year.

“He’s a heck of an athlete, he’s got a big frame and he knows how to play football,” Reesing said. “He’s going to be here for a couple more years, so he’s going to be a big part of the offense for a while.”

For now, Briscoe has his sights set on a second straight stellar performance – and beating a top-10 opponent from the South Division this time. The Jayhawks host No. 8 Texas Tech and the aforementioned Crabtree today, and Briscoe said he hopes to outduel the 2007 Biletnikoff Award winner and fellow Dallas native who already has 724 yards and a conference-leading 12 TD receptions this season.

“Going up against one of the premier receivers in the nation, if I accomplish my goal and get more yards than him, that would top off my season,” Briscoe said. “But I just want to come out and get a win, and then we can see who gets the most yards and go from there.”