The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2016 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team and individual awards, chosen by media representatives who cover the league.
The honorees include nine seniors, 11 juniors and 11 sophomores with only one holdover from last year's preseason squad in running back Samaje Perine (Oklahoma). Five players were chosen to the 2015 All-Big 12 First Team while 10 were on the second team.
Selections for the preseason individual awards were quarterback Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) as Offensive Player of the Year, linebacker Malik Jefferson (Texas) as Defensive Player of the Year and quarterback Kenny Hill (TCU) as Newcomer of the Year.
Mayfield was named the 2015 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and to the All-Big 12 First Team while leading the Sooners to the Big 12 Championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Last season's accolades include the Sporting News Player of the Year and the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation's top player who began his career as a walk-on. The redshirt junior completed 68.1 percent of his passes in 2015 for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.
Jefferson claimed the 2015 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award and was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention while starting nine games as a true freshman. He was recognized on several Freshman All-America teams, finishing second for the Longhorns with 61 tackles. Jefferson led the team with six quarterback pressures and was fourth with seven tackles-for-loss.
After sitting out last year as a transfer, Hill begins his first season as a junior signal caller for TCU. He started eight games for Texas A&M in 2014 with 2,649 yards and 23 touchdowns. Hill completed 214-of-321 attempts for a 66.7 completion percentage, passing for a career-high four TDs in four games.
The Big 12 media preseason poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Dallas on July 18-19. Both days will be televised live from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT on FS2 and other FOX Sports affiliates. Exclusive, live coverage from the event will also be available on the Big 12's digital platforms – Big12Sports.com, Twitter and Instagram (@Big12Conference). The official hashtag for the event will be #Big12FB.
2016 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team
| Offensive Player of the Year: |
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, QB, Jr., Austin, Texas |
| Defensive Player of the Year: |
Malik Jefferson, Texas, LB, So., Mesquite, Texas |
| Newcomer of the Year: |
Kenny Hill, TCU, QB, Jr., Southlake, Texas |
| Offense |
| Pos |
Name |
School |
Ht |
Wt |
Cl/Exp |
Hometown |
| QB |
Baker Mayfield # |
Oklahoma |
6-1 |
212 |
Jr./1L |
Austin, Texas |
| RB |
Mike Warren |
Iowa State |
6-0 |
205 |
So./1L |
Lawton, Okla. |
| RB |
Samaje Perine ^# |
Oklahoma |
5-11 |
237 |
Jr./2L |
Pflugerville, Texas |
| FB |
Winston Dimel # |
Kansas State |
6-1 |
235 |
So./1L |
Manhattan, Kan. |
| WR |
KD Cannon * |
Baylor |
6-0 |
180 |
Jr./2L |
Mount Pleasant, Texas |
| WR |
Allen Lazard |
Iowa State |
6-5 |
223 |
Jr./2L |
Urbandale, Iowa |
| WR |
James Washington * |
Oklahoma State |
6-0 |
205 |
Jr./2L |
Stamford, Texas |
| TE |
Mark Andrews # |
Oklahoma |
6-5 |
244 |
So./1L |
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| OL |
Kyle Fuller * |
Baylor |
6-5 |
310 |
Sr./3L |
Wylie, Texas |
| OL |
Orlando Brown |
Oklahoma |
6-8 |
357 |
So./1L |
Duluth, Ga. |
| OL |
Patrick Vahe |
Texas |
6-3 |
326 |
So./1L |
Nyack, N.Y. |
| OL |
Connor Williams |
Texas |
6-6 |
288 |
So./1L |
Coppell, Texas |
| OL |
Tyler Orlosky * |
West Virginia |
6-4 |
295 |
Sr./3L |
Cleveland, Ohio |
| PK |
Clayton Hatfield |
Texas Tech |
5-10 |
170 |
So./1L |
Boerne, Texas |
| KR/PR |
KaVontae Turpin |
TCU |
5-9 |
153 |
So./1L |
Monroe, La. |
| |
| Defense |
| Pos |
Name |
School |
Ht |
Wt |
Cl/Exp |
Hometown |
| DL |
Will Geary |
Kansas State |
6-0 |
297 |
Jr./2L |
Topeka, Kan. |
| DL |
Jordan Willis |
Kansas State |
6-5 |
250 |
Sr./3L |
Kansas City, Mo. |
| DL |
Charles Walker * |
Oklahoma |
6-2 |
299 |
Jr./2L |
Garland, Texas |
| DL |
Vincent Taylor |
Oklahoma State |
6-3 |
310 |
Jr./2L |
San Antonio, Texas |
| DL |
Josh Carraway # |
TCU |
6-4 |
250 |
Sr./3L |
Flower Mound, Texas |
| DL |
James McFarland |
TCU |
6-3 |
250 |
Sr./3L |
West Monroe, La. |
| DL |
Noble Nwachukwu |
West Virginia |
6-2 |
275 |
Sr./3L |
Wylie, Texas |
| LB |
Elijah Lee * |
Kansas State |
6-3 |
218 |
Jr./2L |
Blue Springs, Mo. |
| LB |
Jordan Evans * |
Oklahoma |
6-2 |
233 |
Sr./3L |
Norman, Okla. |
| LB |
Malik Jefferson |
Texas |
6-3 |
238 |
So./1L |
Mesquite, Texas |
| DB |
Dante Barnett |
Kansas State |
6-1 |
193 |
Sr./3L |
Tulsa, Okla. |
| DB |
Steven Parker |
Oklahoma |
6-1 |
208 |
Jr./2L |
Tulsa, Okla. |
| DB |
Jordan Thomas * |
Oklahoma |
6-0 |
187 |
Jr./2L |
Klein, Texas |
| DB |
Jordan Sterns * |
Oklahoma State |
6-0 |
200 |
Sr./3L |
Cibolo, Texas |
| DB |
Davante Davis |
Texas |
6-2 |
199 |
So./1L |
Miami, Fla. |
| P |
Austin Seibert * |
Oklahoma |
5-10 |
214 |
So./1L |
Belleville, Ill. |
A tie in voting at DL created two additional spots. ^ - 2015 Preseason Team
# - 2015 All-Big 12 First Team selection
* - 2015 All-Big 12 Second Team selection