College Confidential

Baylor guard Jackson selected Big 12 BKB Preseason Player of Year

Baylor point guard Pierre Jackson has been selected as the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year in balloting by the league’s men’s basketball coaches. Other individual honorees, selected by coaches and announced Thursday, include Oklahoma forward Amath M’Baye (Preseason Newcomer of the Year) _ a transfer from Wyoming _ and Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart (Preseason Freshman of the Year).

Joining Jackson on the first-team squad was Texas guard Myck Kabongo, Kansas center Jeff Withey, Kansas State forward Rodney McGruder and Oklahoma State guard/forward Le’Bryan Nash. Jackson, a senior, averaged 13.8 points and dished out 223 assists last season while leading Baylor to a 30-8 record and a berth in the Elite Eight.
 
Below is a breakdown of each honoree, as provided by league officials, as well as information about the first-team all-conference members selected by Big 12 coaches:

      Jackson leads BU after dishing out 223 assists last season, the second-best total in school history.  He is third among returning Big 12 scorers (13.8 ppg) and had 27 double-figure scoring efforts in 2011-12, including an average of 17.6 points in the final eight contests.  He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and earned honorable mention All-America recognition from the Associated Press.
 
      M’Baye sat out last season after transferring from the University of Wyoming.  He is expected to make an immediate impact for the Sooners after starting all 31 games as a sophomore in 2010-11, averaging 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds with 29 blocks.  M’Baye is just the second foreign native in Big 12 history to earn one of the three major preseason awards. Victor Avila of Oklahoma (native of Mexico) was picked as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year in 1998-99.
 
      Smart was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas and led his high school to back-to-back state championships.  He averaged 15.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.8 steals while shooting 66.9 percent.  This summer, he started all five games as Team USA won the FIBA Americas U18 Championships.  Smart is the second straight OSU player to be named top freshman in the preseason (Le’Bryan Nash) and third in league history (Desmond Mason, 1996-97).
 
      The Preseason All-Big 12 team was also announced.  In addition to Jackson, Jeff Withey (Kansas), Rodney McGruder (K-State), Le'Bryan Nash (Oklahoma State) and Myck Kabongo (Texas) were recognized.
 
Preseason Player of the Year
    Pierre Jackson, Baylor, G, 5-10, 180, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines/College of Southern Idaho
 
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
    Amath M’Baye, Oklahoma, F, 6-9, 215, Jr., Bordeaux, France/University of Wyoming
 
Preseason Freshman of the Year
    Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, G, 6-4, 225, Fr., Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus
 
2012-13 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
 
    Name, School                         Pos.     Ht.       Wt.        Cl.        Hometown/Previous School(s)
    Pierre Jackson, Baylor                G      5-10      180       Sr.        Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines/College of Southern Idaho
    Jeff Withey, Kansas**                 C       7-0       235       Sr.        San Diego, Calif./Horizon
    Rodney McGruder, Kansas State**        G         6-4       205        Sr. Washington, D.C./Arlington Country Day [Fla.]
    Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State** G/F    6-7       230       So.        Dallas, Texas/Lincoln
    Myck Kabongo, Texas                G       6-1       180       So.        Toronto, Ontario, Canada/St. Benedict’s Prep [N.J.]
 
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school):
Isaiah Austin, Baylor; Elijah Johnson, Kansas; Romero Osby & Steven Pledger, Oklahoma; Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State; Sheldon McClellan, Texas
 
** - Unanimous Selection

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Las Vegas oddsmaker ranks TCU, Texas among top 15 favorites to win BCS national title

Three weeks into the college football season, four schools with local or Big 12 connections _ TCU, Texas, Oklahoma and West Virginia _ rank among the 15 most likely candidates to win the BCS national championship, based on odds released today by Bovada Sportsbook.

Among that group, Oklahoma (15/1) received the most favorable odds, followed by West Virginia (20/1), Texas (30/1) and TCU (60/1). All four teams remain undefeated heading into this week’s games.

The Las Vegas odds-maker has shifted Alabama into the favorite’s role as the BCS national championship favorite, replacing pre-season choice USC in the wake of the Trojans’ 21-14 loss to Stanford last week. Alabama, the defending national champ, received 19/10 odds, placing the Crimson Tide ahead of LSU (7/2), Florida State (8/1) and Oregon (9/1) on the list of heaviest favorites.

In the Heisman Trophy race, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith has edged ahead of USC quarterback Matt Barkley in a crowed field. Smith received 5/2 odds, with Barkley at 5/1.

Below is a breakdown:

 

Odds to win the 2012-2013 BCS National Championship         

Alabama                       19/10

LSU                              7/2

Florida State                  8/1

Oregon                          9/1

Georgia                         11/1

USC                             12/1

Oklahoma                     15/1

West Virginia                 20/1

Notre Dame                   25/1

Stanford                        25/1

South Carolina               28/1

Texas                           30/1

Florida                          30/1

Clemson                       40/1

TCU                              60/1

Cincinnati                      75/1

Mississippi State           75/1

Michigan                       80/1

Kansas State                100/1

Michigan State              100/1

Nebraska                      100/1

Oklahoma State             100/1

Oregon State                 100/1

Louisville                       100/1

Arizona                         100/1

Wisconsin                     125/1

Virginia Tech                 150/1

BYU                             150/1

UCLA                            200/1

Missouri                        300/1

Tennessee                    300/1

Arkansas                      500/1

Boise State                   500/1

Georgia Tech                 500/1

Miami (Florida)               500/1

Texas A&M                   500/1

 

Odds to win 2012 Heisman Trophy

Geno Smith - West Virginia - QB             5/2

Matt Barkley - USC - QB                        5/1

De'Anthony Thomas - Oregon – RB         15/2

Landry Jones - Oklahoma - QB               15/1

Collin Klein - Kansas State - QB             15/1

Braxton Miller - Ohio State - QB              15/1

Le'Veon Bell - Michigan State – RB         15/1

EJ Manuel - Florida State - QB                18/1

Denard Robinson - Michigan – QB           20/1

Aaron Murray - Georgia - QB                   20/1

Marcus Lattimore - South Carolina - RB   20/1

Tajh Boyd - Clemson - QB                      20/1

AJ McCarron - Alabama - QB                  28/1 

Montee Ball - Wisconsin - RB                 30/1

Taylor Martinez - Nebraska - QB             30/1

 

Where will Notre Dame finish the Season in the AP Polls?

Over/Under                    15.5

 

_ Jimmy Burch

 

A breakdown of the Big 12's big TV deal and what it means to fans

The Big 12’s mega-TV deal, officially announced today, is a 13-year agreement with Fox Sports Media Group and ESPN/ABC that will keep league teams collecting an average of $20 million per school through 2025. Reports of the verbal agreement on terms surfaced in March, pegging the financial numbers _ not announced today _ at $2.6 billion, or $200 million annually for the 10-member league.

What does the deal mean to fans? Here are some highlights:
-- An increase in the number of guaranteed full national football telecasts to a minimum of 25 per season on a combination of FOX, FX, ABC and ESPN.
-- Allows FOX over-the-air access to Big 12 football with a minimum of six games annually on broadcast television.
-- Provides FOX with enhanced selections through 2015. ESPN and FOX share rotating game selections beginning in 2016.
-- All media, “TV everywhere” rights to FOX and ESPN.
-- Big 12 events to be carried on various FOX and ESPN platforms including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, FOX, FX, FSN, Fox College Sports (FCS), and FOX Sports Digital Platforms.
-- Institutions have option to retain rights to one home football game and a minimum of four men's basketball games per season for distribution via permitted member institution outlets and third-party licenses including the FSN Regional Networks and FOX College Sports.
-- No exclusive telecast windows, except for ESPN men's basketball “Big Monday” and “Saturday College GameDay” telecasts featuring Big 12 teams.
-- FOX Sports Media Group platforms to carry a minimum of 40 non-football events annually.
-- Minimum of 31 women's basketball games per season on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or FSMG platforms.
-- ESPN networks retain option for up to 25 additional women's basketball and/or other sports contests per season.
-- Championship events, except men’s basketball, on Fox Sports platforms.

Below is a breakdown of annual football telecasts, with rights to all Big 12-controlled contests falling to either Fox or ESPN:
-- FOX: Approximately 38 games with minimum of six contests annually on FOX broadcast and six games on a national cable outlet.
-- ABC/ESPN: 19 games per year through 2015, increasing to 23 games annually in 2016 (minimum 13-15 full national exposures via ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or in combination with reverse mirror); maximum four-five games on ESPNU.
-- Member Retained Game: One member-retained game, which must be carried on a FOX platform if returned.
-- Television partners have a maximum four six-day picks between them per season.
-- Minimum four Thursday games each season (including Labor Day weekend and Thanksgiving Day); and one Labor Day Sunday appearance.
-- Maximum of four games scheduled for 8:15 p.m. local time starts per season with the following restrictions: no program required to play more than twice; host more than once; play consecutive weekends; and six-day pick only with conference consent.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Alabama takes over top spot in AP poll; Texas falls to 17th, TCU still at No. 20

Alabama used its dominant showing in Saturday’s season opener at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington to jump Southern California and become the No. 1 team in today’s updated Associated Press college football rankings.

The Crimson Tide (1-0) received 45 of 60 first-place votes in today’s AP poll after scoring a 41-14 victory over then-No. 8 Michigan in college football’s lone matchup of Top 10 teams on opening weekend. USC (1-0), the No. 1 team in the AP pre-season poll, dropped to No. 2 _ with 11 first-place votes _ after opening with a 49-10 victory over Hawaii.

Texas fell to No. 17 in today’s poll, down two spots from last week after defeating Wyoming, 37-17, in its opener. TCU remained at No. 20 heading into the Horned Frogs’ opener Saturday in Fort Worth against Grambling. Texas (1-0) and TCU (0-0) are the only schools from the Lone Star State ranked by AP voters.

Oklahoma (1-0) fell one spot, from fourth to fifth, in today’s updated poll after posting a 24-7 victory over UTEP to open its season.

LSU (1-0) remained at No. 3 following a 41-14 victory over North Texas. The Tigers received four first-place votes. Oregon (1-0), which opened with a 57-34 victory over Arkansas State, climbed to fourth in the updated rankings.

Rounding out the Top 10, behind No. 5 Oklahoma, were Florida State, Georgia, Arkansas and two teams tied for the ninth spot: South Carolina and West Virginia.

Notre Dame (1-0) jumped into the poll at No. 22 following a 50-10 victory over Navy in Dublin, Ireland. Michigan (0-1) fell from eighth to 19^th after its loss to Alabama.

_ Jimmy Burch

10 conclusions to draw from college football's extended opening weekend, which ends with Albama at No. 1 in AP poll

By Jimmy Burch

jburch@star-telegram.com

College football’s extended opening weekend concluded with Monday night’s overtime victory by Virginia Tech over Georgia Tech, 20-17, in a battle of ACC contenders.

That triggered Tuesday’s updated polls, where Alabama took over the top spot from Southern California in The Associated Press rankings on the strength of Saturday’s 41-14 rout of then-No. 8 Michigan at Cowboys Stadium. The Crimson Tide received 45 of 60 first-place votes, with No. 2 USC receiving 11 and the other four going to No. 3 LSU.

So what conclusions can we draw from the opening weekend of the college football season? Here’s a 10-item checklist:

1. Any neutral observer who isn’t already intrigued by the possibility of an Alabama-USC matchup in the BCS National Championship Game needs to turn in his or her fan card. Both teams were dominant Saturday and the potential matchup of USC quarterback Matt Barkley vs. the Crimson Tide’s rugged defense in a winner-take-all setting is too delicious for words.
2. If the Heisman Trophy race was a sprint, rather than a marathon, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith would be hoisting the hardware today. Smith completed 32 of 36 passes for 323 yards and four TDs while rushing for 65 yards and another score in a 69-34 victory over Marshall.
3. Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner, who had four sacks and forced a fumble in the team’s 69-3 rout of Murray State, will need more eye-popping performances to compensate for the season-ending foot injury of Brandon Jenkins, the All-America defensive end on the other side of the Seminoles’ line. Either that, or DE Mario Edwards _ a freshman from Denton Ryan _ must become an impact newcomer in Jenkins’ absence.
4. Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones must develop more comfort with his receivers than he showed in a 24-7 victory over UTEP for the Sooners to win the Big 12. Too much indecision led to too many sacks and near-sacks in that contest.
5. Texas A&M suffered the biggest setback of any team that did not play on opening weekend. Having the Aggies’ opener against Louisiana Tech postponed until Oct. 13 because of Hurricane Isaac means the Aggies will now play games in 12 consecutive weeks, with no bye, in their first SEC season. That’s a demanding physical task, made tougher with a freshman QB at the helm.
6. Private lessons work. Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez, who spent his own money to have a passing guru tutor him this summer, threw for a career-high 354 yards and five TDs in a 49-20 victory over Southern Mississippi. He’s never looked better.
7. Texas tailback Johnathan Gray, the former Aledo standout, will have plenty of company this season in discussions about the nation’s top freshman rusher. Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon (111 yards, TD) and Georgia’s Todd Gurley (100 yards, 2 TDs) hit triple digits in their debuts. Gray (5 carries, 9 yards) did not.
8. Mike Leach is not a miracle worker. The former Texas Tech coach took over a downtrodden program at Washington State and that showed in Leach’s debut, a 30-6 loss to Brigham Young in which Leach’s offense failed to score a touchdown.
9. If the Big Ten has a worthy Top 10 team, it is No. 11 Michigan State. Not No. 19 Michigan.
10. Lack of depth will be a season-long issue at roster-depleted Penn State, where the team was outscored 21-0 in the second half of a 24-14 home loss to Ohio, a MAC school.

 

Twitter: @Jimmy_Burch

 

TCU, Texas are only entries from Lone Star State in AP Top 25; USC tops poll

By Jimmy Burch
jburch@star-telegram.com
 
TCU and Texas were the only teams from Texas to earn spots in today’s pre-season college football rankings released by The Associated Press.

AP voters placed the Horned Frogs at No. 20 to start the season. Texas checked in at No. 15.

The top spot went to Southern California, which received 25 of 60 first-place ballots from members of the voting panel. The Trojans edged No. 2 Alabama, the defending national champion, and No. 3 LSU, which played Alabama in last year’s BCS title game, in the opening poll. Alabama received 17 first-place votes. LSU received 16.

Rounding out the Top 10 were Oklahoma, the top-rated Big 12 school, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina and Arkansas. OU and Michigan each received one first-place vote.

TCU, Texas and Oklahoma were among six Big 12 schools in the pre-season poll. The others were No. 11 West Virginia, No. 19 Oklahoma State and No. 22 Kansas State. The Big 12, with six, joined the Southeastern Conference by placing the most schools of any league in the initial poll.

The Southeastern Conference, home of college football’s last six national champions, landed five of its six teams in the Top 10: No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 LSU, No. 6 Georgia, No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 Arkansas.

Three other teams from Texas _ Baylor, Texas A&M and Houston _ received votes but not enough to crack the Top 25.

Twitter: @Jimmy_Burch

Big 12 releases its men's basketball schedule for 2012-13

Big 12 officials have released their 2012-13 men's basketball schedule. The schedules will feature home-and-home matchups between all league schools. The full schedule is below.

2012-13 Big 12 Men's Basketball Composite Schedule
Dates, times and television listings subject to change; All times are Central.

Saturday, January 5
Oklahoma State at K-State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Baylor (ESPNU) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at TCU TBA
  
Tuesday, January 8 
Baylor at Texas Tech (ESPN2) 6:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 9 
Iowa State at Kansas (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
TCU at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Texas (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 12 
K-State at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Iowa State (ESPNU) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 2:00 p.m.
Kansas at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
TCU at Baylor TBA
  
Monday, January 14 
Baylor at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 16 
Texas Tech at Oklahoma (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
K-State at TCU (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Iowa State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 19 
Iowa State at TCU (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Kansas at Texas (CBS) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at K-State (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) TBA
  
Monday, January 21 
Oklahoma State at Baylor (ESPN) 4:30 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma (ESPN) 8:30 p.m.
  
Tuesday, January 22 
Kansas at K-State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 23 
TCU at West Virginia (ESPN2) 6:30 p.m.
Iowa State at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 26 
West Virginia at Oklahoma State (ESPNU) Noon
K-State at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Baylor at TCU (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at Kansas (ESPN) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at Texas TBA
  
Monday, January 28 
Kansas at West Virginia (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 30 
Oklahoma at Baylor (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
Texas at K-State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 2 
West Virginia at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Kansas (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
K-State at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 5:00 p.m.
Baylor at Iowa State (ESPN2) 7:00 p.m.
TCU at Texas TBA
  
Monday, February 4 
Oklahoma at Iowa State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Texas at West Virginia (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, February 5 
K-State at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  

Wednesday, February 6
Kansas at TCU (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 9 
Oklahoma State at Texas (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at Baylor (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
West Virginia at TCU (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Kansas at Oklahoma (ESPN or ESPN2) 3:00 p.m.
Iowa State at K-State (ESPN or ESPN2) 5:00 p.m.
  
Monday, February 11 
TCU at Oklahoma (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
K-State at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 13 
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Texas (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Baylor (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 16 
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
TCU at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Baylor at K-State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Texas at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Monday, February 18 
West Virginia at K-State (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, February 19 
Texas at TCU (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 20 
Oklahoma at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Baylor (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
Kansas at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 23 
Texas Tech at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Oklahoma State at West Virginia (ESPN2) 1:00 p.m.
TCU at Kansas (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Baylor at Oklahoma (ESPNU) 4:00 p.m.
K-State at Texas TBA
  
Monday, February 25 
Texas Tech at K-State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Kansas at Iowa State (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 27 
Oklahoma State at TCU (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at Texas (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, March 2 
Iowa State at Oklahoma (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
West Virginia at Kansas (CBS) 1:00 p.m.
TCU at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma State (ESPN) 3:00 p.m.
K-State at Baylor (ESPN2) 6:00 p.m.
  
Monday, March 4 
Texas Tech at Kansas (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at Texas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, March 5 
TCU at K-State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, March 6 
Oklahoma State at Iowa State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, March 9 
Iowa State at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
K-State at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Kansas at Baylor (ESPN) 5:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at TCU TBA

_ Jimmy Burch

TCU's Patterson more concerned with early foes than tough final month

TCU coach Gary Patterson keeps hearing about how tough the final month of his first Big 12 schedule is going to be this fall.
But he’s too concerned with the Horned Frogs’ first few opponents to worry about that. After TCU opens the season and its newly renovated Amon G. Carter Stadium Sept. 8 against Grambling State, the Frogs have their Big 12 opener at Kansas at 11 a.m. Sept. 15. 
“Starting with Kansas, and I think all the way through, each one of those games poses a problem and we should approach it like that,” Patterson said. “We've always been a very workman-like group when it comes to ball games like that. Last year was a great example of kind of the mental toughness that our group had.  All the games we had to win, all the Bowl teams in our conference were all on the road.”
TCU is back for a nonconference game against Virginia Sept. 22 and at SMU Sept. 29 before moving exclusively to Big 12 competition against Iowa State at home Oct. 6. The Frogs are at Baylor Oct. 13 and home against Texas Tech Oct. 20 before the schedule is turned up a notch with two road games at Oklahoma State and West Virginia. Kansas State is at TCU Nov. 10 before the Frogs finish at Texas on Thanksgiving weekend and home against Oklahoma Dec. 1.

TCU quarterback Casey Pachall talks preseason rankings, the move to the Big 12, and the aftermath of February's drug sting:

 

TCU offensive lineman Blaize Foltz talks about the media onslaught and the question about Gary Patterson he chose not to answer:

 

TCU defensive end Stansly Maponga talks Big 12 Media Days and anticipation of the Horned Frogs' first season in the league:

 

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

 

Texas DE Okafor earns pre-season Big 12 defensive honor; TCU DL Maponga also recognized

Texas defensive end Alex Okafor earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Years honors on the pre-season All-Big 12 team released today by league officials. Other individual honorees, selected by media members who cover the league, included West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith (Offensive Player of the Year) and Oklahoma freshman receiver Trey Metoyer (Newcomer of the Year).

League officials also released the list of first-team honorees, which included TCU defensive lineman Stansly Maponga. Maponga was the lone Horned Frog selected to the first-team unit.

The full list of first-teamers and individual honorees:

2012 Big 12 Football Pre-Season Honorees

Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

Newcomer of the Year: Trey Metoyer, WR, Oklahoma

OFFENSE
QB: Geno Smith, WVU
RB: Malcom Brown, Texas
RB: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
WR: Tavon Austin, WVU
WR: Kenny Stills, Oklahoma
TE: Jordan Najvar, Baylor
C: Ben Habern, Oklahoma
OL: Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State
OL: Cyril Richardson, Baylor
OL: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
OL: LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech

DEFENSE
DL: Alex Okafor, Texas
DL: Stansly Maponga, TCU
DL: Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
DL: Jamarkus McFarland, Oklahoma
LB: Jake Knott, Iowa State
LB: Arthur Brown, Kansas State
LB: A.J. Klein, Iowa State
DB: Nigel Malone, Kansas State
DB: Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State
DB: Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
DB: Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma

SPECIALISTS
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

PK: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

PR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

KR: Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

_ Jimmy Burch

TCU QB Pachall among five Big 12 players on 34-member watch list for 2012 Davey O'Brien Award

TCU quarterback Casey Pachall is among five players from the Big 12 on the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award watch list, released today.

Other signal callers from the Big 12 on the watch list include Texas Tech’s Seth Doege, Oklahoma’s Landry Jones, Kansas State’s Collin Klein and West Virginia’s Geno Smith.

A total of 34 players made the watch list, including seven O’Brien semifinalists from last season: Jones, Doege, Matt Barkley (USC), Tajh Boyd (Clemson), Keith Price (Washington), Denard Robinson (Michigan) and Tyler Wilson (Arkansas).

The recipient does not have to appear on the watch list. The 2012 O’Brien winner will be announced Dec. 6, with a formal presentation set for Feb. 18, 2013 at the Fort Worth Club.

Below is a list of the players on the watch list:

2012 Davey O'Brien Watch List
Ryan Aplin, Arkansas State, Sun Belt
Matt Barkley, USC, Pac-12
Tajh Boyd, Clemson, ACC
Tyler Bray, Tennessee, SEC
Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville, Big East
Alex Carder, Western Michigan, MAC
Derek Carr, Fresno State, MWC
B.J. Daniels, USF, Big East
Seth Doege, Texas Tech, Big 12
Cody Fajardo, Nevada, MWC
James Franklin, Missouri, SEC
Mike Glennon, N.C. State, ACC
Landry Jones, Oklahoma, Big 12
Collin Klein, Kansas State, Big 12
EJ Manuel, Florida State, ACC
Taylor Martinez, Nebraska, Big Ten
AJ McCarron, Alabama, SEC
Braxton Miller, Ohio State, Big Ten
Aaron Murray, Georgia, SEC
Riley Nelson, BYU, Independent
Casey Pachall, TCU, Big 12
Keith Price, Washington, Pac-12
Sean Renfree, Duke, ACC
Bryn Renner, North Carolina, ACC
Denard Robinson, Michigan, Big Ten
Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois, Big Ten
Connor Shaw, South Carolina, SEC
Geno Smith, West Virginia, Big 12
Trent Steelman, Army, Independent
Tyler Tettleton, Ohio, MAC
Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech, ACC
Jeff Tuel, Washington St, Pac-12
James Vandenberg, Iowa, Big Ten
Tyler Wilson, Arkansas, SEC

_ Jimmy Burch