By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Big 12 media days are set for July 13-14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. There should be much to discuss with a new commissioner in Brett Yormack and plenty of speculation and reports surrounding realignment and what the Big 12 is trying to do to remain a major player in it.
But first, the annual all-media preseason team is scheduled to be released on Wednesday. Big 12 media had to submit their ballots by June 28. Here is how your publisher saw the team.
Defense
DL - Apu Ika, Baylor
DL – Dante Stills, West Virginia
DL – Will McDonald, Iowa State
DL – Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
DL – Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
LB – Dillon Doyle, Baylor
LB – DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
LB – Daniel Green, Kansas State
DB – Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
DB – Al Walcott, Baylor
DB – Charles Woods, West Virginia
DB – Jason Taylor, Oklahoma State
DB – Julius Bents, Kansas State
P – Issac Power, Baylor
The rationale: Given what Baylor has returning on the defense, I found it pretty easy to place Ika, Doyle and Walcott on this team. Ika has the chance to become one of the better nose guards in the history of conference. Once he fought through the slow start to 2021 that included a one-game suspension, he did exactly what was asked.
Doyle’s leadership makes people gravitate to him. Plus, he's fundamentally sound and will easily take over the heart and soul role of the defense that Terrel Bernard left in Waco.
What people will remember Walcott for is the 96-yard Pick6 against Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. Nothing wrong with that. This is a young unit but one with potential that needs a leader. Walcott, who worked his way into the starting line at times in 2021, will be needed to guide them along.
I have every reason to believe Oklahoma punter Michael Turk will be on the team. But Power is coming off a very impressive 2021 season. This isn’t me covering Baylor. This is someone who watched a punter consistently influence a game.
Notable: The media team may reflect differently, but I really had a hard time placing anyone from Oklahoma on it. It’s a program that lost a lot of people and difference makers. Ovreall, not a lot of headliners on the defense. Maybe Taylor accounts for the big one. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Stills and McDonalds. Very solid players. Overshown is really the lone Texas player who proved worthy.
Offense
QB – Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State
RB – Bijan Robinson, Texas
RB – Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
WR – Xavier Worthy, Texas
WR – Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
WR – Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
TE – Ben Sims, Baylor
OL – Connor Galvin, Baylor
OL – Jacob Gall, Baylor
OL – Cooper Beebe, Iowa State
OL – Trevor Downing, Kansas State
OL – Steve Avila, TCU
PK – Casey Legg, West Virginia
KR/PR – D’Shawn Jamison, Texas
The Rationale: Baylor has too many unknowns at the skill positions. However, the offensive line and tight end is a different story. Galvin is the 2021 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. Gall, a transfer from Buffalo, developed into a very good center and turned out to be a great addition to the offensive line that evolved into one of the best in all of college football. Baylor has four OL returning starters for 2022. Half deserved to be there.
Sims is a proven commodity and really showed that toward the end of the 2020 season. His hands are dependable to make him a real threat in the passing game. He’s a solid blocker. What also helps is that all of Iowa State’s tight ends have moved on to the NFL.
Notable: I’m sure some will question the Sanders pick. He can be really erratic. Baylor has eaten him alive in two meetings. But his extraordinary performance against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl helped redeem his case. Robinson, Vaugh, Worthy and Hutchinson were pretty easy selections. Mims is the only Oklahoma player I have on this team. He’s very talented and maybe overlooked toward the way the season ended.
Superlative Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Bijan Robinson, Texas
Defensive Player of the Year: Dillon Doyle, Baylor
Newcomer of the Year: J.T. Daniels, West Virginia
The Rationale: I think the DPOY choice in the media could be a close race between Doyle and Taylor. At least, I think that’s going to be the top two choices. But I leaned toward Doyle because his team won the Big 12. Taylor’s didn’t. Half a foot is half a foot.
We’ll see how close or way off I am.
Publisher
Big 12 media days are set for July 13-14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. There should be much to discuss with a new commissioner in Brett Yormack and plenty of speculation and reports surrounding realignment and what the Big 12 is trying to do to remain a major player in it.
But first, the annual all-media preseason team is scheduled to be released on Wednesday. Big 12 media had to submit their ballots by June 28. Here is how your publisher saw the team.
Defense
DL - Apu Ika, Baylor
DL – Dante Stills, West Virginia
DL – Will McDonald, Iowa State
DL – Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
DL – Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
LB – Dillon Doyle, Baylor
LB – DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
LB – Daniel Green, Kansas State
DB – Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
DB – Al Walcott, Baylor
DB – Charles Woods, West Virginia
DB – Jason Taylor, Oklahoma State
DB – Julius Bents, Kansas State
P – Issac Power, Baylor
The rationale: Given what Baylor has returning on the defense, I found it pretty easy to place Ika, Doyle and Walcott on this team. Ika has the chance to become one of the better nose guards in the history of conference. Once he fought through the slow start to 2021 that included a one-game suspension, he did exactly what was asked.
Doyle’s leadership makes people gravitate to him. Plus, he's fundamentally sound and will easily take over the heart and soul role of the defense that Terrel Bernard left in Waco.
What people will remember Walcott for is the 96-yard Pick6 against Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. Nothing wrong with that. This is a young unit but one with potential that needs a leader. Walcott, who worked his way into the starting line at times in 2021, will be needed to guide them along.
I have every reason to believe Oklahoma punter Michael Turk will be on the team. But Power is coming off a very impressive 2021 season. This isn’t me covering Baylor. This is someone who watched a punter consistently influence a game.
Notable: The media team may reflect differently, but I really had a hard time placing anyone from Oklahoma on it. It’s a program that lost a lot of people and difference makers. Ovreall, not a lot of headliners on the defense. Maybe Taylor accounts for the big one. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Stills and McDonalds. Very solid players. Overshown is really the lone Texas player who proved worthy.
Offense
QB – Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State
RB – Bijan Robinson, Texas
RB – Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
WR – Xavier Worthy, Texas
WR – Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
WR – Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
TE – Ben Sims, Baylor
OL – Connor Galvin, Baylor
OL – Jacob Gall, Baylor
OL – Cooper Beebe, Iowa State
OL – Trevor Downing, Kansas State
OL – Steve Avila, TCU
PK – Casey Legg, West Virginia
KR/PR – D’Shawn Jamison, Texas
The Rationale: Baylor has too many unknowns at the skill positions. However, the offensive line and tight end is a different story. Galvin is the 2021 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. Gall, a transfer from Buffalo, developed into a very good center and turned out to be a great addition to the offensive line that evolved into one of the best in all of college football. Baylor has four OL returning starters for 2022. Half deserved to be there.
Sims is a proven commodity and really showed that toward the end of the 2020 season. His hands are dependable to make him a real threat in the passing game. He’s a solid blocker. What also helps is that all of Iowa State’s tight ends have moved on to the NFL.
Notable: I’m sure some will question the Sanders pick. He can be really erratic. Baylor has eaten him alive in two meetings. But his extraordinary performance against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl helped redeem his case. Robinson, Vaugh, Worthy and Hutchinson were pretty easy selections. Mims is the only Oklahoma player I have on this team. He’s very talented and maybe overlooked toward the way the season ended.
Superlative Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Bijan Robinson, Texas
Defensive Player of the Year: Dillon Doyle, Baylor
Newcomer of the Year: J.T. Daniels, West Virginia
The Rationale: I think the DPOY choice in the media could be a close race between Doyle and Taylor. At least, I think that’s going to be the top two choices. But I leaned toward Doyle because his team won the Big 12. Taylor’s didn’t. Half a foot is half a foot.
We’ll see how close or way off I am.
