Preseason All-Big 12 Football Selections 2022: Oklahoma tops Baylor and Texas
Despite a coaching change, the Oklahoma Sooners are primed to sit atop the crumbling Big 12 Conference.
This week’s 2022 Preseason College Football All-Conference Team covers the final Power Five conference, the Big 12. Most of the buzz around the Big 12 in recent months has to do with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF replacing Oklahoma and Texas, who are leaving for the SEC in the near future. However, this article will focus on which of the conference’s current players will perform the best in 2022.
Even though the Pac-12 has struggled more during the College Football Playoff era, there’s a growing belief that the Big 12 is the weakest Power Five conference in the sport. Even the American Athletic Conference (AAC) got a team into the playoffs last year, which further highlights the Big 12’s position as a geographically southern conference that can’t recruit and develop in the same class as its increasing competition.
The Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team confirms that the conference is growing weaker.
All-Pac-12 Team l All-Big Ten Team l All-ACC Team l All-SEC Team
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First Team Offense
Quarterback: Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
Running Back: Bijan Robinson, Texas
Running Back: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
Wide Receiver: Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
Wide Receiver: Xavier Worthy, Texas
Wide Receiver: Quentin Johnston, TCU
Tight End: Ben Sims, Baylor
All-Purpose: Eric Gray, Oklahoma (RB)
Offensive Tackle: Connor Galvin, Baylor
Offensive Tackle: Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
Guard: Trevor Downing, Iowa State
Guard: Hunter Woodard, Oklahoma State
Center: Jacob Gall, Baylor
First Team Defense
Defensive End: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
Defensive End: Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Defensive Tackle: Dante Stills, West Virginia
Defensive Tackle: Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma
Linebacker: Daniel Green, Kansas State
Linebacker: Dillon Doyle, Baylor
Linebacker: Dee Winters, TCU
Cornerback: Tre'vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Cornerback: Al Walcott, Baylor
Safety: Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas
Safety: Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma State
Every Big 12 team except for Texas Tech was represented on the All-Conference First Team. Baylor led the way with five selections thanks to Connor Galvin and Jacob Gall returning along the offensive line. Surprisingly, Kansas State’s four selections put the Wildcats in second place. Chris Klieman’s program quietly has one of the best rosters in the Big 12, headlined by Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Deuce Vaughn.
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and TCU are all tied with three selections. Iowa State and Texas got on the board with two, while Kansas and West Virginia each had one.
It became clear early during this exercise that the Big 12 is the weakest of the Power Five conferences. While it still has some high-end talent like Bijan Robinson, the tight end, linebacker, safety, and even cornerback positions struggled to field players capable of competing with top-flight athletes in other conferences.
Despite these concerns, the Big 12 matched other conferences in the trenches. The defensive line was a strength throughout the whole process, and the offensive lines stacked up well too. Wide receiver also looks promising, although that position relies on several former high-ranking recruits reaching their potential in 2022.
While none of the First Team wide receivers crossed 1,000 yards in 2021, rising sophomore Xavier Worthy went for 981 yards, 6'3", 210 lb. redshirt senior Xavier Hutchinson produced 987 yards, and 6'4", 212 lb. junior Quentin Johnston generated 634 yards on just 33 receptions in eight games. All three players earned 2021 All-Big 12 First Team honors.
UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel is the only quarterback from the Big 12 I feel comfortable projecting as a future NFL player. Gabriel, who threw for 3,570 yards, 32 touchdowns, and four interceptions in 2020, has proven he can produce at a high level. Quinn Ewers certainly has the potential to reach that point, but the former college five-star hasn't seen significant playing time in college football yet.
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State
Running Back: Eric Gray, Oklahoma
Running Back: Kendre Miller, TCU
Wide Receiver: Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
Wide Receiver: Isaiah Neyor, Texas
Wide Receiver: Theo Wease, Oklahoma
Tight End: Jahleel Billingsley, Texas
All-Purpose: Jordan Whittington, Texas (WR)
Offensive Tackle: Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Offensive Tackle: Khalil Keith, Baylor
Guard: Doug Nester, West Virginia
Guard: McKade Mettauer, Oklahoma
Center: Zach Frazier, West Virginia
Second Team Defense
Defensive End: Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
Defensive End: Brock Martin, Oklahoma State
Defensive Tackle: Siaki Ika, Baylor
Defensive Tackle: Jaxon Player, Baylor
Linebacker: DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
Linebacker: Luke Brockermeyer, Texas
Linebacker: Rich Miller, Kansas
Cornerback: Noah Daniels, TCU
Cornerback: Charles Woods, West Virginia
Safety: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech
Safety: Justin Broiles, Oklahoma
Oklahoma and Texas rebound from poor showings on the First Team with six and five players on the Second Team respectively. The two usual recruiting powerhouses of the Big 12 will attempt to maximize their remaining time in the conference with their current pieces as they target 2024 for their debut seasons in the SEC.
Baylor (three), West Virginia (three), Oklahoma State (two), and TCU (two) were the other programs with multiple players on the Second Team. Texas Tech got on the board thanks to Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, while Iowa State and Kansas also had one selection apiece. After a strong initial showing, Kansas State didn’t make an appearance on the Second Team.
The Second Team’s offense includes several players I could easily see push for First Team honors. Eric Gray and Marvin Mims from Oklahoma should see their touches increase in 2022. The Sooners have to replace over 1,600 rushing yards from Kennedy Brooks and Caleb Williams and over 1,500 receiving yards from several transfers and graduates.
Oklahoma left tackle Anton Harrison could join the First Team if he continues improving. Harrison allowed 17 pressures and two sacks last year, his first season as a full-time starter. I would also keep an eye on Isaiah Neyor, who produced 878 yards and 12 touchdowns at Wyoming last season before joining the Longhorns.
Noah Daniels might have the most potential of any player on the Second Team. A member of The Athletic’s 2021 freaks list assembled by Bruce Feldman, Daniels has elite speed and surprising strength at his size. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented him from playing 250 or more snaps in a season. This is the second or third year where football analysts have high expectations for Daniels.
All of the defensive linemen have First Team potential. Brock Martin and Will McDonald finished second and third respectively among Big 12 players in pressures last season, only trailing Nik Bonitto. Martin posted nine sacks while McDonald bagged 11.5. Despite his 350 lb. frame, Siaki Ika produced 33 pressures in 2021. Jaxon Player, a 2022 Tulsa transfer, had 36 pressures in 2020 and 2021.
Third Team Offense
Quarterback: Tyler Shough, Texas Tech
Running Back: Roschon Johnson, Texas
Running Back: Ky Thomas, Kansas
Wide Receiver: Jordan Whittington, Texas
Wide Receiver: Bryce Ford-Wheaton, West Virginia
Wide Receiver: Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
Tight End: Baylor Cupp, Texas Tech
All-Purpose: Devin Neal, Kansas (RB)
Offensive Tackle: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
Offensive Tackle: Cole Spencer, Texas Tech
Guard: Brandon Coleman, TCU
Guard: James Gmiter, West Virginia
Center: Steve Avila, TCU
Third Team Defense
Defensive End: Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State
Defensive End: Lonnie Phelps, Kansas
Defensive Tackle: Gabe Hall, Baylor
Defensive Tackle: Jeffery Johnson, Oklahoma
Linebacker: Gerry Vaughn, Iowa State
Linebacker: Dimitri Moore, Texas Tech
Linebacker: Matt Jones, Baylor
Cornerback: Jahdae Barron, Texas
Cornerback: Woodi Washington, Oklahoma
Safety: Key Lawrence, Oklahoma
Safety: Kobe Savage, Kansas State
Selections on the Third Team were fairly evenly distributed. Texas Tech led the way with four, followed by Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia at three. Baylor, Oklahoma State, and TCU all had two selections. Iowa State and Kansas State both had one player make the Third Team, ensuring the entire conference was represented.
This is where the previously discussed Power Five conferences really separate from the Big 12. While some of the young wide receivers and offensive linemen could appear on Third Teams for other conferences, most of these players wouldn’t have a shot.
The defensive front four is the only unit that looks impressive. Gabe Hall totaled 34 pressures and five sacks last year, while Tyler Lacy hit 37 pressures and 3.5 sacks with 11.5 tackles for loss. Phelps and Johnson are both transfers from small schools, but they were highly productive in 2021. Lonnie Phelps amassed 42 pressures and 8.5 sacks at Miami (OH), while Jeffery Johnson recorded 14 pressures, 2.5 sacks, and 44 tackles at Tulane.
Tyler Shough and Jordan Whittington are the most intriguing offensive players. Shough was a four-star recruit for Oregon in 2018 who transferred to Texas Tech in 2021. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from taking advantage of his new opportunity. Whittington was a five-star recruit in the 2019 class, but he’s failed to produce over 400 yards in a season yet.
That brings us to the final tallies for the 2022 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Teams. Unsurprisingly Oklahoma and new head coach Brent Venables led the way with 12 selections. Baylor and Texas hit double digits with ten selections each. Oklahoma and Texas both benefited from a player appearing twice because of the “All-Purpose” designation. Oklahoma State, TCU, and West Virginia tied for the fourth-most selections with seven.
Somehow Kansas matched Kansas State and Texas Tech with five selections, leaving Iowa State alone at the bottom with four. Losing Chase Allen, Breece Hall, Jake Hummel, Charlie Kolar, Brock Purdy, Mike Rose, and Eyioma Uwazurike to the NFL and Isheem Young to the transfer portal gutted the Cyclones.
Honorable Mentions Offense
JT Daniels, QB West Virginia
Max Duggan, QB TCU
Quinn Ewers, QB Texas
Adrian Martinez, QB Kansas State
Tahj Brooks, RB Texas Tech
Emari Demercado, RB TCU
Lyn-J Dixon, RB West Virginia
Dominic Richardson, RB Oklahoma State
Keilan Robinson, RB Texas
SaRodorick Thompson, RB Texas Tech
Phillip Brooks, WR Kansas State
Quincy Brown, WR TCU
Agiye Hall, WR Texas
Sam James, WR West Virginia
Myles Price, WR Texas Tech
Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE Texas
Mason Tharp, TE Texas Tech
Junior Angilau, G Texas
Jarrod Hufford, G Iowa State
John Lanz, G TCU
Grant Miller, G Baylor
Chris Murray, G Oklahoma
Alan Ali, OL TCU
Cade Briggs, OL Texas Tech
Preston Wilson, OL Oklahoma State
Jake Majors, C Texas
Andrew Raym, C Oklahoma
Honorable Mentions Defense
Eli Huggins, IDL Kansas State
Jaylon Hutchings, IDL Texas Tech
Moro Ojomo, IDL Texas
Taijh Alston, EDGE West Virginia
Alfred Collins, EDGE Texas
Khalid Duke, EDGE Kansas State
TJ Franklin, EDGE Baylor
Dylan Horton, EDGE TCU
Jonah Laulu, EDGE Oklahoma
Nate Matlack, EDGE Kansas State
Tyree Wilson, EDGE Texas Tech
Gavin Potter, LB Kansas
Colby Reeder, LB Iowa State
Julius Brents, CB Kansas State
Jacobee Bryant, CB Kansas
D'Shawn Jamison, CB Texas
Tayvonn Kyle, CB Iowa State
Ryan Watts, CB Texas
Rayshad Williams, CB Texas Tech
Beau Freyler, S Iowa State
Hershey McLaurin, S West Virginia
Christian Morgan, S Baylor
Kobe Savage, S Kansas State
TJ Smith, S Kansas State