Preseason College Football 2024 All-Big 12 Team & Awards: Arizona, Oklahoma State lead Big 12
Oklahoma State fills the power vacuum in the Big 12 left by Texas
College football got a facelift over the summer as the long-anticipated consolidation of the sport’s top conferences led to a confusing game of musical chairs. The Big 12 said goodbye to traditional powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas but welcomed Pac-12 defectors Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah.
Losing Oklahoma and Texas definitely led to a talent drain in the conference, but the ascending Arizona Wildcats and experienced Oklahoma State Cowboys have the athletes to fill that void. Let’s look at the preseason All-Big 12 Teams and preseason Big 12 Awards.
All-ACC l All-Big Ten l All-SEC
Please note that these teams don’t reflect how I view players as NFL prospects. Talent plays a role in these evaluations, but projected on-field performance and production are more meaningful.
*Indicates 2024 transfer
^Indicates true freshman
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year: Ollie Gordon II, RB Oklahoma State
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year: Travis Hunter, CB Colorado
Big 12 Newcomer of the Year: Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
Big 12 Coach of the Year: Lance Leipold, Kansas
Five players have strong cases for the Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) award. Gordon is set to repeat behind a strong offensive line. Travis Hunter has the talent to win Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), but splitting snaps between wide receiver and cornerback could prevent him from winning an award at either individual role. Arizona’s Tacario Davis will push him for DPOY honors.
Technically, all former Pac-12 athletes are newcomers to the Big 12. That makes Sanders, Noah Fifita, and Tetairoa McMillan eligible for this award. Sanders, who could easily win OPOY, should be favored.
New Arizona coach Brent Brennan is positioned to challenge Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and Kansas’ Lance Leipold for the Coach of the Year Award with the roster Jedd Fisch built. A ten-win performance for the former San Jose State head coach would likely get the job done, but Leipold also has a clear path if quarterback Jalon Daniels stays healthy.
First Team Offense
Quarterback: Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
Running Back: Ollie Gordon II, RB Oklahoma State
Running Back: Devin Neal, RB Kansas
Wide Receiver: Tetairoa McMillan, WR Arizona
Wide Receiver: Brennan Presley, WR Oklahoma State
Wide Receiver: Jayden Higgins, WR Iowa State
Tight End: Brant Kuithe, TE Utah
All-Purpose: DJ Giddens, RB Kansas State
Left Tackle: Wyatt Milum, LT West Virginia
Right Tackle: Jonah Savaiinaea, RT Arizona
Left Guard: Michael Ford Jr., LG Kansas
Right Guard: Preston Wilson, RG Oklahoma State
Center: Joe Michalski, C Oklahoma State
First Team Defense
Defensive End/Edge: B.J. Green II, Edge Colorado*
Defensive End/Edge: Dayon Hayes, Edge Colorado*
Defensive Tackle: Dontay Corleone, IDL Cincinnati
Defensive Tackle: Lee Hunter, IDL UCF
Linebacker: Nickolas Martin, LB Oklahoma State
Linebacker: Collin Oliver, LB Oklahoma State
Linebacker: Karene Reid, LB Utah
Cornerback: Travis Hunter, CB Colorado
Cornerback: Tacario Davis, CB Arizona
Safety: Jeremiah Cooper, S Iowa State
Safety: Aubrey Burks, S West Virginia
Oklahoma State took a commanding lead on the First Team with six total selections. Colorado (four) and Arizona (three) were the closest programs to challenging the Cowboys, and Iowa State, Kansas, Utah, and West Virginia finished with two selections apiece. Cincinnati, Kansas State, and UCF also got on the board. Baylor, BYU, Houston, TCU, and Texas Tech did not make appearances.
The First Team is top-heavy with future first round NFL Draft picks. Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders and Arizona’s Tacario Davis and Tetairoa McMillan appear to be summer locks to go in the top 32 selections next spring. I’d add Jonah Savaiinaea to the conversation as well (as a guard).
The Big 12 can go toe-to-toe with almost any conference when it comes to comparing running backs. The conference returns five running backs who totaled more than 1,200 rushing yards and more than 1,450 yards from scrimmage in 2023.
Ollie Gordon II is the only running back returning to college who earned Heisman Trophy votes last year. Devin Neal is less than 800 yards away from setting Kansas’ career record in rushing yards. In the Big 12 last year, Gordon was the only running back with more receiving yards than DJ Giddens.
The situation along the defensive front might undergo a shakeup as Dontay Corleone is currently out indefinitely with blood clots. Hopefully, he’s able to return to the field in healthy condition in time for the season.
The real lifeblood of the First Team’s defense is its two dominant cornerbacks. Hunter is in the discussion for being the best pound-for-pound athlete in college football, and Davis brings exceptional size to the position.
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Noah Fifita, QB Arizona
Running Back: Tahj Brooks, RB Texas Tech
Running Back: RJ Harvey, RB UCF
Wide Receiver: Travis Hunter, WR Colorado
Wide Receiver: Eric McAlister, WR TCU*
Wide Receiver: Kobe Hudson, WR UCF
Tight End: Drake Dabney, TE TCU*
All-Purpose: Abu Sama III, RB Iowa State
Left Tackle: Dalton Cooper, LT Oklahoma State
Right Tackle: Jake Springfield, RT Oklahoma State
Left Guard: Wendell Moe Jr., LG Arizona
Right Guard: Luke Kandra, RG Cincinnati
Center: Connor Pay, C BYU
Second Team Defense
Defensive End/Edge: Tyler Onyedim, Edge Iowa State
Defensive End/Edge: Tyler Batty, Edge BYU
Defensive Tackle: Domonique Orange, IDL Iowa State
Defensive Tackle: Chidozie Nwankwo, IDL Colorado*
Linebacker: Jacob Manu, LB Arizona
Linebacker: Namdi Obiazor, LB TCU
Linebacker: Caleb Bacon, LB Iowa State
Cornerback: Cobee Bryant, CB Kansas
Cornerback: Mello Dotson, CB Kansas
Safety: Kendal Daniels, S Oklahoma State
Safety: Bud Clark, S TCU
Iowa State and TCU tied for the most selections on the Second Team with four each. Arizona and Oklahoma State (three each) were hot on their tail, and BYU, Colorado, Kansas, and UCF also had multiple players earn Second Team honors. Cincinnati and Texas Tech avoided the shutout thanks to Luke Kandra and Tahj Brooks.
This year’s Second Team’s selections were evenly distributed among some of the Big 12’s top programs. However, that left retooling or low-level teams without representatives. Arizona State, Baylor, Houston, Kansas State, Utah, and West Virginia failed to produce a Second Team selection.
Hunter had a case for earning First Team honors at wide receiver and cornerback. However, his timeshare between the two positions limits the volume of targets he’ll see. That’s the only reason why he didn’t crack the First Team.
There are several conferences, including the SEC, where Tahj Brooks and RJ Harvey would receive First Team consideration. Unfortunately, the Big 12 is too stacked at the position for Brooks and Harvey to get the recognition they deserve. Both produced more than 1,600 yards from scrimmage in 2023.
Noah Fifita broke out in his first year as a full-time starter. Despite his head coach jumping to Washington, the redshirt sophomore still has many of the same weapons as last year. However, the 5'10", 194 lbs. passer has flaws that could lead to inconsistent play in 2024.
Kansas’ cornerback duo are the stars of the Second Team’s defense. Cobee Bryant received rave reviews from some NFL Draft evaluators this summer. He’s been one of the most productive cornerbacks over the past three years, intercepting or breaking up 24 passes. Mello Dotson has also emerged as a key contributor. In 2023, he intercepted four passes, scored two pick-sixes, and broke up another 11 throws.
Third Team Offense
Quarterback: Jalon Daniels, QB Kansas
Running Back: Micah Bernard, RB Utah
Running Back: Corey Kiner, RB Cincinnati
Wide Receiver: Rashod Owens, WR Oklahoma State
Wide Receiver: Lawrence Arnold, WR Kansas
Wide Receiver: Will Sheppard, WR Colorado*
Tight End: Maliq Carr, TE Houston*
All-Purpose: Dylan Edwards, RB Kansas State*
Left Tackle: Bless Harris, LT TCU*
Right Tackle: Campbell Barrington, RT Baylor
Left Guard: Dartanyan Tinsley, LG Cincinnati
Right Guard: Justin Mayers, RG Colorado*
Center: Leif Fautanu, C Arizona State
Third Team Defense
Defensive End/Edge: Tre Smith, Edge Arizona*
Defensive End/Edge: Malachi Lawrence, Edge UCF
Defensive Tackle: Anthony Holmes Jr., IDL Houston
Defensive Tackle: Kevon Darton, IDL Arizona*
Linebacker: Lander Barton, LB Utah
Linebacker: Lee Kpogba, LB West Virginia
Linebacker: Deshawn Pace, LB/NB UCF*
Cornerback: Myles Purchase, CB Iowa State
Cornerback: Garnett Hollis Jr., CB West Virginia*
Safety: CJ Baskerville, S Texas Tech
Safety: Gunner Maldonado, S Arizona
The Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team is arguably the most representative and evenly distributed team assembled during this summer exercise. Out of the conference’s 16 members, BYU was the only one without a player chosen for the Third Team.
Arizona led all programs with three selections. The teams with two representatives include Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, UCF, Utah, and West Virginia. Arizona State, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, and Texas Tech had one athlete each.
Jalon Daniels has never appeared in more than nine games in a single season. He appeared in just three games this past season after a breakout campaign in 2022. Daniels is a dual threat, but it’s reasonable to wonder how much he’ll scramble following his brush with multiple injuries.
Even if he appears in all of Kansas’ games, it seems unlikely that Daniels will unseat Sanders for the top quarterback spot in the Big 12. His return should boost all of his wide receivers, including Lawrence Arnold, who led the team in receiving yards in 2022 and 2023.
Speaking of injuries, Micah Bernard appeared in just two games last year. He is a dual threat out of the backfield and totaled nearly 850 yards from scrimmage in 2022 despite playing second fiddle to Tavion Thomas.
Transfers Dylan Edwards and Will Sheppard are perhaps the most interesting players on the Third Team. Edwards had some incredible flashes as a true freshman at Colorado in 2023, but he never came close to topping his 159-yard, four-touchdown performance in the season opener against TCU.
It seems unlikely that Edwards will take significant touches away from DJ Giddens, but his athletic traits warrant a heavier workload than he received last year.
Sheppard produced 21 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards across the past three seasons at Vanderbilt. He has the size and potential to do so much more now that he’s out of Vandy. The only reason Sheppard doesn’t rank higher is that he’s joining a loaded wide receiver room. Jimmy Horn Jr. and Travis Hunter are already established parts of the offense, and I’m guessing LaJohntay Wester didn’t transfer to Colorado from FAU following a 1,100-yard season just to ride the bench.
Malachi Lawrence and Myles Purchase are two of the most notable names on the Third Team’s defense. Lawrence was fifth in the Big 12 last year with 0.58 sacks per game, and Purchase broke up 15 passes while still finding the motor to contribute in run defense.
Final Outcome and Recap
Oklahoma State led all teams on the Preseason All-Big 12 Teams with ten total selections, including a dominant six-athlete showing on the First Team. Arizona (nine) and Colorado (eight) weren’t far behind.
Kansas (six), TCU (five), UCF (five), Cincinnati (four), Utah (four), and West Virginia (four) had decent showings. BYU, Houston, Kansas State, and Texas Tech all had two players make the teams. Arizona State and Baylor brought up the rear with one apiece. No programs were shut out, meaning the Big 12 and ACC were the only members of the Power Four to have all of their programs represented on the preseason teams.
Overall, the Big 12 had the most even distribution in selections among the Power Four. That’s not because the conference has multiple playoff-worthy teams. Instead, losing Oklahoma and Texas left a massive hole in the Big 12’s depth and talent pool with many middle-of-the-road programs making up the conference’s membership.
For reference, Texas led the conference in preseason selections last year with 11. Kansas, TCU, and UCF tied for second place in 2023 with seven selections, but none of those teams improved their standing despite the Longhorns departing for the SEC.
Fourteen players across the three teams joined their current schools this offseason through the transfer portal. That’s twice as many as the Preseason All-ACC Teams (seven), one more than the Big Ten (13), and a little shy of the SEC (17).
Three of the Big 12 transfers joined TCU while a whopping five teamed up with Deion Sanders at Colorado. All five of the transfers on the First or Second Team either joined the Buffaloes or the Horned Frogs.
There are some worthy All-Big 12 candidates who missed out on the preseason teams. Notably, quarterbacks Rocco Becht, Avery Johnson, and Donovan Smith are all capable of producing All-Conference-caliber seasons. WVU’s Kole Taylor and ISU sophomore Benjamin Brahmer were also in contention for the tight end spots.
Other honorable mentions on offense include North Dakota transfer Easton Kilty and a quartet of wide receivers in Jaylin Noel, Dorian Singer, Quentin Skinner, and former FAU standout LaJohntay Wester.
The top two defenders who missed out on the teams are Utah’s Zemaiah Vaughn and Iowa State’s Beau Freyler. Both could contend for First or Second Team honors this season.
Five Additional Breakout Candidates
1. Avery Johnson, QB Kansas State
2. Hershey McLaurin, DB Houston*
3. Omar Aigbedion, RG Baylor*
4. Xavier Guillory, WR Arizona State
5. Obi Ezeigbo, Edge Oklahoma State*
Honorable Mentions: Offense
Rocco Becht, QB Iowa State
Dequan Finn, QB Baylor*
Garrett Greene, QB West Virginia
KJ Jefferson, QB UCF*
Avery Johnson, QB Kansas State
Cameron Rising, QB Utah
Donovan Smith, QB Houston
Peny Boone, RB UCF*
Quali Conley, RB Arizona*
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB Arizona*
CJ Donaldson Jr., RB West Virginia
Alton McCaskill, RB Arizona State*
Richard Reese, RB Baylor
Cameron Skattebo, RB Arizona State
Jahiem White, RB West Virginia
Benjamin Brahmer, TE Iowa State
Jared Casey, TE Kansas
Sam Olson, TE Arizona*
Randy Pittman Jr., TE UCF
Kole Taylor, TE West Virginia
Michael Trigg, TE Baylor*
Monaray Baldwin, WR Baylor
Dante Cephas, WR Kansas State*
Luke Grimm, WR Kansas
Xavier Guillory, WR Arizona State
Xzavier Henderson, WR Cincinnati
Jimmy Horn Jr., WR Colorado
Josh Kelly, WR Texas Tech
Joseph Manjack IV, WR Houston
Jaylin Noel, WR Iowa State
Chase Roberts, WR BYU
Dorian Singer, WR Utah*
Quentin Skinner, WR Kansas
Tyrin Smith, WR Cincinnati*
LaJohntay Wester, WR Colorado*
Savion Williams, WR TCU
Brayden Keim, LT BYU
Amari Kight, LT UCF
Easton Kilty, LT Kansas State*
Jordan Seaton, LT Colorado^
Jalen Travis, LT Iowa State*
John Williams, LT Cincinnati
Cade Bennett, LG TCU*
Tyler Brown, LG Colorado
Kurt Danneker, LG Baylor*
Weylin Lapuaho, LG BYU
Adrian Medley, LG UCF
Vinny Sciury, LG Texas Tech*
Omar Aigbedion, RG Baylor*
Ja'Quay Hubbard, RG West Virginia
Marcellus Marshall, RG UCF
Michael Mokofisi, RG Utah
Caleb Rogers, RG Texas Tech
Gavin Gerhardt, C Cincinnati
Honorable Mentions: Defense
Ricky Barber, IDL UCF
Rayyan Buell, IDL Colorado*
De'Braylon Carroll, IDL Texas Tech*
Junior Tafuna, IDL Utah
Keith Cooper Jr., Edge Houston*
Devean Deal, Edge TCU*
Prince Dorbah, Edge Arizona State
Daylan Dotson, Edge UCF*
Obi Ezeigbo, Edge Oklahoma State*
Logan Fano, Edge Utah
Van Fillinger, Edge Utah
Steve Linton, Edge Baylor*
Sean Martin, Edge West Virginia
Brendan Mott, Edge Kansas State
Samuel Okunlola, Edge Colorado*
Joey Petersen, Edge Iowa State
Jereme Robinson, Edge Kansas
Clayton Smith, Edge Arizona State
Darian Varner, Edge Cincinnati*
Keaten Wade, Edge Colorado*
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB TCU*
Matt Jones, LB Baylor
Jack Kelly, LB BYU*
Austin Moore, LB Kansas State
Desmond Purnell, LB Kansas State
Ben Roberts, LB Texas Tech
Marques Sigle, NB Kansas State
Treydan Stukes, NB Arizona
Brandon Adams, CB UCF
Korie Black, CB Oklahoma State
JaTravis Broughton, CB TCU*
Kriston Davis, CB Houston*
Ayden Garnes, CB West Virginia*
Preston Hodge, CB Colorado*
Caden Jenkins, CB Baylor
Kenan Johnson, CB Utah*
Bralyn Lux, CB Texas Tech
D.J. McKinney, CB Colorado*
Hershey McLaurin, DB Houston*
Jacob Parrish, CB Kansas State
Jakob Robinson, CB BYU
Cam Smith, CB Oklahoma State
Zemaiah Vaughn, CB Utah
Sheldon Arnold II, S UCF*
O.J. Burroughs, S Kansas
Beau Freyler, DB Iowa State
Marvin Grant, S Kansas
A.J. Haulcy, S Houston
Demari Henderson, S UCF
VJ Payne, S Kansas State
Trey Rucker, S Oklahoma State
Shilo Sanders, S Colorado
Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig, S Colorado
Kendrick Simpkins, S Baylor*
Malik Verdon, S Iowa State
Anthony Wilson Jr., S West Virginia