It's preseason awards time, so today and tomorrow, I'll offer a look at my ballot for the league's preseason poll, awards and All-Big 12 team. We'll start today with my preseason All-Big 12 team.
Remember, as always: I don't view this as a projection. Some do. The ballot doesn't say it's either, so I can't begrudge guys who view it differently.
I view this as the best and most proven players at each position, analogous to something of a lifetime achievement award for this point in each player's career.
OFFENSE
QB: Trevone Boykin, TCU
No contest, though I suspect Seth Russell and Mason Rudolph will make one for the postseason award.
RB: Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
RB: Shock Linwood, Baylor
FB: Glenn Gronkowski, Kansas State
DeAndre Washington and Aaron Green are productive, but Perine and Linwood are a cut above as the league's most skilled ballcarriers.
WR: Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
This position is somewhat underwhelming in the preseason, considering the wealth of Biletnikoff-level talent that has populated the Big 12 in recent seasons, capped by Kevin White and Tyler Lockett in 2014. Receiver is the most wide-open All-Big 12 race this season on offense, too. Guys like KD Cannon, Allen Lazard, Quenton Bundrage, Josh Doctson, Shelton Gibson and Kolby Listenbee might grab one of these spots by October. Don't sleep on James Washington, either.
TE: Tre'Von Armstead, Baylor
Tight end in the Big 12 this year will probably end up being a wasteland. There's not a guy in the league who would earn this spot in most seasons but hey, somebody has to grab it. I was tempted to go with LaQuan McGowan for fun's sake, but I gave my vote to Baylor's OTHER physical marvel at the position. Armstead hasn't been a major threat in the passing game yet, but at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, he's not somebody you want to try and tackle or see on the other end of a blitz pickup.
OL: Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech
OL: Spencer Drango, Baylor
C: Kyle Fuller, Baylor
OL: Cody Whitehair, Kansas St
DL: Shawn Oakman, Baylor
DL: Andrew Billings, Baylor
DL: Davion Pierson, TCU
DL: Emmanuel Ogbah, OSU
LB: Pete Robertson, Texas Tech
LB: Eric Striker, Oklahoma
LB: Dominique Alexander, Oklahoma
It's probably a stretch to put Robertson here, but the hybrid OLB/DE talent is listed as a linebacker for the Red Raiders and he deserves a spot somewhere on this team. Striker and Alexander give OU the league's best second level on defense.
DB: Kevin Peterson, Oklahoma State
DB: Karl Joseph, West Virginia
DB: Dante Barnett, Kansas State
DB: Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma
Cornerback is another weak position for the Big 12 this season, which could be very good news for fans of active scoreboards. However, the league is much more solid at safety. Joseph and Barnett are among the nation's best at their positions and Joseph is arguably the most feared hitter in the league. Orion Stewart and Dravon Henry aren't far from grabbing a spot on this team.
SPECIALISTS
P: Ethan Perry, TCU
Statisticians believe TCU's 2014 team is likely the only one in college football history to finish the season with negative defensive punt return yardage (-9) for the season. That starts with accuracy from Perry, keeping punts inside his coverage and angling it where it needs to go.
KR: Alex Ross, Oklahoma
Ross is a burner and at 220 pounds, he doesn't go down easy in the open field. He returned two of 23 kicks for touchdowns last year and finished third nationally in average return yardage, at 31.22 yards.
PK: Matthew McCrane, Kansas State.
He went 5-5 from beyond 40 yards and was 18-of-19 after winning the starting job in the middle of 2014. He narrowly edges out Josh Lambert and Jaden Oberkrom.
PR: Cam Echols-Luper, TCU
The track star is quick and has solid hands. He returned a punt for a score last year and at 10.5 yards, trailed only Tyler Lockett in punt return average. Think TCU's success in the special teams has any correlation to their win total?
Anybody snubbed? Anybody who doesn't belong?
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