Quarterback Geno Smith (West Virginia), defensive end Alex Okafor (Texas) and wide receiver Trey Metoyer (Oklahoma) were picked for individual awards, highlighting the 2012 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, chosen by media representatives who cover the Conference.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year was awarded to Smith while Okafor earned the nod for Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Metoyer was chosen Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
Smith will lead West Virginia into its first season of Big 12 football. The 6-3 senior enters the 2012 campaign with 26 consecutive starts. He was an all-conference first team selection last year after leading the Mountaineers to their league title. Smith threw for 4,385 yards in 13 games, the fourth-best total in the NCAA in 2011. He earned Most Valuable Player of the Orange Bowl after setting five of the bowl’s records in WVU’s 70-33 win over Clemson.
Okafor was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection last season as well as an AFCA All-American. He posted 58 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three pass breakups, 17 pressures, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2011 after transitioning back to defensive end from defensive tackle.
Metoyer caught 108 passes for 1,540 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2010 at Whitehouse (Texas) High School. He had at least 15 touchdowns in three straight years of prep ball and was listed as the No. 2 wide receiver recruit in 2011 by Rivals.com.
The media Preseason Big 12 Poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Dallas on July 23-24. Live video coverage, including press conferences and one-on-one interviews with a variety of guests, will be featured both days on the Big 12 Digital Network, including Big12Sports.com.
2012 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Smith, West Virginia (QB, 6-3, 214, Sr/3L, Miami, Fla.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Okafor, Texas (DE, 6-4, 260, Sr/3L, Pflugerville, Texas)
Newcomer of the Year: Trey Metoyer, Oklahoma (WR, 6-1, 190, Fr/HS, Whitehouse, Texas)
OFFENSE
Pos Name School Ht Wt Cl/Exp Hometown
WR Kenny Stills # Oklahoma 6-1 189 Jr/2L Encinitas, Calif.
TE Jordan Najvar Baylor 6-6 260 Jr/1L Spring, Texas
OL Gabe Ikard * Oklahoma 6-4 295 Jr/2L Oklahoma City, Okla.
OL Cyril Richardson Baylor 6-5 335 Jr/2L Fort Worth, Texas
C Ben Habern^ Oklahoma 6-4 292 Sr/3L Argyle, Texas
OL LaAdrian Waddle # Texas Tech 6-6 318 Sr/3L Columbus, Texas
OL Lane Taylor Oklahoma State 6-3 328 Sr/3L Arlington, Texas
WR Tavon Austin West Virginia 5-9 174 Sr/3L Baltimore, Md.
QB Geno Smith West Virginia 6-3 214 Sr/3L Miami, Fla.
RB Joseph Randle # Oklahoma State 6-1 200 Jr/2L Wichita, Kan.
RB Malcolm Brown Texas 6-0 213 So/1L Cibolo, Texas
PK Quinn Sharp * Oklahoma State 6-1 205 Sr/3L Mansfield, Texas
KR Tyler Lockett # Kansas State 5-11 175 So/1L Tulsa, Okla.
DEFENSE
Pos Name School Ht Wt Cl/Exp Hometown
DL Jackson Jeffcoat # Texas 6-5 250 Jr/2L Plano, Texas
DL Stansly Maponga TCU 6-2 265 Jr/2L Carrollton, Texas
DL Alex Okafor * Texas 6-4 260 Sr/3L Pflugerville, Texas
DL Jamarkus McFarland Oklahoma 6-2 296 Sr/3L Lufkin, Texas
LB Arthur Brown * Kansas State 6-1 228 Sr/3L Wichita, Kan.
LB A.J. Klein * Iowa State 6-2 244 Sr/3L Kimberly, Wis.
LB Jake Knott ^# Iowa State 6-3 239 Sr/3L Waukee, Iowa
DB Brodrick Brown * Oklahoma State 5-8 185 Sr/3L Houston, Texas
DB Kenny Vaccaro * Texas 6-1 215 Sr/3L Brownwood, Texas
DB Tony Jefferson Oklahoma 5-10 199 Jr/2L Chula Vista, Calif.
DB Nigel Malone * Kansas State 5-10 185 Sr/3L Manteca, Calif.
P Quinn Sharp ^* Oklahoma State 6-1 205 Sr/3L Mansfield, Texas
PR Tavon Austin West Virginia 5-9 174 Sr/3L Baltimore, Md.
^ 2011 Preseason Team
* 2011 All-Big 12 First Team selection
# 2011 All-Big 12 Second Team selection
— Big 12 Press Release —