Geno Smith (West Virginia), Cornelius Douglas (Texas Tech) and DJ Monroe (Texas) have been named Big 12 Football Players of the Week, as selected by a media panel. Smith (offense) picked up his second award this season while Douglas (defense) and Monroe (special teams) were recognized for the first time.

Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Geno Smith, West Virginia, QB, Miami, Fla.

Geno Smith passed for 656 yards and eight touchdowns in West Virginia’s 70-63 victory over Baylor. The senior quarterback completed 45-of-51 passes, had no interceptions, and tied a Big12 record with his eight scoring tosses. Smith’s passing yards (656) and completions (45) were both school records. He had a long completion of 87 yards that went for one of his touchdown throws. Three of Smith’s receivers had 100 or more receiving yards in the game. He was named Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Cornelius Douglas, Texas Tech, CB, Lawton, Okla.

Cornerback Cornelius Douglas returned to the Texas Tech lineup after missing a game with injury and helped lead the nation’s top-ranked defense to a 24-13 road win at Iowa State. The senior compiled three tackles, but it was his two interceptions that were the keys to victory. His last interception helped set up Tech’s final touchdown drive of the night as the Red Raiders took a 21-13 lead. Douglas ran the interception back 40 yards to give the Texas Tech offense the ball on the Iowa State 9-yard line. He is the first Red Raider to grab two interceptions in a game since DJ Johnson did so in last year’s Big 12 opener at Kansas.

Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
DJ Monroe, Texas, KR, Sr, Angleton, Texas

With the game knotted at 14-all, DJ Monroe fielded a kickoff in the end zone, eventually broke two tackles and sprinted down the sidelines 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Horns a 21-14 first quarter lead at Oklahoma State. Texas ended up winning the game 41-36. It was Monroe’s third career kickoff return for a score, eclipsing the UT career record he shared with Fozzy Whittaker. He also had a 20-yard return to gain 120 yards on two kickoff returns and rushed three times for 24 yards to lead UT with 144 all-purpose yards.

— Big 12 Press Release —