The Big 12 Conference has announced the individual award winners and all-Big 12 football team on Thursday, via press release. The selections were made by league coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Here’s a look at each of the individual award winners. Colorado and Arizona State tied for the most with three honorees a piece. West Virginia was the only other school with multiple individual selections, with two.
Offensive Player of the Year
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Shedeur Sanders was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year following a banner season ranked in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdowns while breaking school records for passing touchdowns, passing yards, consecutive games with a touchdown pass, quarterback rating, and completion percentage.
Defensive Player of the Year
Travis Hunter, DB, Colorado
With four interceptions, 11 pass breakups and a record-breaking season on both sides of the ball, Travis Hunter became CU’s first Conference Defensive Player of the Year since Jordon Dizon in 2007. The defensive back also became the first player in Big 12 history to tally multiple games with an interception and an offensive touchdown.
Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Jordyn Tyson was selected as the Offensive Newcomer of the Year after tallying 75 catches for 1,101 yards and ten touchdowns. The wideout elevated his play during the final three games of the regular season, recording 29 catches for 444 yards and three touchdowns. Tyson also finished the season second in the Big 12 in touchdown catches (10) and third in receiving yards (1,101).
Defensive Newcomer of the Year
BJ Green II, DE, Colorado
BJ Green II, the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year on the defensive side, spearheaded a disruptive CU defensive unit with seven-and-a-half sacks that tied for the second most among all Big 12 players. He played a pivotal role in the Colorado pass rush finishing the regular season with a Big 12-best 37 sacks, which ranks 11th nationally.
Offensive Freshman of the Year
Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State
After winning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week three times this season for the Sun Devils, quarterback Sam Leavitt earned Offensive Freshman of the Year. ASU was 10-1 in games Leavitt started as he completed 62.7% of his passes for 2,444 yards and 21 touchdowns to just five interceptions.
Defensive Freshman of the Year
Josiah Trotter, LB, West Virginia
West Virginia’s Josiah Trotter is the first Mountaineer ever to be named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, following a strong season that featured 93 tackles, four tackles for a loss and an interception.
Special Teams Players of the Year
Will Ferrin, K, BYU
Jaylin Noel, PR/KR, Iowa State
Will Ferrin secured Special Teams Player of the Year honors for BYU by converting on 21 of his 24 field goal attempts and made all 38 of his extra points. His season highlights included a 44-yard game-winning field goal against Utah in addition to a career-best 54 yard make at Baylor.
Iowa State wide receiver and returner Jaylin Noel shared Special Teams Player of the Year accolades after averaging 15.3 yards per punt return while also averaging 17.7 yards per kick return. The Kansas City native is the first Cyclone to win the award since it was established in 2005.
Offensive Lineman of the Year
Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia
Wyatt Milum anchored the WVU offensive line in his senior season and joins Colton McKivitz in 2019 and Yodny Cajuste in 2018 as the only Mountaineers to be named Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Defensive Lineman of the Year
Brendan Mott, DE, Kansas State
Defensive Lineman of the Year honors were claimed by Kansas State’s Brendan Mott. The defensive end recorded 44 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a fumble recovery and an interception. The Conference’s leader in sacks eclipsed his previous season-high in sacks by two-and-a-half.
Chuck Neinas Coach of the Year
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State (2nd Season)
Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham was named the Chuck Neinas Big 12 Coach of the Year after posting the largest single-year win improvement in school history, improving the Sun Devils’ record by seven wins and guiding the team to a berth in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship.
Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech
Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas
Big 12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors were split by Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks and Jalon Daniels of Kansas. Brooks, who became the Red Raiders’ all-time leading rusher this season, has begun post-graduate work after completing his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management with a GPA of 3.56. He was also named a finalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy earlier this season. Daniels has also earned honors on and off the field this season, including being named a semifinalist for Comeback Player of the Year and multiple appearances on the Big 12 All-Academic Team. The Sports Management major carries a 3.54 GPA while throwing for 2,174 yards and rushing for 402 yards with 20 total touchdowns this season.
