Coach of the year
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: Despite a rash of injuries, Gundy led the Cowboys to a 10-2 season and a berth in the Sugar Bowl — their fourth trip to a bowl now among the current “New Year’s Six” since 2010 and 10th consecutive bowl trip. The Cowboys soared as high as No. 4 in the Associated Press poll despite not being ranked to start the season. They are 4-0 in games decided by seven points or less, overcoming deficits of 15 points or more three times to win. “Ten bowls in a row is special for Oklahoma State University,” Gundy said. “Our fans and players and coaching staff have come to expect being in a bowl game. And to now being in such a prestigious bowl as the Sugar Bowl, it is a really great lift for our players.”
Offensive player of the year
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma: The walk-on quarterback from Austin Lake Travis has been a transformative player for the Sooners, directing them to their first College Football Playoff appearance after leading the conference with a 178.76 quarterback rating, 35 touchdown passes and a 68.6 percent completion percentage in his first season since a transfer from Texas Tech.
“It is exceptional, his confidence to come here in the first place,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s ignited our offense. Baker has a certain spark that rubs off on everybody.”
Defensive player of the year
Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State: The league’s most dominant pass rusher took another step this season, notching 13 sacks and 17½ tackles for losses to lead the conference along with 61 tackles. “He’s kind of a coach’s dream,” Gundy told the Tulsa World of his defensive end. “He’s in a difficult situation to be the age he is (21) and a potential first-round draft pick. To be able to set that aside and practice and give you leadership. It’s very rare. We’re lucky to have him.”
Newcomer of the year
KaVontae Turpin, TCU: The two-star recruit from Monroe, Louisiana, unexpectedly blossomed as an explosive receiver-returner threat for the Horned Frogs, ranking fifth in the conference in all-purpose yardage with 1,594 including 40 receptions for 584 yards and eight touchdowns. His season was punctuated with a Big 12 freshman record four touchdown receptions against Texas.
“We didn’t know what we were recruiting when we were recruiting Turpin,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “He just gets it. The last guy that we had that got it as a freshman was (former TCU and current New York Jets wide receiver) Jeremy Kerley.”
First-team offense
QB — Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (6-1, 209) Jr., Austin (Lake Travis/Texas Tech)
RB — Samaje Perine, Oklahoma (5-10, 230) Soph., Pflugerville (Hendrickson)
RB — DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech (5-8, 200) Sr., Missouri City (Marshall)
WR — Corey Coleman, Baylor (5-11, 190) Jr., Richardson (Pearce)
WR — Josh Doctson, TCU (6-3, 195) Sr., Mansfield (Mansfield H.S./Wyoming)
WR — Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma (5-10, 193) Sr., Oklahoma City (Heritage Hall)
OT — Spencer Drango, Baylor (6-6, 320) Sr., Cedar Park
OT — Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech (6-6, 308) Sr., Rockdale
OG — Jarrell Broxton, Baylor (6-5, 325) Sr., Gaithersburg, Md. (Quince Orchard H.S./Lackawanna College)
OG — Nila Kasitati, Oklahoma (6-3, 319) Sr., Euless (Trinity)
C — Joey Hunt, TCU (6-3, 295) Sr., El Campo
AP — Jakeem Grant, Texas Tech (5-7, 168) Sr., Mesquite (Horn)
K — Jaden Oberkrom, TCU (6-3, 187) Sr., Arlington (Martin)
First-team defense
DE — Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State (6-4, 275) Jr., Houston (George Bush)
DE — Charles Tapper, Oklahoma (6-2, 282) Sr., Baltimore (City College H.S.)
DT — Andrew Billings, Baylor (6-2, 310) Jr., Waco (Waco H.S.)
DT — Jamal Palmer, Baylor (6-3, 250) Sr., McKinney (Boyd)
LB — Eric Striker, Oklahoma (6-0, 222) Sr., Seffner, Fla. (Armwood)
LB — Nick Kwiatoski, West Virginia (6-2, 235) Sr., Bethel Park, Pa.
LB — Chad Whitener, Oklahoma State (6-1, 240) Soph., Mansfield (Mansfield H.S./California)
CB — Xavien Howard, Baylor (6-2, 200) Jr., Houston (Wheatley)
CB — Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma (5-11, 179) Jr., Fort Worth (Central)
S — Derrick Kindred, TCU (5-10, 210) Sr., San Antonio (Wagner)
S — Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State (6-1, 205) Jr., Cibolo (Steele)
P — Nick O’Toole, West Virginia (6-3, 228) Sr. Corona, Calif. (Mater Dei/Fullerton College)
Second-team offense
QB — Trevone Boykin, TCU (6-2, 205) Sr., Dallas (West Mesquite)
RB — Wendell Smallwood, West Virginia (5-11, 201) Jr., Wilmington, Del. (Eastern Christian Academy)
RB — Mike Warren, Iowa State (6-0, 200) Fr., Lawton, Okla.
WR — KD Cannon, Baylor (6-0, 180) Soph., Mount Pleasant
WR — Allen Lazard, Iowa State (6-5, 223) Soph., Urbandale, Iowa
WR — James Washington, Oklahoma State (6-0, 200) Soph., Stamford
OT — Cody Whitehair, Kansas State (6-4, 305) Sr., Abilene, Kan.
OT — Halapoulivaati Vaitai, TCU (6-6, 315) Sr., Haltom
OG — Brady Foltz, TCU (6-4, 320) Sr., Rose Hill, Kan.
OG — Patrick Vahe, Texas (6-2, 319) Fr., Euless (Trinity)
C — Kyle Fuller, Baylor (6-5, 315) Jr., Wylie
AP — Morgan Burns, Kansas State (5-11, 201) Sr., Wichita, Kan. (Trinity Academy)
K — Clayton Hatfield, Texas Tech (5-10, 171) Fr., Boerne (Champion)
Second-team defense
DE — Josh Carraway, TCU (6-4, 250) Jr., Flower Mound (Marcus)
DE — Noble Nwachukwu, West Virginia (6-2, 271) Jr. Wylie
DT — Travis Britz, Kansas State (6-4, 293) Sr., Harrisonville, Mo.
DT — Demond Tucker, Iowa State (6-0, 296) Jr., Hazelhurst, Miss. (Copiah Lincoln J.C./Hazelhurst)
LB — Peter Jinkens, Texas (6-0, 230) Jr., Dallas (Skyline)
LB — Ty Summers, TCU (6-2, 230) Fr., San Antonio (Reagan)
LB — Jordan Burton, Oklahoma State (6-3, 215) Jr., Longview (Kilgore JC)
CB — Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma (6-0, 191) Soph., Klein
CB — Daryl Worley, West Virginia (6-2, 198) Jr., Philadelphia (William Penn Charter)
S — Travon Blanchard, Baylor (6-2, 205) Soph., Orange (West Orange-Stark)
S — Fish Smithson, Kansas (5-11, 190) Jr., Baltimore (Highlands H.S./Hartnell College)
P — Austin Seibert, Oklahoma (5-10, 210) Fr., Belleville, Ill. (West)
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: Despite a rash of injuries, Gundy led the Cowboys to a 10-2 season and a berth in the Sugar Bowl — their fourth trip to a bowl now among the current “New Year’s Six” since 2010 and 10th consecutive bowl trip. The Cowboys soared as high as No. 4 in the Associated Press poll despite not being ranked to start the season. They are 4-0 in games decided by seven points or less, overcoming deficits of 15 points or more three times to win. “Ten bowls in a row is special for Oklahoma State University,” Gundy said. “Our fans and players and coaching staff have come to expect being in a bowl game. And to now being in such a prestigious bowl as the Sugar Bowl, it is a really great lift for our players.”
Offensive player of the year
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma: The walk-on quarterback from Austin Lake Travis has been a transformative player for the Sooners, directing them to their first College Football Playoff appearance after leading the conference with a 178.76 quarterback rating, 35 touchdown passes and a 68.6 percent completion percentage in his first season since a transfer from Texas Tech.
“It is exceptional, his confidence to come here in the first place,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s ignited our offense. Baker has a certain spark that rubs off on everybody.”
Defensive player of the year
Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State: The league’s most dominant pass rusher took another step this season, notching 13 sacks and 17½ tackles for losses to lead the conference along with 61 tackles. “He’s kind of a coach’s dream,” Gundy told the Tulsa World of his defensive end. “He’s in a difficult situation to be the age he is (21) and a potential first-round draft pick. To be able to set that aside and practice and give you leadership. It’s very rare. We’re lucky to have him.”
Newcomer of the year
KaVontae Turpin, TCU: The two-star recruit from Monroe, Louisiana, unexpectedly blossomed as an explosive receiver-returner threat for the Horned Frogs, ranking fifth in the conference in all-purpose yardage with 1,594 including 40 receptions for 584 yards and eight touchdowns. His season was punctuated with a Big 12 freshman record four touchdown receptions against Texas.
“We didn’t know what we were recruiting when we were recruiting Turpin,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “He just gets it. The last guy that we had that got it as a freshman was (former TCU and current New York Jets wide receiver) Jeremy Kerley.”
First-team offense
QB — Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (6-1, 209) Jr., Austin (Lake Travis/Texas Tech)
RB — Samaje Perine, Oklahoma (5-10, 230) Soph., Pflugerville (Hendrickson)
RB — DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech (5-8, 200) Sr., Missouri City (Marshall)
WR — Corey Coleman, Baylor (5-11, 190) Jr., Richardson (Pearce)
WR — Josh Doctson, TCU (6-3, 195) Sr., Mansfield (Mansfield H.S./Wyoming)
WR — Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma (5-10, 193) Sr., Oklahoma City (Heritage Hall)
OT — Spencer Drango, Baylor (6-6, 320) Sr., Cedar Park
OT — Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech (6-6, 308) Sr., Rockdale
OG — Jarrell Broxton, Baylor (6-5, 325) Sr., Gaithersburg, Md. (Quince Orchard H.S./Lackawanna College)
OG — Nila Kasitati, Oklahoma (6-3, 319) Sr., Euless (Trinity)
C — Joey Hunt, TCU (6-3, 295) Sr., El Campo
AP — Jakeem Grant, Texas Tech (5-7, 168) Sr., Mesquite (Horn)
K — Jaden Oberkrom, TCU (6-3, 187) Sr., Arlington (Martin)
First-team defense
DE — Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State (6-4, 275) Jr., Houston (George Bush)
DE — Charles Tapper, Oklahoma (6-2, 282) Sr., Baltimore (City College H.S.)
DT — Andrew Billings, Baylor (6-2, 310) Jr., Waco (Waco H.S.)
DT — Jamal Palmer, Baylor (6-3, 250) Sr., McKinney (Boyd)
LB — Eric Striker, Oklahoma (6-0, 222) Sr., Seffner, Fla. (Armwood)
LB — Nick Kwiatoski, West Virginia (6-2, 235) Sr., Bethel Park, Pa.
LB — Chad Whitener, Oklahoma State (6-1, 240) Soph., Mansfield (Mansfield H.S./California)
CB — Xavien Howard, Baylor (6-2, 200) Jr., Houston (Wheatley)
CB — Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma (5-11, 179) Jr., Fort Worth (Central)
S — Derrick Kindred, TCU (5-10, 210) Sr., San Antonio (Wagner)
S — Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State (6-1, 205) Jr., Cibolo (Steele)
P — Nick O’Toole, West Virginia (6-3, 228) Sr. Corona, Calif. (Mater Dei/Fullerton College)
Second-team offense
QB — Trevone Boykin, TCU (6-2, 205) Sr., Dallas (West Mesquite)
RB — Wendell Smallwood, West Virginia (5-11, 201) Jr., Wilmington, Del. (Eastern Christian Academy)
RB — Mike Warren, Iowa State (6-0, 200) Fr., Lawton, Okla.
WR — KD Cannon, Baylor (6-0, 180) Soph., Mount Pleasant
WR — Allen Lazard, Iowa State (6-5, 223) Soph., Urbandale, Iowa
WR — James Washington, Oklahoma State (6-0, 200) Soph., Stamford
OT — Cody Whitehair, Kansas State (6-4, 305) Sr., Abilene, Kan.
OT — Halapoulivaati Vaitai, TCU (6-6, 315) Sr., Haltom
OG — Brady Foltz, TCU (6-4, 320) Sr., Rose Hill, Kan.
OG — Patrick Vahe, Texas (6-2, 319) Fr., Euless (Trinity)
C — Kyle Fuller, Baylor (6-5, 315) Jr., Wylie
AP — Morgan Burns, Kansas State (5-11, 201) Sr., Wichita, Kan. (Trinity Academy)
K — Clayton Hatfield, Texas Tech (5-10, 171) Fr., Boerne (Champion)
Second-team defense
DE — Josh Carraway, TCU (6-4, 250) Jr., Flower Mound (Marcus)
DE — Noble Nwachukwu, West Virginia (6-2, 271) Jr. Wylie
DT — Travis Britz, Kansas State (6-4, 293) Sr., Harrisonville, Mo.
DT — Demond Tucker, Iowa State (6-0, 296) Jr., Hazelhurst, Miss. (Copiah Lincoln J.C./Hazelhurst)
LB — Peter Jinkens, Texas (6-0, 230) Jr., Dallas (Skyline)
LB — Ty Summers, TCU (6-2, 230) Fr., San Antonio (Reagan)
LB — Jordan Burton, Oklahoma State (6-3, 215) Jr., Longview (Kilgore JC)
CB — Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma (6-0, 191) Soph., Klein
CB — Daryl Worley, West Virginia (6-2, 198) Jr., Philadelphia (William Penn Charter)
S — Travon Blanchard, Baylor (6-2, 205) Soph., Orange (West Orange-Stark)
S — Fish Smithson, Kansas (5-11, 190) Jr., Baltimore (Highlands H.S./Hartnell College)
P — Austin Seibert, Oklahoma (5-10, 210) Fr., Belleville, Ill. (West)
