Photo by: Kaitlyn Cole
Record Eight Players Recognized on Two All-Big 12 Football Teams
November 28, 2018 03:07 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It turns out David Long Jr. does have some respect among Big 12 football coaches.
West Virginia's outstanding junior linebacker garnered enough votes to be named this year's Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, edging out other notables such as TCU's Ben Banogu, Oklahoma State's Jordan Brailford and Texas' Charles Omenihu.
Additionally, Mountaineer senior left tackle Yodny Cajuste shared Offensive Lineman of the Year accolades with Kansas State's Dalton Risner and Oklahoma's Dru Samia.
Long, Cajuste, tight end Trevon Wesco, safety Kenny Robinson Jr. and senior wide receiver David Sills V were named to the All-Big 12 First Team, Sills V West Virginia's first-ever repeat recipient.
Sills V edged out three terrific wide receivers who were named to All-Big 12 Second Team: Iowa State's Hakeem Butler, TCU's Jalen Reagor and Texas Tech's Antoine Wesley.
The Mountaineers' second-team choices were senior quarterback Will Grier, sophomore offensive guard Josh Sills and senior defensive tackle Kenny Bigelow Jr.
That's eight West Virginia players recognized on the two All-Big 12 teams – the most ever in one year. In 2017 and 2015 the Mountaineers had six players recognized on the Big 12's two all-star units, three first teamers in 2015 and one first teamer last year.
Long Jr. put together an All-America caliber junior season with a team-best 97 tackles, 18½ tackles for losses and eight sacks in just 11 games, one fewer than the league's other top defenders.
Incidentally, the Cincinnati resident earns the rare distinction of being recognized as the league's defensive player of the year without once being recognized as its defensive player of the week.
Cajuste anchored an offensive line that helped the Mountaineers rank first in the Big 12 in passing offense and second in total offense and scoring offense. The Miami resident played in 31 career games at WVU, starting 29, including all 11 this season.
Sills V nearly duplicated his stellar 18-touchdown-catch junior season in 2017 by snaring a conference-best 15 touchdown passes in 2018. His team-leading 61 catches accounted for 896 yards, an average of 81.5 yards per game.
Wesco, a senior from Martinsburg, West Virginia, reestablished the tight end position at West Virginia by catching a career-best 24 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown, but it was his devastating work as a blocker that likely boosted him past Iowa State's Charlie Kolar to the second team.
Sophomore safety Kenny Robinson Jr., from nearby Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, was somewhat of a surprise choice in the secondary. He finished second to Long Jr. on the team in total tackles with 75 with four pass breakups and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
Oklahoma Offensive Player of the Year Kyler Murray edged out Grier on the first team, although Grier put up numbers worthy of the first team during his senior season.
He ranked first in the Big 12 in passing yards per game and second in total offense and passing efficiency. Grier completed 67 percent of his pass attempts for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns with just eight interceptions.
Senior safety Dravon Askew-Henry, senior wide receiver Gary Jennings Jr., junior right tackle Colton McKivitz, junior cornerbacks Josh Norwood and Keith Washington Jr. and sophomore placekicker Evan Staley received all-conference votes to make the honorable mention team.
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen also earned Coach of the Year votes.
The Mountaineers have had at least one All-Big 12 First Team choice all seven seasons they have been in the league.
League regular season champion Oklahoma dominated the offensive first team with seven choices, but the Sooners failed to get a single player on the defensive first team. Big 12 runner-up Texas had the most first-team defensive players with three.
West Virginia (8-3, 6-3) will learn its bowl destination on Sunday once the College Football Playoff field has been determined.
Oklahoma and Texas will play for the Big 12 Championship on Saturday at noon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at noon.
West Virginia's outstanding junior linebacker garnered enough votes to be named this year's Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, edging out other notables such as TCU's Ben Banogu, Oklahoma State's Jordan Brailford and Texas' Charles Omenihu.
Additionally, Mountaineer senior left tackle Yodny Cajuste shared Offensive Lineman of the Year accolades with Kansas State's Dalton Risner and Oklahoma's Dru Samia.
Long, Cajuste, tight end Trevon Wesco, safety Kenny Robinson Jr. and senior wide receiver David Sills V were named to the All-Big 12 First Team, Sills V West Virginia's first-ever repeat recipient.
Sills V edged out three terrific wide receivers who were named to All-Big 12 Second Team: Iowa State's Hakeem Butler, TCU's Jalen Reagor and Texas Tech's Antoine Wesley.
The Mountaineers' second-team choices were senior quarterback Will Grier, sophomore offensive guard Josh Sills and senior defensive tackle Kenny Bigelow Jr.
That's eight West Virginia players recognized on the two All-Big 12 teams – the most ever in one year. In 2017 and 2015 the Mountaineers had six players recognized on the Big 12's two all-star units, three first teamers in 2015 and one first teamer last year.
Long Jr. put together an All-America caliber junior season with a team-best 97 tackles, 18½ tackles for losses and eight sacks in just 11 games, one fewer than the league's other top defenders.
Incidentally, the Cincinnati resident earns the rare distinction of being recognized as the league's defensive player of the year without once being recognized as its defensive player of the week.
Cajuste anchored an offensive line that helped the Mountaineers rank first in the Big 12 in passing offense and second in total offense and scoring offense. The Miami resident played in 31 career games at WVU, starting 29, including all 11 this season.
Sills V nearly duplicated his stellar 18-touchdown-catch junior season in 2017 by snaring a conference-best 15 touchdown passes in 2018. His team-leading 61 catches accounted for 896 yards, an average of 81.5 yards per game.
Wesco, a senior from Martinsburg, West Virginia, reestablished the tight end position at West Virginia by catching a career-best 24 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown, but it was his devastating work as a blocker that likely boosted him past Iowa State's Charlie Kolar to the second team.
Sophomore safety Kenny Robinson Jr., from nearby Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, was somewhat of a surprise choice in the secondary. He finished second to Long Jr. on the team in total tackles with 75 with four pass breakups and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
Oklahoma Offensive Player of the Year Kyler Murray edged out Grier on the first team, although Grier put up numbers worthy of the first team during his senior season.
He ranked first in the Big 12 in passing yards per game and second in total offense and passing efficiency. Grier completed 67 percent of his pass attempts for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns with just eight interceptions.Senior safety Dravon Askew-Henry, senior wide receiver Gary Jennings Jr., junior right tackle Colton McKivitz, junior cornerbacks Josh Norwood and Keith Washington Jr. and sophomore placekicker Evan Staley received all-conference votes to make the honorable mention team.
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen also earned Coach of the Year votes.
The Mountaineers have had at least one All-Big 12 First Team choice all seven seasons they have been in the league.
League regular season champion Oklahoma dominated the offensive first team with seven choices, but the Sooners failed to get a single player on the defensive first team. Big 12 runner-up Texas had the most first-team defensive players with three.
West Virginia (8-3, 6-3) will learn its bowl destination on Sunday once the College Football Playoff field has been determined.
Oklahoma and Texas will play for the Big 12 Championship on Saturday at noon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at noon.
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