Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Big 12 Conference Announces Preseason Football Team and Players of the Year
July 11, 2018 02:25 PM | Football
Irving, Texas – Redshirt senior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Will Grier was named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and he and three of his teammates were named to the All-Big 12 Media Preseason Football Team, today, as announced by the league office.
Grier, senior wide receiver David Sills V, redshirt senior offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste and redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr. were the four Mountaineers named to the all-conference team.
The total team honored 17 seniors, 11 juniors and one sophomore. Seven were named to the 2017 All-Big 12 First Team while 11 were on the second team.
Other preseason individual awards went to defensive end Ben Banogu (TCU) as Defensive Player of the Year and defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles (Oklahoma) as Newcomer of the Year.
Grier is the Conference's top returner in total offense average (328.4), passing yards per game (317.3) and passing efficiency (162.7). The 2017 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year started 11 games for West Virginia before a season-ending hand injury in the first quarter against Texas.
Sills V earned All-America honors and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award after finishing with 60 catches for 980 yards and tied for the nation's lead with 18 touchdown receptions.
Cajuste has been a two-year starter and anchors the Mountaineer offensive line at the left tackle position. He was a member of an offensive line in 2017 that only allowed 4.1 tackles for loss per game, ranking No. 8 nationally and No. 1 in the Big 12. Opponents averaged only 1.5 sacks per game, ranking No. 20 in the nation. He also was part of an offensive line that paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher, a 3,400-yard pass and two 1,000-yard receivers.
Long Jr. played in nine games in 2017 after suffering a preseason knee injury. The ProFootballFocus All-America Second Team selection finished third on the team with 76 tackles, including 56 unassisted tackles, four sacks, a team-leading 16.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
The Big 12 media preseason poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Frisco, Texas on July 16-17. Both days will be televised live from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT on FS2 and other FOX Sports regional affiliates. Exclusive coverage from the event will also be available on the Big 12's digital platforms – Big12Sports.com, Twitter and Instagram(@Big12Conference). The official hashtag for the event will be #Big12FB.
2018 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Will Grier, West Virginia, QB, 6-2, 212, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Banogu, TCU, DL, 6-4 249, Sr., McKinney, Texas
Newcomer of the Year: Brendan Radley-Hiles, Oklahoma, DB, 5-9, 186, Fr., Inglewood, Calif.
Offense
Pos Name, School
QB Will Grier. West Virginia
RB David Montgomery, Iowa State
RB Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
RB Justice Hill, Oklahoma State
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
WR David Sills V, West Virginia
TE Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma
OL Dalton Risner, Kansas State
OL Bobby Evans, Oklahoma
OL Ben Powers, Oklahoma
OL Marcus Keyes, Oklahoma State
OL Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia
PK Austin Seibert, Oklahoma
KR/PR KaVontae Turpin, TCU
Defense
DL JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State
DL Daniel Wise, Kansas
DL Jordan Brailford, Oklahoma State
DL Ben Banogu, TCU
DL Breckyn Hager, Texas
LB Joe Dineen Jr., Kansas
LB Dakota Allen, Texas Tech
LB David Long Jr., West Virginia
DB Brian Peavy, Iowa State
DB Kendall Adams, Kansas State
DB Kris Boyd, Texas
DB Jah'Shawn Johnson, Texas Tech
DB Justus Parker, Texas Tech
P Austin Seibert, Oklahoma
Grier, senior wide receiver David Sills V, redshirt senior offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste and redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr. were the four Mountaineers named to the all-conference team.
The total team honored 17 seniors, 11 juniors and one sophomore. Seven were named to the 2017 All-Big 12 First Team while 11 were on the second team.
Other preseason individual awards went to defensive end Ben Banogu (TCU) as Defensive Player of the Year and defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles (Oklahoma) as Newcomer of the Year.
Grier is the Conference's top returner in total offense average (328.4), passing yards per game (317.3) and passing efficiency (162.7). The 2017 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year started 11 games for West Virginia before a season-ending hand injury in the first quarter against Texas.
Sills V earned All-America honors and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award after finishing with 60 catches for 980 yards and tied for the nation's lead with 18 touchdown receptions.
Cajuste has been a two-year starter and anchors the Mountaineer offensive line at the left tackle position. He was a member of an offensive line in 2017 that only allowed 4.1 tackles for loss per game, ranking No. 8 nationally and No. 1 in the Big 12. Opponents averaged only 1.5 sacks per game, ranking No. 20 in the nation. He also was part of an offensive line that paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher, a 3,400-yard pass and two 1,000-yard receivers.
Long Jr. played in nine games in 2017 after suffering a preseason knee injury. The ProFootballFocus All-America Second Team selection finished third on the team with 76 tackles, including 56 unassisted tackles, four sacks, a team-leading 16.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
The Big 12 media preseason poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Frisco, Texas on July 16-17. Both days will be televised live from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT on FS2 and other FOX Sports regional affiliates. Exclusive coverage from the event will also be available on the Big 12's digital platforms – Big12Sports.com, Twitter and Instagram(@Big12Conference). The official hashtag for the event will be #Big12FB.
2018 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Will Grier, West Virginia, QB, 6-2, 212, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Banogu, TCU, DL, 6-4 249, Sr., McKinney, Texas
Newcomer of the Year: Brendan Radley-Hiles, Oklahoma, DB, 5-9, 186, Fr., Inglewood, Calif.
Offense
Pos Name, School
QB Will Grier. West Virginia
RB David Montgomery, Iowa State
RB Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
RB Justice Hill, Oklahoma State
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
WR David Sills V, West Virginia
TE Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma
OL Dalton Risner, Kansas State
OL Bobby Evans, Oklahoma
OL Ben Powers, Oklahoma
OL Marcus Keyes, Oklahoma State
OL Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia
PK Austin Seibert, Oklahoma
KR/PR KaVontae Turpin, TCU
Defense
DL JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State
DL Daniel Wise, Kansas
DL Jordan Brailford, Oklahoma State
DL Ben Banogu, TCU
DL Breckyn Hager, Texas
LB Joe Dineen Jr., Kansas
LB Dakota Allen, Texas Tech
LB David Long Jr., West Virginia
DB Brian Peavy, Iowa State
DB Kendall Adams, Kansas State
DB Kris Boyd, Texas
DB Jah'Shawn Johnson, Texas Tech
DB Justus Parker, Texas Tech
P Austin Seibert, Oklahoma
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballRich Rodriguez | Dec. 3
Wednesday, December 03
Reid Carrico | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Jeff Weimer | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Rich Rodriguez | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
