One team’s departure is another’s Preseason All-Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
The Big 12 released its preseason accolades this afternoon, and Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk, the Oregon transfer, is projected by the media to be the league’s offensive POY. Seastrunk led the Bears last season with 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns, really coming strong at the end of the year with five efforts of over 100-plus yards in the final six games.
The Big 12’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year is TCU defensive lineman Devonte Fields, who will actually miss the first two games of the season because a violation of team policy. The Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year, as voted on by the media, is new West Virginia running back and Houston transfer Charles Sims.
Sims proves to be WVU’s only preseason recognition as the Mountaineers, along with Kansas, were shut out of the All-Big 12 Team. Kansas State leads all members with five All-Big 12 selections, followed by Texas, Texas Tech and TCU with four. Horned Frogs quarterback Casey Pachall, who missed much of last season dealing with a drug issue, has been named the conference’s all-team QB.
Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team:
OFFENSE
WR -- Josh Stewart (Oklahoma State)
TE -- Jace Amaro (Texas Tech)
OL -- Cyril Richardson (Baylor)
OL -- Cornelius Lucas (Kansas State)
C -- Gabe Ikard (Oklahoma)
OL -- Trey Hopkins (Texas)
OL -- Le’Raven Clark (Texas Tech)
WR -- Eric Ward (Texas Tech)
QB -- Casey Pachall (TCU)
RB -- Lache Seastrunk (Baylor)
RB -- John Hubert (Kansas State)
PK -- Jaden Oberkrom (TCU)
KR -- Tyler Lockett (Kansas State)
DEFENSE
DL -- Devonte Fields (TCU)
DL -- Calvin Barnett (Oklahoma State)
DL -- Jackson Jeffcoat (Texas)
DL -- Kerry Hyder (Texas Tech)
LB -- Bryce Hager (Baylor)
LB -- Jordan Hicks (Texas)
LB -- Shaun Lewis (Oklahoma State)
DB -- Ty Zimmerman (Kansas State)
DB -- Jason Verrett (TCU)
DB -- Aaron Colvin (Oklahoma)
DB -- Quandre Diggs (Texas)
P -- Kirby Van Der Kamp (Iowa State)
PR -- Tramaine Thompson (Kansas State)