USA Today preseason All-Big 12 football team 2024: Ollie Gordon II is Player of the Year
Scott WrightLAS VEGAS — Carried by a core of returning offensive players, the Oklahoma State football team had the most selections to the USA Today Sports Network’s All-Big 12 team, which was announced Monday ahead of the league’s football media days at Allegiant Stadium.
The Cowboys had six players selected to the team overall, with four on offense.
Arizona was next with five selections, while conference favorite Utah had four.
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II earned Player of the Year honors, with new UCF quarterback K.J. Jefferson being named Newcomer of the Year.
Kansas State, while being predicted to finish second in the USA Today Network poll, did not have a player chosen to the team, though Chris Klieman was named the Preseason Coach of the Year.
Colorado had two selections to the team, but both were the same player. Do-it-all junior Travis Hunter appeared on every ballot from a collection of writers who cover the teams in the league, with half listing him as a defensive back and half as the all-purpose selection.
Here’s a look at the team selections:
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USA Today Network All-Big 12 team
Offense
- Quarterback: Cameron Rising, Utah
- Running back: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
- Running back: Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech*
- Running back: Devin Neal, Kansas*
- Wide receiver: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
- Wide receiver: Jayden Higgins, Arizona State*
- Wide receiver: Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State*
- Tight end: Brant Kuithe, Utah
- Offensive line: Luke Kandra, Cincinnati
- Offensive line: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
- Offensive line: Joe Michalski, Oklahoma State
- Offensive line: Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
- Offensive line: Dalton Cooper, Oklahoma State
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Defense
- Defensive line: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
- Defensive line: Tyler Batty, BYU
- Defensive line: Junior Tafuna, Utah
- Defensive line: Lee Hunter, UCF
- Linebacker: Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
- Linebacker: Jacob Manu, Arizona
- Linebacker: Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
- Defensive back: Cobee Bryant, Kansas
- Defensive back: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State
- Defensive back: Tacario Davis, Arizona
- Defensive back: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Specialist teams
- Punter: Jack Bouwmeester, Utah
- Kicker: Tyler Loop, Arizona
- All-purpose: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Awards
- Coach of the Year: Chris Klieman, Kansas State
- Player of the Year: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
- Newcomer of the Year: K.J. Jefferson, UCF
*-Denotes a tie in voting, resulting in an additional position being added to the team.
Poll participants: Chris Boyle, Daytona News-Journal; Arne Green, Topeka Capital-Journal; Jordan Guskey, Topeka Capital-Journal; Scott Procter, Fort Collins Coloradoan; Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer, Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal; Scott Wright, The Oklahoman.