Big 12 Football: The Midseason All-Conference Team for the Big 12
We're halfway through the 2014-15 season, so it's time to dole out some B/R midseason awards.
The Big 12, looking more and more like the Wild West this season, has produced plenty of stars. From wideout Kevin White and quarterback Trevone Boykin to the plethora of stars throughout the conference, there are plenty of names to consider.
Some guys, like Bryce Petty and Clint Trickett, are among the nation's best but don't make this list.
With that, let's check out the midseason B/R all-Big 12 team.
QB: Trevone Boykin
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Who would've thought that halfway through the season, TCU would control its destiny regarding not just a Big 12 title, but a possible playoff berth.
Boykin is the league's leader in total offense, accounting for 369 yards per game.
He's also third in the Big 12 in passing touchdowns with 14, trailing only Clint Trickett and Davis Webb.
Boykin is the engine who drives the Horned Frogs, and any hopes of a Big 12 title will run through his veins.
RBs: Shock Linwood, Samaje Perine
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Shock Linwood, Baylor
The Baylor Bears' star tailback has lived up to his hype in 2014, as he currently leads the Big 12 with 696 yards rushing.
He also has nine touchdowns on the ground, second only to Oklahoma's Samaje Perine.
At five yards per carry, Linwood is also getting the most out of his runs.
Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
The biggest question mark heading into the season for the Oklahoma Sooners was depth at the running back position.
But Perine has come up with the answer in 2014, leading the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns (10) and reaching second place in rushing yards (657).
Like Linwood, Perine is also averaging a high number of yards per carry at 4.9.
WRs: Kevin White, Sterling Shepard
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Kevin White, West Virginia
There's an argument to be made that Kevin White is the best wide receiver not just in the Big 12, but in the country.
He currently leads the NCAA in 1,020 receiving yards, over 100 more than Alabama's Amari Cooper.
White has also hauled in a Big 12-leading seven touchdown catches.
Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
Second in the Big 12 in receiving yards per game (130.1), Shepard has been the favorite target of Oklahoma Sooners gunslinger Trevor Knight.
Unfortunately for Shepard, it looks like his efforts won't be rewarded with a Big 12 title after last week's loss to the Kansas State Wildcats, a game in which he had 197 yards and a receiving touchdown.
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OLs: Spencer Drango, B.J. Finney, Joey Hunt, Mark Glowinski
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Spencer Drango, Baylor
Baylor is first in rushing offense, total offense and scoring offense in the Big 12, and it's thanks largely in part to tackle Spencer Drango, who is replacing Cyril Richardson with flying colors after having season-ending back surgery just a year ago.
B.J. Finney, Kansas State
Kansas State has continued to be a thriving offensive team with B.J. Finney, who may be the nation's best center. The two-time All-Big 12 honoree and former walk-on is well on his way to becoming a three-time all-league member, as the Wildcats are one of the most consistent offensive units in the league.
Joey Hunt, TCU
The best offensive lineman for TCU is undoubtedly Joey Hunt. The Horned Frogs are second in the Big 12 in scoring, and Trevone Boykin has found his rhythm thanks to Hunt and the offensive line corps finding their stride.
Mark Glowinski, West Virginia
Glowinski, along with Quinton Spain, are two of the best guards in the nation for WVU. After a lackluster year trying to replace Geno Smith and Co., the Mountaineers offense has settled in this season.
DLs: Malcolm Brown, Shawn Oakman, Emmanuel Ogbah, James McFarland
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Malcolm Brown, Texas
One of the best forefront players in all of college football, Brown is 24th in the Big 12 in tackles (43), eighth in sacks (4.5) and eighth in tackles for loss (8.5).
Shawn Oakman, Baylor
Second in tackles for loss (10.5) and third in sacks (5) in the Big 12, Oakman has continued to be a force to be reckoned with for the Bears off the edge.
Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
The award for "where did this guy come from?" in the Big 12 goes to Oklahoma State's Emmanuel Ogbah. Virtually unheralded heading into 2014, Ogbah now leads the Big 12 in tackles for loss (11.5) and is second in sacks (7).
James McFarland, TCU
A huge force on the TCU defensive line who commands a lot of attention, McFarland has three sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2014. He's also recovered two fumbles.
LBs: Ben Heeney, Paul Dawson, Jonathan Truman
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Ben Heeney, Kansas
There's no question who the best and most reliable linebacker has been in the Big 12 over the last few years—Kansas' Ben Heeney.
The shining light in an otherwise dark, tumultuous team, Heeney leads the Big 12 in tackles by a wide margin with 84 on the year.
Paul Dawson, TCU
Second in the Big 12 in tackles with 68, TCU's Paul Dawson has emerged as one of the best defenders in the league.
With nine tackles for a loss, Dawson is also in the top five in the Big 12 in that department.
Jonathan Truman, Kansas State
The numbers don't jump off the page in Truman's case—60 tackles put him just fourth in the league in that category.
But coach Bill Snyder loves to teach fundamentals at Kansas State, and Truman epitomizes that moreso than anybody. He rarely lets plays get by him and is the ultimate stop plug for Kansas State.
DBs: Xavien Howard, Kevin Peterson, Zack Sanchez, Morgan Burns
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Xavien Howard, Baylor
Perhaps the most underappreciated player in the Big 12 is Baylor defensive back Xavien Howard. Despite taking a backseat to Bryce Petty, Shock Linwood, Shawn Oakman and nearly everybody else in Waco, Howard has quietly defended the most passes in the Big 12 (14) and has three interceptions.
Kevin Peterson, Oklahoma State
Second in the league in passes defended (11), Oklahoma State's Kevin Peterson has proven to be a very suitable pass-coverage defender for the Cowboys.
Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma
Oklahoma's Zack Sanchez is the biggest playmaker in the secondary in the conference. He leads the Big 12 in interceptions with five, including one taken back for a touchdown. He also has 10 passes defended.
Morgan Burns, Kansas State
Burns and Danzel McDaniel are one of the best tandems in any secondary across the country. While McDaniel plays and hits more like a linebacker, it's Burns who makes the big-time plays in the secondary with three interceptions—second in the Big 12—and six passes defended.
PK: Josh Lambert
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Ben Grogan of Oklahoma State actually has more points and has made more field goals than Josh Lambert of WVU.
But Lambert's game-winner over the Texas Tech Red Raiders is what gives him the edge here, as he's proven to be the more clutch kicker.
Lambert is 16-for-21 on field goal attempts this season, with his longest being the 55-yard bomb that sank the Red Raiders and kept the Mountaineers' Big 12 title hopes alive.
KR/PR: Alex Ross
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Between Alex Ross, B.J. Catalon, Mario Alford and Tyler Lockett—all of whom have touchdowns either in the kick or punt return game and are all electrifying in that department—this was the toughest position to assign.
But with two kickoff returns for touchdowns and a return average of 38 yards, both Big 12 highs, Ross of the Oklahoma Sooners edged out the competition.
Ross is a tremendous athlete with big-play ability any time he touches the ball, and the Sooners will need those big plays down the stretch if they want to right the ship in the second half of the season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
