2015 Big 12 Football All-Conference Team

The 2015 Big 12 season is in the books, and there weren't many other conferences with a more exciting November. Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU all played one another with the Sooners emerging as the only team unscathed. Now, Oklahoma is heading to the playoff with a chance to win it all. 

But before postseason play gets underway, it's time to look back at the best players from the Big 12 with B/R's all-conference team. Selections were made with stats in mind, but what players meant to to their team in terms of value and leadership was taken into consideration as well. 

Agree with our choices? Disagree? State your case in the comments section below. 

Quarterback

Trevone Boykin, TCU 

OK, this was tough. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was not invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony, would have been a fine selection. Shoot, Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II actually leads the Big 12 in total yards per game (397.3). And if he hadn't been knocked out for the season, it would have been hard to pass on Baylor quarterback Seth Russell. 

But TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin gets the nod. He's every bit the passer as the aforementioned names and is the best pure athlete of the group. (Remember, he played some wide receiver before switching to quarterback full time.) That gives him the edge. His numbers (3,575 passing yards, 612 rushing yards, 40 touchdowns) would be even better if he hadn't missed a game against Oklahoma with an ankle injury. 

Boykin had a terrible game against Oklahoma State, in which he threw four interceptions, but has been generally excellent otherwise in Big 12 play. He possesses all the leadership qualities Mayfield does and has the most value of any offensive player in the conference. 

Plus, when you get a high-five from an opposing coach, you know you're doing something right. 

Boykin is the best player in college football. You can't tackle him," said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, per a TCU release. 

Running Back

Michael Thomas/Associated Press

DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech

There's a good case to be made for the Big 12's best running back last year, Samaje Perine. The Sooner sophomore finished fifth this year in the conference in rushing while 1) getting off to a slow start and 2) splitting carries with Joe Mixon. 

But when you've been as consistent as Texas Tech running back DeAndre Washington, it's hard not to recognize it. Washington leads the conference with 1,455 yards and has 14 touchdowns on the ground to boot. His 6.52 yards per carry is best among running backs in the Big 12 with at least 200 rushing attempts. Additionally, he's a valuable receiver with 304 yards through the air and another pair of scores.

To put into perspective what he's meant for Texas Tech, the team's next-closest rusher, quarterback Mahomes, has nearly 1,000 fewer yards. Washington has 51 percent of his team's carries  

Keep in mind, too, Texas Tech is a pass-first offense with a 56-to-44 pass-to-run ratio. What Washington has done stands on its own merit, but it's even more impressive when you consider he's not even in an offense that favors the run. 

Wide Receivers

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Corey Coleman, Baylor

Coleman was on his way to breaking the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision record for most receiving touchdowns (27, Louisiana Tech WR Troy Edwards), but things went south for both him and Baylor in November and December. Primarily, Baylor lost quarterbacks Seth Russell, Jarrett Stidham and Chris Johnson to injuries. Plus, there was the rain-drenched game against TCU in which offense was at a premium. 

Still, the Biletnikoff finalist is the most exciting pass-catcher in the Big 12.

His ability to stretch the field vertically and pick up chunk yardage through short passes makes him versatile and dangerous. Oklahoma State wideout James Washington has a higher yards-per-reception average (20.71), but Coleman's average (18.42) is nothing to scoff at, and he catches two more passes per game. For a while, Coleman's reception-to-touchdown ratio was around 2.5. That's insane. 

Josh Doctson, TCU

Coleman is the more finesse wideout. Doctson is more physical. There's probably not a better receiver in the Big 12 at high-pointing a ball. If you need a guy to win a jump-ball battle, Doctson is your man. 

Doctson could have had the best numbers in the Big 12 if he hadn't missed what amounts to the last three weeks with a wrist injury. He initially sustained it in the loss to Oklahoma State, had just one reception the following week against Kansas and did not play against Oklahoma or Baylor. 

Doctson, another Biletnikoff finalist, also has tremendous value to TCU's passing game in terms of production. He has more than twice as many receptions and yards as the next-closest receiver, Kolby Listenbee, and nearly three times as many touchdowns. 

Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma

There's an argument to be made that the Big 12 could have swept the Biletnikoff finalist group by including Shepard. Instead, voters went with Ole Miss wideout Laquon Treadwell, though Shepard's numbers (79 receptions, 1,201 yards, 11 touchdowns) are actually better. 

Shepard has been the Big 12's most consistent receiver over the last few years. He's not the biggest guy at 5'10" and 193 pounds, but he has excellent speed and is the best route-runner in the group. For as good as he's been and for as long, it's weird to think Doctson and Coleman could overshadow him. 

Jakeem Grant, Texas Tech

Instead of selecting a tight end, we're going to call an audible and select a fourth wide receiver. This is the Big 12, after all, and the leading tight end was redshirt freshman Mark Andrew from Oklahoma (17 receptions, 286 yards, six touchdowns). There are simply too many deserving receivers. One of them is Grant, who leads the Big 12 with 80 receptions. 

Grant is the perfect slot receiver, and Texas Tech does an excellent job of getting him in open space so he can make defenders look silly. The Red Raiders even line him up to run the ball and, on one occasion, let him throw a touchdown pass. He's also an electric return man. 

Offensive Line

Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

Spencer Drango, Baylor

Drango is one of the few no-brainers on this list. He's been a part of one of college football's top offenses for a few years now and has earned All-Big 12 and All-America honors in the past. This year, he's a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to college football's best interior lineman. Other than defensive tackle Andrew Billings—more on him later—Drango is one of the best players on Baylor's team. 

Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech

Another high-flying Big 12 offense can thank a big ugly up front for its success. Le'Raven Clark has been an All-Big 12 and All-American selection since his redshirt freshman year in 2012. He's a great pass-blocker who is a big reason why Tech ranks third in the Big 12 in sacks allowed. He can also add rushing threat to his resume, too, thanks to this two-point conversion against Kansas. 

Ty Darlington, Oklahoma

Oklahoma broke in a fairly new offensive line this year, but Darlington was the rock of this group at center. While the Sooners had trouble with run blocking up front at the start of the year, it's transformed for the better as the season has progressed. Now, Oklahoma has a 1,000-yard rusher (Perine) and another 700-yard rusher (Mixon). Darlington's veteran leadership presence and ability to organize the offense in a first-year system is beyond impressive. 

Cody Whitehair, Kansas State

Kansas State doesn't have an explosive offense, but damn if the Wildcats don't grind out defenses regularly. The offense leads the Big 12 in time of possession while ranking ninth in actual plays run. (For a national perspective, K-State ranks 14th and 88th in those respective categories.) Whitehair has been a starter since Day 1 and knows how to block in this offense better than anyone. It's not always pretty with K-State, but it's effective in suffocating you.  

Blake Muir, Baylor

Muir doesn't get the same level of recognition as Drango, but he's right next to him on the line and helps Baylor with the No. 1 rushing offense in the Big 12. He's also a former All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after transferring to the program from Hawaii. The 315-pound senior isn't the most well-known part of Baylor's offensive line, but this is the Big 12's best unit up front, and he's a big reason why.  

Defensive Line

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State

For all the hype Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman carried into the 2015 season, Oklahoma State's edge-rusher, Emmanuel Ogbah, was just as good—if not better. He proved as much this season, leading the Big 12 with 13 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. He also had 19 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles, two of which came against West Virginia. 

It's almost humorous how good Ogbah's numbers were. The guy simply lived in the backfield. He's unbelievably quick with his first step and is relentless in his pass rush. 

Andrew Billings, Baylor

Andrew Billings is Baylor's best player, hands down. Yes, better than Coleman. Yes, better than Russell. He's such a disruptive force in the interior of the D-line. Double-team him if you must, but those attempts are probably futile as well. 

Billings has such a rare combination of power and speed. Even though he's rushing from the middle of the D-line, he recorded 5.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. If he finds his way into a gap, there's no blocking him or getting past him.

Dale Pierson, Iowa State

Depending on how you want to divvy up all-conference selections, Iowa State could have either Demond Tucker or Dale Pierson here. Both players were among the best along the D-line in the Big 12. But since the first rule of all-conference selection is that there are no rules, we'll go with Pierson. His numbers across the board are slightly better than Tucker's, but he's also the Cyclones' leading tackler among D-linemen. 

At 249 pounds, Pierson isn't the biggest lineman out there, but he's had a breakout season that's been a continuation of his late surge in 2014. 

Noble Nwachukwu, West Virginia 

Besides being a Big 12 all-name selection, Nwachukwu has been a key part in West Virginia's defensive resurgence under defensive coordinator Tony Gibson. The second-year starter for the Mountaineers is tied for seventh in the conference with 13 tackles for loss and second with 8.5 sacks. 

Gibson enjoys blitzing and often goes all out on third downs, so sack numbers among defenders are pretty spread out. That said, Nwachukwu has twice as many sacks as the next WVU player (defensive lineman Kyle Rose). 

Linebackers

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Striker, Oklahoma

Striker isn't even the leading tackler on his own team, but good luck finding a linebacker who strikes—so to speak—more fear into opposing offenses than him. Striker is a pass-rushing specialist. That's always been his game, and how it translates into the NFL is a tough puzzle to solve. 

Still, Striker has flashed multiple times this year. Perhaps his best overall game was against West Virginia in which he had a forced fumble and 12 tackles, three of which went for a loss. He also had three quarterback hurries and two pass deflections, both season highs, against Oklahoma State with the Big 12 championship on the line. He's so fast and relentless in his pursuit that he's one of the true mismatches despite not having great size. 

Micah Awe, Texas Tech

Dominique Alexander would have been another good selection at inside linebacker. From his days as a freshman, Alexander has gotten it done for the Sooners defense. But how can you not go with Micah Awe from Texas Tech? After all, he's the leading tackler at linebacker in the Big 12. 

Tech's run defense is terrible—126th in the nation, in fact, in yards per rush allowed. But that's not Awe's fault. With 70 solo takedowns and 109 tackles overall, he's doing his part. Keep in mind, too, Texas Tech's defense has faced more plays than any other unit in the Big 12—the Red Raiders' time of possession is one of the lowest in the conference. In short, Awe's out on the field a lot. 

Jordan Burton, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State's defense fell off the map in November, but can you blame the Cowboys? TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma were three of the Pokes' final four opponents; the other, Iowa State, had Oklahoma State on the ropes as well.

But Jordan Burton has been a reliable tackling machine. He's recorded double-digit tackling performances in three of his final five games, including 10 solo tackles against Texas Tech. He's also recorded 2.5 sacks and a couple of quarterback hurries, blending some pass-rushing skills into his arsenal as well.  

Cornerbacks

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma

To be honest, Sanchez has his great moments followed by his not-so-great moments followed by more great moments regularly. He's easily one of the Big 12's best corners, but then he'll have a game, like he did against Oklahoma State, that he won't want to remember. 

Still, he's tied for the lead in the conference with six interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and is No. 3 in passes defended. For those who say Big 12 teams don't play defense, take a look at what Oklahoma does regularly. The Sooners are No. 1 in the conference in pass defense and tied for 15th nationally. Sanchez is a huge part of that as Oklahoma's best cover corner. 

Daryl Worley, West Virginia

Beyond Oklahoma, West Virginia has the next-best defense in the Big 12. With safety Karl Joseph out for the year, Daryl Worley has become the unquestioned leader of the defense and probably the team's best player on that side of the ball. He's tied with Sanchez for a Big 12-best six picks, plus he leads the conference with 12 passes broken up. 

Safeties

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Steven Parker, Oklahoma

If it looks like Oklahoma is racking up the all-conference players on defense, your eyes do not deceive you. The Sooners have the Big 12's best defense, so it's no surprise there are a number of selections on this side of the ball. 

Parker is just a sophomore, but he's emerged alongside Sanchez as a real playmaker in the secondary. This is key since the Sooners' weakness on defense this year figured to be against the pass. Parker is fifth on the team with 55 tackles and has four pass breakups—one of which came on a crucial deflection to beat TCU. 

Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State

The state of Oklahoma makes it a sweep in the safety spot. Sterns ranks third in the Big 12 with 103 tackles plus two interceptions, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. The Cowboys are at their best when defensively they can create takeaways. This year, Oklahoma State ranked second in the Big 12 with 27 of them. Basically, Sterns was directly responsible for one out of every nine. 

Specialists

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

K Jaden Oberkrom, TCU

Stats play a big role in any all-conference selection, but sometimes they don't always tell the whole story. That's not the case with a position like kicker. Your stats are what they are and Oberkrom has the highest field-goal percentage of any kicker in the Big 12 with at least 20 attempts. He also hit a 57-yard attempt against West Virginia like it was an extra point. Speaking of which, he's 56-of-57 on those. 

P Nick O'Toole, West Virginia

The Boomstache, as he's affectionately known, is now The Boombeard. But besides having the Big 12's best facial hair, O'Toole is one hell of a punter. He leads the Big 12 with a 45.66 yards-per-punt average and even had a nifty first-down run on a fake against Maryland. 

KR Morgan Burns, Kansas State

Here's a tip to Arkansas, which will play Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl: Do not—repeat, do not—kick to Morgan Burns. He'll probably return said kick for a touchdown. Burns leads all FBS players with four kickoffs returned for a touchdown, the most recent of which ended up being the deciding score in a win over West Virginia. This selection is a no-brainer. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.