CCM’s 2012 All Big 12 Offense Selections

Quarterback

Collin Klein is clearly the choice for the first team. There is no player in the conference who could have led Kansas State to the season that they had and he may be the toughest player in the Big 12. The debate starts with the second team nomination. The media gave it to West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith but that basically had to after all but handing him the Heisman back in September. Most of us here at CCM others would have Landry Jones placed there but logic says that it should be Baylor quarterback Nick Florence. He led the conference in total passing yards, passing yards per game, and averaged 9.1 yards per completion.

Team	Player	Comp %	Yards	Y/G	TD	INT
1st Team	Collin Klein	66.2	2,490	207.5	15	7
2nd Team	Nick Florence	61.2	4,121	343.4	31	13

Running Back

No one in the Big 12 rushed for more yards this season than Oklahoma's State's Joseph Randle. His 257 carries were also the most in the conference and proved that he is most definitely a work horse of a running back. Like the quarterback position, there is some room for debate here but I don't see how James Sims doesn't make first team all-conference as well. He's one of only two thousand yard rushers in the conference and Sims reached the mark in only nine games. The Kansas Jawhawks were awful this year, with Sims being one of the few bright spots.

Damien Williams not only lived up to the hype for Oklahoma fans, he also put the Sooner rushing attack back on the map. Look for him to be a favorite for preseason first team running back next season. John Hubert led this group in rushing touchdowns and most likely does deserve first team honors. However, I still can't take him ahead of Sims.

Team	Player	Rush Yards	Y/G	Avg	TD
1st Team	Joseph Randle	1,351	112.6	5.3	14
2nd Team	Damien Williams	905	75.4	5.7	11
1st Team	James Sims	1,013	112.6	4.6	9
2nd Team	John Hubert	892	74.3	5.2	15

Fullback

Oklahoma’s Trey Millard embodies the fullback position. He’s a punishing blocker, a bruising runner and is nimble enough to catch a pass out of the backfield and then turn it up field for a major gain. Let’s not forget his able to hurdle defenders now and then.

Oklahoma State’s Kye Staley didn’t record a single carry during the season but was a strong contributor to the Cowboys’ rushing attack through his blocking. He also averaged 13.8 yards per reception with two touchdown catches.

Team	Player	Carries	Yards	Average	Long	TD
1st Team	Trey Millard	29	170	5.9	20	0
2nd Team	Kye Staley	--	--	--	--	--

Wide Receiver

This is the most difficult position to grade because there is so much talent in the Big 12 at the receiver position. At the end of the day, I believe Baylor's Terrance Williams, along with West Virginia's Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin are the top three receivers in the conference. Both Bailey and Austin caught over a hundred passes this season and Williams led the Big 12 in yards per reception at 18.6.

Team	Player	Receptions	Yards	YPG	Average	TD
1st Team	Terrance Williams	95	1,764	147	18.6	12
2nd Team	Josh Stewart	96	1,154	96.2	12	7
1st Team	Stedman Bailey	106	1,501	125.1	14.2	23
2nd Team	Darrin Moore	81	948	86.2	11.7	13
1st Team	Tavon Austin	110	1,259	104.9	11.4	12
2nd Team	Kenny Stills	75	892	74.3	11.9	11

Tight End

Once upon a time the Big 12 had some of the most dominant tight ends in the country. Now, due to offensive philosophy shifts and attrition, the best tight end in the conference had only 23 catches and four touchdowns. I went opposite of the popular choice for first team and chose Texas Tech's Jace Amaro.

Team	Player	Receptions	Yards	YPG	Average	TD
1st Team	Jace Amaro	23	394	32.8	17.1	4
2nd Team	Travis Tannahill	22	279	23.2	12.7	1

Offensive Line

It's a down year for offensive linemen in the Big 12 this season, in my opinion. The conference just doesn't have that dominant guy upfront that you know NFL teams are drooling over and will ultimately become a franchise player. That's not to say there isn't professional talent along the lines of the Big 12 schools. There's plenty of it, and here's the best ten guys upfront in 2012.

Team	Player	School
1st Team	Cyril Richardson	Baylor
2nd Team	Tanner Hawkinson	Kansas
1st Team	Cornelius Lucas	Kansas State
2nd Team	Lane Johnson	Oklahoma
1st Team	Gabe Ikard	Oklahoma
2nd Team	Blaize Foltz	TCU
1st Team	Lane Taylor	Oklahoma State
2nd Team	Trey Hopkins	Texas
1st Team	Joe Madsen	West Virginia
2nd Team	LeAdrian Waddle	Texas Tech

So, what's your opinion? Are our all-conference selections fair? Sound off with your thoughts in the comments section.