From the Texas SID:
IRVING, Texas – Four Texas Longhorns were named to the 2016 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, chosen by media representatives who cover the league. The Preseason All-Big 12 Team and Individual awards were announced by the Big 12 Conference on Wednesday. Malik Jefferson, who was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, is joined by teammates CB Davante Davis, OL Patrick Vahe and OL Connor Williams on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
The preseason honors continue to pile up for Jefferson, a sophomore linebacker from Mesquite, Texas. He has been named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (most outstanding defensive player) and the Butkus Award (nation’s best linebacker), in addition to being selected as a first team All-American by Sporting News. Jefferson had a standout season as a true freshman, starting nine games and finishing second on the team with 61 tackles. He added six pressures and seven tackles for loss to earn the Big 12 Conference’s Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in addition to honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades.
Jefferson, Vahe and Williams – who along with Davis round out Texas’ four preseason honorees – were all named freshman All-Americans a season ago. All four players honored by the Big 12 media members are entering their true sophomore seasons.
Davis, a cornerback from Miami, Fla., played in all 12 games last season as a true freshman. He started the last five, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition. He led the Longhorns with seven pass breakups while adding 36 tackles and an interception. Davis tallied seven games with at least three tackles and had three games with six tackles or more.
Vahe, an offensive lineman from Euless, Texas, started the first 10 games of the 2015 season before suffering an injury which forced him to miss the season’s final two contests. In addition to his freshman All-America honors, Vahe was also tabbed as an honorable mention All-Big 12 performer. He helped the Longhorns’ offense finish the season third in the Big 12, and 18th nationally, with 224.8 rushing yards per game.
Williams, an offensive lineman from Coppell, Texas, started all 12 games a season ago and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in addition to freshman All-America recognition. He aided a rushing attack which averaged 263.0 yards per game over the last seven. The 2015 offense was just the fourth Longhorns offense since 1950 to record three games with at least six rushing touchdowns in a single season. Williams was named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy – presented to the nation’s top interior lineman – last week.
The Big 12 media preseason poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Dallas on July 18-19. Both days will be televised live from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm CT on FS2 and other FOX Sports affiliates.
IRVING, Texas – Four Texas Longhorns were named to the 2016 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, chosen by media representatives who cover the league. The Preseason All-Big 12 Team and Individual awards were announced by the Big 12 Conference on Wednesday. Malik Jefferson, who was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, is joined by teammates CB Davante Davis, OL Patrick Vahe and OL Connor Williams on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
The preseason honors continue to pile up for Jefferson, a sophomore linebacker from Mesquite, Texas. He has been named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (most outstanding defensive player) and the Butkus Award (nation’s best linebacker), in addition to being selected as a first team All-American by Sporting News. Jefferson had a standout season as a true freshman, starting nine games and finishing second on the team with 61 tackles. He added six pressures and seven tackles for loss to earn the Big 12 Conference’s Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in addition to honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades.
Jefferson, Vahe and Williams – who along with Davis round out Texas’ four preseason honorees – were all named freshman All-Americans a season ago. All four players honored by the Big 12 media members are entering their true sophomore seasons.
Davis, a cornerback from Miami, Fla., played in all 12 games last season as a true freshman. He started the last five, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition. He led the Longhorns with seven pass breakups while adding 36 tackles and an interception. Davis tallied seven games with at least three tackles and had three games with six tackles or more.
Vahe, an offensive lineman from Euless, Texas, started the first 10 games of the 2015 season before suffering an injury which forced him to miss the season’s final two contests. In addition to his freshman All-America honors, Vahe was also tabbed as an honorable mention All-Big 12 performer. He helped the Longhorns’ offense finish the season third in the Big 12, and 18th nationally, with 224.8 rushing yards per game.
Williams, an offensive lineman from Coppell, Texas, started all 12 games a season ago and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in addition to freshman All-America recognition. He aided a rushing attack which averaged 263.0 yards per game over the last seven. The 2015 offense was just the fourth Longhorns offense since 1950 to record three games with at least six rushing touchdowns in a single season. Williams was named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy – presented to the nation’s top interior lineman – last week.
The Big 12 media preseason poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Dallas on July 18-19. Both days will be televised live from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm CT on FS2 and other FOX Sports affiliates.
