Preseason prognosticators figured upstarts Baylor and TCU would duke it out this year for the Big 12 crown. Instead, blue blood Oklahoma returned to the top of the conference, led by transfer quarterback Baker Mayfield and a rejuvenated offense.
Mayfield, my pick for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and five of his Sooner teammates headline my 2015 All-Big 12 Team.
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2015 All-Big 12 Team
Offense
QB – Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
RB – DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech
RB – Wendell Smallwood, West Virginia
WR – Corey Coleman, Baylor
WR – Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
WR – Josh Doctson, TCU
OL – Cody Whitehair, Kansas State
OL – Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech
OL – Halapoulivaati Vaitai, TCU
OL – Spencer Drango, Baylor
OL – Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia
Defense
DL – Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
DL – Andrew Billings, Baylor
DL – Charles Tapper, Oklahoma
DL – Jordan Willis, Kansas State
LB – Eric Striker, Oklahoma
LB – Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia
LB – Jordan Burton, Oklahoma State
DB – Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma
DB – Derrick Kindred, TCU
DB – Daryl Worley, West Virginia
DB – Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State
DB – Steven Parker, Oklahoma
Special Teams
K – Jaden Oberkrom, TCU
P – Nick O’Toole, West Virginia
Returner – Morgan Burns, Kansas State
Awards
Coach of the Year: Gary Patterson, TCU
Bob Stoops might seem like the natural choice here after winning his ninth Big 12 championship in 17 seasons as Oklahoma’s head coach. Yet, no coach in the country dealt with more misfortune this season than Patterson. Injuries ravaged his roster, but the Horned Frogs still managed to win 10 games and get payback against his nemesis, Art Briles.
Offensive Coordinator of the Year: Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
As one of the favorites for this year’s Broyles Award, Riley is the easiest call on the board. He not only installed the Air Raid at OU, but he incorporated a potent running game into the pass-happy attack to produce one of the most devastating offenses in college football this year.
Defensive Coordinator of the Year: Mike Stoops, Oklahoma
The Sooners’ lead assistants did serious work this season. Coming into the season, keeping Bob Stoops’ brother on as defensive coordinator was derided as blatant nepotism. However, Mike built a stellar D for 2015, built around an athletic roster that could keep up with the league’s explosive offenses. He probably deserves his place back among the country’s best defensive minds.
Offensive Player of the Year: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
After Mayfield sat out the 2014 season, the Texas Tech transfer grabbed the reins of OU’s offense and never looked back. The former walk-on worked his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation by finishing second nationally in passer rating and coming up big in the spotlight. His playmaking and leadership helped propel the Sooners into the College Football Playoff.
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Billings, Baylor
Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman gets all the memes, but Billings is the true centerpiece of Baylor’s defensive front. At 6-2, 310 pounds, Billings plays with unbelievable quickness and athleticism for his size. He terrorized offensive lines around the conference, even while playing most of the year with a leg injury. If Billings heads to the NFL after this season, Art Briles will have a tough time replacing his presence on the defensive side of the ball.
