MANHATTAN – Kansas State set a school record with 20 players receiving All-Big 12 honors as both the conference and Associated Press announced their all-conference teams Wednesday.
Leading the way for K-State was senior quarterback Collin Klein, who was named the Big 12 Offernsive Player of the Year by both the league’s coaches and AP, while the league’s coaches tabbed senior linebacker Arthur Brown as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Klein became the first Wildcat to earn the conference’s offensive player of the year honor, while Brown was the third player in school history to be named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the league’s as he joined Terence Newman (2002) and Mark Simoneau (1999).
In addition, defensive end Meshak Williams was named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. The Sylvester, Ga., native was the first Wildcat to pick up the award, which began in 2006.
One day after being named the Big 12 Coach of the year by the Associated Press, head coach Bill Snyder was named the Chuck Neinas Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches. It was the fourth season and second-straight year he earned the nod from the Big 12 (1998, 2002, 2011).
Aside from Klein, Brown and Williams each earning First Team All-Big 12 honors from both the coaches and AP, tight end Travis Tannahill and defensive back Ty Zimmerman were also double first-team honorees.
Offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas and running back John Hubert were both first-team honorees by the league’s coaches, while Lucas was a second-team selection by the Associated Press and Hubert was an honorable mention selection.
Center B.J. Finney, who earned votes for Offensive Lineman of the Year, was an honorable mention pick by the coaches and a First Team All-Big 12 honoree by the Associated Press. Defensive linemen Adam Davis and Vai Lutui were both named to the second team by the league’s coaches, while Davis also picked up second-team honors from the AP.
Multi-purpose player Tyler Lockett was an honorable mention wide receiver by the league’s coaches and also earned votes for Special Teams Player of the Year. The Tulsa, Okla., product was a second-team all-purpose player, while he was an AP honorable mention pick at wide receiver. Fellow wide receiver Chris Harper was named a second-team performer by the league’s coaches and was an honorable mention pick by the AP.
On the other side of the ball, Nigel Malone was a second-team honoree by the Associated Press along with place kicker Anthony Cantele, who also picked up second-team honors from the league’s coaches.
Several Wildcats were earned honorable mention accolades from both the league’s coaches: linebacker Jarell Childs, punter Ryan Doerr, offensive lineman B.J. Finney (votes for Offensive Lineman of the Year), wide receiver, linebacker Jared Loomis (votes for Scholar-Athlete of the Year), punt returner Tramaine Thompson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair. Childs, Doerr and Lockett each earned those same honors from the Associated Press, along with offensive lineman Tavon Rooksd, fullback Braden Wilson and Klein (all-purpose).
No. 5 Kansas State will face fourth-ranked Oregon in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Thursday, January 3, 2013, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (CT), and will be televised by ESPN.
Coaches’ All-Big 12 Awards/Teams
Coach of the Year: Bill Snyder
Offensive Player of the Year: Quarterback Collin Klein
Defensive Player of the Year: Linebacker Arthur Brown
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Defensive End Meshak Williams
First Team All-Big 12: QB Collin Klein, RB John Hubert, TE Travis Tannahill, OL Cornelius Lucas, DE Meshak Williams, LB Arthur Brown, DB Ty Zimmerman.
Second Team All-Big 12: WR Chris Harper, PK Anthony Cantele, DE Adam Davis, DT Vai Lutui.
Honorable Mention All-Big 12: LB Jarell Childs, P Ryan Doerr, OL B.J. Finney (OL of the Year), WR Tyler Lockett (ST Player of the Year), LB Jared Loomis (Scholar-Athlete of the Year), PR Tramaine Thompson, OL Cody Whitehair.
AP All-Big 12 Awards/Teams
Coach of the Year: Bill Snyder
Offensive Player of the Year: Collin Klein
First Team All-Big 12: QB Collin Klein, OL B.J. Finney, TE Travis Tannahill, DE Meshak Williams, LB Arthur Brown, DB Ty Zimmerman.
Second Team All-Big 12: OL Cornelius Lucas, Tyler Lockett (all-purpose), PK Anthony Cantele, DE Adam Davis, DB Nigel Malone.
Honorable Mention All-Big 12: OL Tavon Rooks, FB Braden Wilson, WR Chris Harper, WR Tyler Lockett, RB John Hubert, Collin Klein (all-purpose), LB Jarell Childs, P Ryan Doerr.
