K-State’s Will Geary chosen to AP’s All-Big 12 team

Will Geary earned first-team honors on the Associated Press All-Big 12 Team on Wednesday.

The Kansas State defensive tackle picked up the recognition after making 45 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, this season. He also forced and recovered a fumble while starting all 12 games for the Wildcats.

Geary, a sophomore from Topeka, led a group of four K-State players who were honored, as voted on by media that regularly cover the league.

Senior offensive lineman Cody Whithehair earned second-team recognition at left tackle, junior fullback Glenn Gronkowski made the second team as a tight end and senior defensive back Morgan Burns landed on the second team as an all-purpose player.

Whitehair was K-State’s top blocker all season and figures to play in the NFL next season. Gronkowski made five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 45 yards on 11 carries. He also threw a touchdown pass on a trick play. Burns returned four kickoffs for touchdowns.

Fish Smithson was the only Kansas football player to make the teams. The junior safety earned second-team recognition after leading the Jayhawks with 111 tackles.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops won Coach of the Year after guiding the Sooners to a Big 12 championship and a spot in college football’s playoff. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield won Offensive Player of the Year. Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah won Defensive Player of the Year. And Iowa State running back Mike Warren was named Newcomer of the Year.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Quarterback – u-Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, 6-1, 209, Jr., Austin, Texas.

Running backs – Samaje Perine, Oklahoma, 5-10, 230, So., Pflugerville, Texas; DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech, 5-8, 200, Sr., Missouri City, Texas.

Tackles – Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech, 6-6, 308, Sr., Rockdale, Texas; Spencer Drango, Baylor, 6-6, 320, Sr., Cedar Park, Texas.

Guards – Jarell Broxton, Baylor, 6-5, 325, Sr., Gaithersburg, Md.; Nila Kasitati, Oklahoma, 6-3, 319, Sr., Euless, Texas.

Center – Joey Hunt, TCU, 6-3, 295, Sr., El Campo, Texas.

Receivers – u-Corey Coleman, Baylor, 5-11, 190, Jr., Richardson, Texas; Josh Doctson, TCU, 6-3, 195, Sr., Mansfield, Texas.

Tight end – Mark Andrews, Oklahoma, 6-5, 245, Fr., Scottsdale, Ariz.

All-purpose player – Jakeem Grant, Texas Tech, 5-7, 168, Sr., Mesquite, Texas.

Kicker – Jaden Oberkrom, TCU, 6-3, 187, Sr., Arlington, Texas.

Defense

Ends – u-Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma St., 6-4, 275, Jr., Houston; Charles Tapper, Oklahoma, 6-2, 282, Sr., Baltimore.

Tackles – Andrew Billings, Baylor, 6-2, 310, Jr., Waco, Texas; Will Geary, Kansas St., 6-0, 297, So., Topeka, Kan.

Linebackers – Jordan Burton, Oklahoma St., 6-3, 215, Jr., Longview, Texas; Peter Jinkens, Texas, 6-0, 230, Sr., Dallas; Eric Striker, Oklahoma, 6-0, 222, Sr., Tampa, Fla.

Cornerbacks – Xavien Howard, Baylor, 6-2, 200, Jr., Houston; Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma, 5-11, 179, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas.

Safeties – Derrick Kindred, TCU, 5-10, 210, Sr., San Antonio; Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma St., 6-1, 205, Jr., Cibolo, Texas.

Punter – Nick O'Toole, West Virginia, 6-3, 216, Sr., Corona, Calif.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Quarterback – Trevone Boykin, TCU, 6-2, 205, Sr., Dallas.

Running backs – Shock Linwood, Baylor, 5-9, 200, Jr., Linden, Texas; Wendell Smallwood, West Virginia, 5-11, 202, Jr., Wilmington, Del.

Tackles – Halapoulivaati Vaitai, TCU, 6-6, 315, Sr., Haltom, Texas; Cody Whitehair, Kansas St., 6-4, 305, Sr., Abilene, Kan.

Guards – Brady Foltz, TCU, 6-4, 320, Sr., Rose Hill, Kan.; Alfredo Morales, Texas Tech, 6-4, 319, Sr., Arlington, Texas.

Center – (tie) Ty Darlington, Oklahoma, 6-3, 286, Sr., Apopka, Fla., and Kyle Fuller, Baylor, 6-5, 315, Jr., Wylie, Texas.

Receivers – Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma, 5-10, 193, Sr., Oklahoma City; James Washington, Oklahoma St., 6-0, 200, So., Stamford, Texas.

Tight end – Glenn Gronkowski, Kansas St., 6-3, 234, Jr., Amherst, N.Y.

All-purpose player – Morgan Burns, Kansas St., 5-11, 201, Sr., Wichita, Kan.

Kicker – Austin Seibert, Oklahoma, 5-10, 210, Fr., Belleville, Ill.

Defense

Ends – Josh Carraway, TCU, 6-4, 250, Jr., Flower Mound, Texas; Noble Nwachukwu, West Virginia, 6-2, 271, Jr., Wylie, Texas.

Tackles – Kyle Rose, West Virginia, 6-4, 295, Sr. Centerville, Ohio; Desmond Tucker, Iowa St., 6-0, 296, Jr., Hazelhurst, Miss.

Linebackers – Dominique Alexander, Oklahoma, 6-0, 220, Jr., Tulsa, Okla.; Micah Awe, Texas Tech, 6-0, 221, Sr., Arlington, Texas; Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia, 6-2, 238, Sr., Bethel Park, Pa.

Cornerbacks – Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma, 6-0, 191, So., Klein, Texas; Daryl Worley, West Virginia, 6-2, 202, Jr., Philadelphia.

Safeties – Steven Parker, Oklahoma, 6-1, 200, So., Tulsa, Okla.; Fish Smithson, Kansas, 5-11, 190, Jr., Baltimore.

Punter – Austin Seibert, Oklahoma, 5-10, 210, Fr., Belleville, Ill.

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Coach of the year – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma.

Offensive player of the year – u-Baker Mayfield, QB, Jr., Oklahoma.

Defensive player of the year – Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Jr., Oklahoma St.

Newcomer of the year – Mike Warren, RB, Fr., Iowa St.

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 3:10 PM with the headline "K-State’s Will Geary chosen to AP’s All-Big 12 team."