K-State’s Morgan Burns is Big 12’s top special teams player
Kansas State defensive back Morgan Burns was chosen Big 12 special teams player of the year Wednesday as the league’s coaches announced their all-conference teams.
Burns, from Wichita, returned four kickoffs for touchdowns and also scored on a blocked punt. He has found the end zone in four consecutive games despite never lining up with K-State’s offense.
Burns, a senior, was also chosen first-team All-Big 12 at kick returner and received honorable mention at defensive back.
Senior lineman Cody Whitehair, senior kicker Jack Cantele and freshman fullback Winston Dimel were also chosen for the coaches’ first team. Senior defensive tackle Travis Britz and sophomore linebacker Elijah Lee made the second team.
Defensive tackle Will Geary, kicker Matthew McCrane, lineman Boston Stiverson and punter Nick Walsh also received honorable mention.
KU’s Smithson on second team
Kansas junior safety Fish Smithson was chosen for the coaches’ All-Big 12 second team. Three Jayhawks received honorable mention: senior defensive end Ben Goodman, sophomore tight end Ben Johnson and junior fullback Michael Zunica.
Kellis Robinett: @KellisRobinett
All-Big 12 football team
As selected by the league’s coaches
Offensive player of the year: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Defensive players of the year: Andrew Billings, Baylor; Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
Offensive newcomer of the year: Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma
Defensive newcomer of the year: Demond Tucker, Iowa State
Offensive freshman of the year: Mike Warren, Iowa State
Defensive freshman of the year: Malik Jefferson, Texas
Special teams player of the year: Morgan Burns, Kansas State
Offensive lineman of the year: Spencer Drango, Baylor
Defensive lineman of the year: Andrew Billings
Coach of the year: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
First-team offense
QB: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
RB: Samaje Perine, Oklahoma; DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech
FB: Winston Dimel, Kansas State
WR: Corey Coleman, Baylor; Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma; Josh Doctson, TCU
TE: Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State
OL: Spencer Drango, Baylor; Cody Whitehair, Kansas State; Ty Darlington, Oklahoma; Nila Kasitati, Oklahoma; Joey Hunt, TCU; Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech
PK: Jack Cantele, Kansas State
KR/PR: Morgan Burns, Kansas State
First-team defense
DL: Andrew Billings, Baylor; Charles Tapper, Oklahoma; Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State; Davion Pierson, TCU; Josh Carraway, TCU
LB: Dominique Alexander, Oklahoma; Eric Striker, Oklahoma; Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia
DB: Xavien Howard, Baylor; Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma; Kevin Peterson, Oklahoma State; Derrick Kindred, TCU; Daryl Worley, West Virginia
P: Nick O’Toole, West Virginia
This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 2:10 PM with the headline "K-State’s Morgan Burns is Big 12’s top special teams player."