Jalon Daniels, Cobee Bryant lead Kansas football selections for All-Big 12 honors
Despite leading Kansas to its best season since 2008, Lance Leipold wasn’t named the Big 12’s Coach of the Year.
Leipold led KU to a 6-6 record and was rewarded with a large contract extension. The Jayhawks are bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008.
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes was ultimately named the Chuck Neinas Coach of the Year after leading the Horned Frogs to a 12-0 record and earning a spot in the conference championship.
The Big 12 announced its all-conference honors on Wednesday. The league’s coaches voted for the teams.
Kansas defensive back Cobee Bryant was the lone player to earn first-team honors. The sophomore had 34 tackles and three interceptions in 11 games played.
A number of Jayhawks also received second-team honors. On the offensive side, that list included: quarterback Jalon Daniels, tight end Mason Fairchild and offensive lineman Mike Novitsky.
Daniels started off the season in Heisman contention. In the season’s first four games, the QB threw for 890 yards and ran for another 355 while adding in 15 total touchdowns. In Kansas’ 38-31 loss to TCU, he suffered a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for four games.
Daniels returned to play against Texas, throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns, but the Jayhawks ultimately lost 55-14.
Defensive lineman Lonnie Phelps was the lone representative of the defense on the All-Big 12 second team.
KU also had a number of players receive honorable mention from the league’s coaches. Those Jayhawks were: Earl Bostick Jr. (OL), Kenny Logan Jr. (S), Devin Neal (RB, OPoY), Lonnie Phillips (DNoY, DLoY), Dominick Puni (OL, ONoY). Here is a look at who received the Big 12’s major awards:
Offensive Player of the Year: Max Duggan, TCU, QB, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State, DE, Jr.
Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Dillion Gabriel, Oklahoma, QB, Jr.
Defensive Newcomer of the Year: Johnny Hodges, TCU, LB, Jr.
Offensive Freshman of the Year: Richard Reese, Baylor, RB
Defensive Freshman of the Year: Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma State, S
Special Teams Player of the Year: Derius Davis, TCU, PR/KR, Sr.
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Cooper Beebe, Kansas State, Jr.
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State, Jr.
Chuck Neinas Coach of the Year: Sonny Dykes, TCU (First year)
This story was originally published November 30, 2022 at 5:10 PM.
