WVU's Smith Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

By Big12sports.com for WVUsports.com
July 18, 2012 02:14 PM

Geno Smith

IRVING, Texas - Quarterback Geno Smith (West Virginia), defensive end Alex Okafor (Texas) and wide receiver Trey Metoyer (Oklahoma) were picked for individual awards, highlighting the 2012 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, chosen by media representatives who cover the Conference.

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year was awarded to Smith while Okafor earned the nod for Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Metoyer was chosen Preseason Newcomer of the Year.

Smith will lead West Virginia into its first season of Big 12 football. The 6-3 senior enters the 2012 campaign with 26 consecutive starts. He was an all-conference first team selection last year after leading the Mountaineers to their league title. Smith threw for 4,385 yards in 13 games, the fourth-best total in the NCAA in 2011. He earned Most Valuable Player of the Orange Bowl after setting five of the bowl’s records and four BCS bowl records in WVU’s 70-33 win over Clemson.

Okafor was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection last season as well as an AFCA All-American. He posted 58 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three pass breakups, 17 pressures, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2011 after transitioning back to defensive end from defensive tackle.

Metoyer caught 108 passes for 1,540 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2010 at Whitehouse (Texas) High School. He had at least 15 touchdowns in three straight years of prep ball and was listed as the No. 2 wide receiver recruit in 2011 by Rivals.com.

The media Preseason Big 12 Poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Dallas on July 23-24. Live video coverage, including press conferences and one-on-one interviews with a variety of guests, will be featured both days on the Big 12 Digital Network, including Big12Sports.com.

2012 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Smith, West Virginia (QB, 6-3, 214, Sr/3L, Miami, Fla.)

Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Okafor, Texas (DE, 6-4, 260, Sr/3L, Pflugerville, Texas)

Newcomer of the Year: Trey Metoyer, Oklahoma (WR, 6-1, 190, Fr/HS, Whitehouse, Texas)

Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Offense

Pos, Name, School
WR, Kenny Stills, Oklahoma
TE, Jordan Najvar, Baylor
OL, Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
OL, Cyril Richardson, Baylor
C, Ben Habern, Oklahoma
OL, LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech
OL, Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State
WR, Tavon Austin, West Virginia
QB, Geno Smith, West Virginia
RB, Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
RB, Malcolm Brown, Texas
PK, Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
KR, Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

Defense

DL, Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
DL, Stansly Maponga, TCU
DL, Alex Okafor, Texas
DL, Jamarkus McFarland, Oklahoma
LB, Arthur Brown, Kansas State
LB, A.J. Klein, Iowa State
LB, Jake Knott, Iowa State
DB, Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State
DB, Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
DB, Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma
DB, Nigel Malone, Kansas State
P, Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
PR, Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Tags
Big 12 Preseason Awards, West Virginia University Mountaineers, WVU, Geno Smith, Tavon Austin