On Texas Football: An in-depth look at the preseason All-Big 12 team

In the latest On Texas Football, Bobby Burton and Gerry Hamilton discuss the All-Big 12 preseason team.

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In this episode, Bobby and Gerry discuss…

The Big 12 preseason all-conference team was released on Wednesday and five Longhorns made the squad. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy was the only unanimous selection among All-Big 12 honorees. Jaylan Ford was the conference’s preseason defensive player of the year. Other Texas football players to make the all-conference squad included Kelvin Banks, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Byron Murphy.

Kansas’ Jalon Daniels was picked as the preseason offensive player of the year and the all-conference quarterback. “I totally agree with him being the preseason first-team pick,” Hamilton said. “Look, that’s not a slight against Quinn Ewers or any other guy. That doesn’t mean how it’s going to end up after the season. I don’t think there’s any issue with Jalon Daniels being the preseason first-team quarterback.”

Burton notes that Kansas has the same amount of offensive players as the Longhorns do on the first-team, with Devin Neal and Mike Novitsky joining Daniels.

Burton explains how even though Worthy had drop issues, opposing coaches still are able to recognize the talent he possesses. “Opposing teams know exactly who he is,” Burton said.

One big takeaway from Hamilton in seeing all the Longhorns on the list? “Texas is developing players.”

The two look at the defensive side of the ball and heap praise on Murphy and Ford, but wonder where T’Vondre Sweat and Alfred Collins are. “This should be a wakeup call for them a little bit if it’s not. They need to get after it because they’ve got NFL checks potentially waiting on them if they do make their way,” Burton said.

Hamilton looks at linebacker and calls it the best position on the entire preseason team, with Ford, Oklahoma State’s Collin Oliver, and TCU’s Johnny Hodges creating a standout group. “I think all three of those guys are NFL players,” Hamilton said.

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Texas is missing representation in the defensive backfield with Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and TCU all gaining mention over Ryan Watts, Jahdae Barron, Gavin Holmes, and others.

The two then look at what the impact of the four new teams — Houston, Central Florida, Cincinnati, and BYU — has on the preseason list.

2023 Big 12 Preseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Jalon Daniels, Kansas, QB
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaylan Ford, Texas LB
Newcomer of the Year: Treshaun Ward, Kansas State, RB

2023 All-Big 12 Preseason Team

Offense

QB – Jalon Daniels, Kansas
RB – Richard Reese, Baylor
RB – Devin Neal, Kansas
FB – Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
WR – Brennan Presley – Oklahoma State
WR – Xavier Worthy, Texas*
WR – Jerand Bradely, Texas Tech
TE – Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
OL – Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
OL – Mike Novitsky, Kansas
OL – Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
OL – Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
OL – Zach Frazier, West Virginia
PK – Griffin Kell, TCU
KR/PR – Phillip Brooks, Kansas State

Defense

DL – Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
DL – Ethan Downs, Oklahoma}
DL – Will Damonic Williams, TCU
DL – Byron Murphy II, Texas
DL – Jaylon Hutchings, Texas Tech
LB – Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
LB – Johnny Hodges, TCU
LB – Jaylan Ford, Texas
DB – T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
DB – Cobee Bryant, Kansas
DB – Kobe Savage, Kansas State
DB – Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma State
DB – Josh Newton, TCU
P – Mason Fletcher, Cincinnati

* Unanimous Preseason Team selection