Mike Gundy said throughout this season that Oklahoma State’s defensive line had gotten an upgrade. Proof came when Calvin Barnett was named the Big 12’s defensive newcomer of the year by league coaches.
Barnett, a junior defensive tackle from Booker T. Washington, was an impact player in his first season with the Cowboys. He signed with Arkansas when he was in high school, but spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons playing for Navarro Community College in Texas.
OSU’s other starter in the defensive interior, sophomore James Castleman, was named honorable mention All-Big 12 by league coaches.
Barnett was one of two OSU players to earn an individual honor from coaches. Redshirt freshman quarterback J.W. Walsh was named the Big 12’s offensive freshman of the year and Quinn Sharp, a first-team kicker and punter, shared special teams player of the year honors with West Virginia return man Tavon Austin.
Walsh started three games at midseason. He threw 415 yards in a win over Iowa State (despite playing the final three quarters with a fracture in his knee) and 301 in a loss to Texas. He also came off the bench to throw for 347 yards in a rout of Louisiana and was used on a situational basis after Clint Chelf became OSU’s starter.
2012 Big 12 Individual Honors (as voted by coaches)
Offensive Player of the Year
Collin Klein, Kansas State, QB, Sr, Loveland, Colo.
Defensive Player of the Year
Arthur Brown, Kansas State, LB, Sr, Wichita, Kan.
Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Lache Seastrunk, Baylor, RB, So, Temple, Texas
Defensive Newcomer of the Year
Calvin Barnett, Oklahoma State, DT, Jr, Tulsa, Okla.
Offensive Freshman of the Year
J.W. Walsh, Oklahoma State, QB, Denton, Texas
Defensive Freshman of the Year
Devonte Fields, TCU, DE, Arlington, Texas (unanimous)
Co-Special Teams Players of the Year
Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State, PK/P, Sr, Mansfield, Texas
Tavon Austin, West Virginia, KR/PR, Sr, Baltimore, Md.
Offensive Lineman of the Year
Cyril Richardson, Baylor, Jr, Fort Worth, Texas
Defensive Lineman of the Year
Meshak Williams, Kansas State, DE, Sr, Sylvester, Ga.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Nick Florence, Baylor, QB, Sr, Garland, Texas
Chuck Neinas Coach of the Year
Bill Snyder, Kansas State, 21st Season
2012 First-Team All-Big 12 Offense
QB Collin Klein K-State
RB Joseph Randle** Oklahoma State
RB John Hubert K-State
FB Trey Millard Oklahoma
WR Terrance Williams Baylor
WR Tavon Austin West Virginia
WR Stedman Bailey West Virginia
TE Travis Tannahill K-State
OL Cyril Richardson Baylor
OL Cornelius Lucas K-State
OL Gabe Ikard** Oklahoma
OL Lane Taylor** Oklahoma State
OL LaAdrian Waddle Texas Tech
PK Quinn Sharp Oklahoma State
KR/PR Tavon Austin West Virginia
2012 First-Team All-Big 12 Defense
DL Jake McDonough Iowa State
DL Meshak Williams K-State
DL Calvin Barnett Oklahoma State
DL Devonte Fields TCU
DL Stansly Maponga TCU
DL Alex Okafor Texas
LB A.J. Klein Iowa State
LB Jake Knott Iowa State
LB Arthur Brown** K-State
DB Ty Zimmerman K-State
DB Aaron Colvin Oklahoma
DB Tony Jefferson Oklahoma
DB Jason Verrett TCU
DB Kenny Vaccaro Texas
P Quinn Sharp Oklahoma State
**Unanimous Selection. A tie in voting created an additional first-team defensive line
2012 Second-Team All-Big 12 Offense
QB Geno Smith West Virginia
RB James Sims Kansas
RB Damien Williams Oklahoma
FB Kye Staley Oklahoma State
WR Chris Harper K-State
WR Kenny Stills Oklahoma
WR Darrin Moore Texas Tech
TE Jace Amaro Texas Tech
OL Tanner Hawkinson Kansas
OL Lane Johnson Oklahoma
OL Blaize Foltz TCU
OL Trey Hopkins Texas
OL Joe Madsen West Virginia
PK Anthony Cantele K-State
KR/PR Justin Gilbert Oklahoma State
2012 Second-Team All-Big 12 Defense
DL Adam Davis K-State
DL Vai Lutui K-State
DL David King Oklahoma
DL Chucky Hunter TCU
DL Kerry Hyder Texas Tech
LB Bryce Hager Baylor
LB Ben Heeney Kansas
LB Kenny Cain TCU
DB Cody Davis Texas Tech
DB Durrell Givens Iowa State
DB Sam Carter TCU
DB Bradley McDougald Kansas
DB D.J. Johnson Texas Tech
DB Demontre Hurst Oklahoma
P Kirby Van Der Kamp Iowa State
OSU honorable mention players: James Castleman (DL), Parker Graham (OL), Caleb Lavey (LB), Shaun Lewis (LB), Kevin Peterson (Def. FoY), Josh Stewart (WR).
OU honorable mention players: Justin Brown (WR), Landry Jones (QB), Tress Way (P), Daryl Williams (OL).
