Big 12 Publishers Mid-season Awards

It's the mid-season point in the Big 12 Conference and while the final standings are nowhere close to being determined, the top players in the conference have made a big statement to this point. The Rivals.com Big 12 publishers have come together and picked their choices for the first team offense and defense, along with some mid-season awards and standings predictions. Each site received one total vote and all sites participated.

Once the final standings were totaled four names stood out above the rest. Oklahoma freshmen running back Adrian Peterson was the leading vote getter at the running back position and unanimous choice for freshman of the year, while teammate defensive lineman Dan Cody was the only unanimous choice in the Big 12 team. In-state rivals, quarterback Reggie McNeal (Texas A&M) and linebacker Derrick Johnson (Texas), each came away with first team all conference honors and individual awards. The two will face off on the field Nov. 26.

Mid-season All Big 12 Team

Percent of vote in parenthesis and others noted if player received

25% or more of the vote.

Offense

Quarterback: Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M (58%)

Other notables: Jason White, Oklahoma (25%)

Running Backs: Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (75%), Vernand Morency, Oklahoma

State (58%)

Other notables: Cedric Benson. Texas (50%)

Wide Receivers: Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech (83%), Mark Clayton, Oklahoma

(50%)

Other notables: Terrence Murphy, Texas A&M (25%)

Tight End: Matt Herian, Nebraska (83%)

Offensive Linemen: Jammal Brown, Oklahoma (92%), Vince Carter, Oklahoma

(83%), Sam Mayes, Oklahoma State (83%), Jonathan Scott, Texas (75%), Dan Loper,

Texas Tech (42%)

Defense

Defensive Linemen: Dan Cody, Oklahoma (100%), Rod Wright, Texas (75%),

C.J. Mosely, Missouri (50%), Jermaine Berry, Kansas State (33%)

Other notables: Adell Duckett, Texas Tech (33%)

Linebackers: Derrick Johnson, Texas (92%), Barrett Ruud, Nebraska (58%),

Nick Reid, Kansas (42%)

Other notables: James Kinney, Missouri(25%)

Defensive Backs: Brodney Pool, Oklahoma (75%), Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska

(75%), Jaxson Appel, Texas A&M (50%), Charles Gordon, Kansas (42%)

Other notables: Mike Huff, Texas (33%), Shirdonya Mitchell, Missouri

(25%)

Special Teams

Kicker: Mason Crosby, Colorado (66%)

Others notable: Joe Rheem, Kansas State (33%)

Punter: Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor (66%)

Other notables: John Thorp, Colorado (25%)

Kick Returner: Brandon Jackson, Nebraska (33%)

Other notables: Darren Sproles, Kansas State (25%)

Punt Returner: Antonio Perkins, Oklahoma (42%)

Other notables: Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State (25)

Big 12 Mid-season Awards

Offensive player of the year: Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (42%)

Defensive player of the year: Derrick Johnson, Texas (75%)

Freshman of the year: Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (100%)

Surprise player of the year: Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M (42%)

Biggest bust of a player: Vince Young, Texas (66%)

Coach of the year: Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M (83%)

Surprise Team of the year: Texas A&M (83%)

Most disappointing team: Kansas State (83%)

Projected Final Standings for the Big 12 (predicted

10/22/04)

North - (first place votes)

1. Missouri (9) 5-3

2. Nebraska (1) 4-4

3. Kansas 3-5

4. Kansas State (2) 3-5

5. Colorado 2-6

6. Iowa State 1-7

South

1. Oklahoma (10) 8-0

2. Texas A&M (2) 5-3

3. Texas 5-3

4. Texas Tech 5-3

5. Oklahoma State 4-4

6. Baylor 0-8