Tech players honored on coaches' all-Big 12 team
Jonathan Garibay was nearly perfect on field goals this season, even making one from 62 yards to beat Iowa State, the longest last-minute game-winner in FBS history.
The Texas Tech kicker went 13 of 14 and was rewarded for it with all-Big 12 recognition from the conference's head coaches. Garibay was the only Tech player on the first team, but five Red Raiders made the second team in the conference honors list announced Thursday by the Big 12 office.
Tech's second-team honorees were wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, center Dawson Deaton, linebacker Colin Schooler, cornerback DaMarcus Fields and punter Austin McNamara.
The Red Raiders went 6-6 in the regular season, including 3-6 in the Big 12. They will learn their bowl destination Sunday.
Ezukanma caught 48 passes for 705 yards and four touchdowns.
Schooler ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 97 tackles. Fields is the Big 12 co-leader in pass breakups with 10, and is tied for second in the conference with 10 passes defended (breakups, plus interceptions).
McNamara has a 48.4-yard punting average, which is second in the conference.
A dozen Tech players received honorable mention, including Garibay for special teams player of the year, center Dawson Deaton for offensive lineman of the year, wide receiver Kaylon Geiger for offensive newcomer of the year and cornerback Rayshad Williams for defensive newcomer of the year.
Earning honorable mention at their positions were offensive linemen Josh Burger and T.J. Storment, tight end Travis Koontz, defensive linemen Jaylon Hutchings and Tyree Wilson, linebacker Riko Jeffers and defensive backs Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Reggie Pearson.
COACHES ALL-BIG 12
FOOTBALL TEAM
Offensive player of the year: RB Breece Hall, Jr., Iowa State. Defensive player of the year: DB Jalen Pitre, Sr., Baylor. Offensive newcomer of the year: RB Jaylen Warren, Sr., Oklahoma State. Defensive newcomer of the year: DL Siaki Ika, Baylor, So. Offensive freshman of the year: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas. Defensive freshman of the year: DE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State. Special teams player of the year: KR-PR Trestan Ebner, Sr., Baylor. Offensive lineman of the year: Connor Galvin, Sr., Baylor. Co-defensive linemen of the year: DE Will McDonald, Jr., Iowa State; DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, So., Kansas State. Chuck Neinas coach of the year: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State.
u-unanimous selection
First Team
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State, Jr., Denton Ryan.
Fullback (tie): Jeremiah Hall, Oklahoma, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.; Jared Rus, Iowa State, Jr., Eldridge, Iowa. Running backs: Breece Hall, Iowa State, Jr., Wichita, Kan.; Bijan Robinson, Texas, So., Tucson, Ariz.
Wide receivers: Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.; Quentin Johnston, TCU, So., Temple; Xavier Worthy, Texas, Fr., Fresno, Calif. Tight end: u-Charlie Kolar, Iowa State, Sr., Norman, Okla.
Linemen: Connor Galvin, Baylor, Sr., Katy; Trevor Downing, Iowa State, Jr., Creston, Iowa; Cooper Beebe, Kansas State, Kansas City, Kan.; Josh Sills, Oklahoma State, Sr., Sarahsville, Ohio; Derek Kerstetter, Texas, Sr., San Antonio Reagan.
DEFENSE
Linemen: Will McDonald, Iowa State, Jr., Pewaukee, Wis.; Eyioma Uwazurike, Iowa State, Sr., Detroit, Mich.; Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State, So., Lee's Summit, Mo.; Brock Martin, Oklahoma State, Oologah, Okla.; Dante Stills, West Virginia, Sr., Fairmont, W.Va.
Linebackers: Terrel Bernard, Baylor, Sr., La Porte; Mike Rose, Iowa State, Sr., Brecksville, Ohio; Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State, Sr., Wagoner, Okla.
Backs: Jalen Pitre, Baylor, Sr., Stafford; Russ Yeast, Kansas State, Sr., Danville, Ky.; Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Oklahoma State, Sr., Shreveport, La.; Kolby Harvell-Peel, Oklahoma State, Sr., College Station A&M Consolidated; Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU, Jr., Waco Midway.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Jonathan Garibay, Texas Tech, Sr., Rubidoux, Calif. Punter (tie): Michael Turk, Oklahoma, Sr., Fort Bend Ridge Point; Cameron Dicker, Texas, Sr., Austin Lake Travis. Return specialist (tie): Trestan Ebner, Baylor, Sr., Henderson; Malik Knowles, Kansas State, Jr., Mansfield Lake Ridge.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Brock Purdy, Iowa State, Sr., Gilbert, Ariz.
Fullback: Jax Dineen, Kansas State, Jr., Lawrence, Kan. Running backs: Abram Smith, Baylor, Sr., Abilene; Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State, So., Round Rock Cedar Ridge.
Wide receivers: Tyquan Thornton, Baylor, Sr., Miami, Fla.; Tay Martin, Oklahoma State, Sr., Houma, La.; Erik Ezukanma, Texas Tech, Keller Timber Creek. Tight end: Chase Allen, Iowa State, Nixa, Mo.
Linemen: Colin Newell, Iowa State, Sr., Ames, Iowa; Marquis Hayes, Oklahoma, Sr., St. Louis; Steve Avila, TCU, Jr., South Grand Prairie; Dawson Deaton, Texas Tech, Sr., Frisco; Zach Frazier, West Virginia, So., Fairmont, W. Va.
DEFENSE
Linemen: Siaki Ika, Baylor, So., Salt Lake City; Kyron Johnson, Kansas, Sr., Arlington Lamar; Isaiah Thomas, Oklahoma, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.; Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma, Sr., Maywood, Ill.; Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State, Fr., Edmond, Okla.; Ochaun Mathis, TCU, Jr., Manor.
Linebackers: Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma, Jr., Columbus, Ohio; Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Colin Schooler, Texas Tech, Sr., Mission Viejo, Calif.
Backs: Isheem Young, Iowa State, So., Philadelphia; Kenny Logan, Kansas, Jr., St. Augustine, Fla. Delarrin Turner-Yell, Oklahoma, Sr., Hempstead; Christian Holmes, Oklahoma State, Sr., Leland, Miss.; DaMarcus Fields, Texas Tech, Sr., Taylor.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Gabe Brkic, Oklahoma, Jr., Chardon, Ohio. Punter: Austin McNamara, Texas Tech, Jr., Gilbert, Ariz. Return specialist (tie): Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State, So., Bixby, Okla.; Derius Davis, TCU, Sr., Saint Francisville, La.
HONORABLE MENTION
Texas Tech players only: OL Dawson Deaton, Sr. (for offensive lineman of the year); OL Josh Burger, Sr.; K Jonathan Garibay, Sr. (for special teams player of the year); WR Kaylon Geiger, Sr. (for offensive newcomer of the year); DL Jaylon Hutchings, Jr.; LB Riko Jeffers, Sr.; TE Travis Koontz, Sr.; DB Reggie Pearson, Jr.; OT T.J. Storment, Sr.; DB Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Jr.; CB Rayshad Williams, Jr. (for defensive newcomer of the year); DE Tyree Wilson, Jr.
Deaton, Fields to Shrine Game
Tech center Dawson Deaton and cornerback DaMarcus Fields have accepted invitations to the 97th East-West Shrine Game, the game's organizers announced Thursday.
The game is scheduled for Feb. 3 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's the first time since 2012 that Tech has made more than one player in the all-star game for college seniors.
Deaton has made 34 career starts, including 10 this season. He's the first Tech offensive lineman to earn first- or second-team all-Big 12 recognition in back-to-back years since Le'Raven Clark did so in 2014 and 2015.
Fields has made 48 career starts with 10 coming this season. His career totals include 221 tackles, four interceptions and 44 passes defended, the latter figure ranking second among active FBS players and the most by a Tech player since 2000.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: College football: Texas Tech players honored on coaches' all-Big 12 team
