The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Five Longhorns earn All-Big 12 recognition from Associated Press
12.06.2016 | Football
Three Longhorns named to 2016 first team, including unanimous selection RB D’Onta Foreman.
The Associated Press announced its 2016 All-Big 12 Conference teams on Tuesday, recognizing five Texas Longhorns. Three players – RB D'Onta Foreman, OT Connor Williams and P Michael Dickson – were named first team selections, while two players – DE Breckyn Hager and LB Malik Jefferson – earned second team recognition.
Foreman, a unanimous first-team selection, was the nation's leading rusher and totaled 2,028 yards on the ground despite playing in just 11 games. He averaged 184.4 yards per game in 2016, the 10th-most in NCAA history. He recorded 15 touchdowns and became just the ninth Power 5 Conference player in NCAA history to record 2,000 yards in a season without the help of a bowl game. He had at least 124 yards in all 11 games and eclipsed the 250-yard mark in three games. He received four votes for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Dickson, the Big 12 Conference's leading punter and UT's all-time single season record holder, was named a first team selection by the AP. He averaged 47.4 yards per punt on 65 attempts and had 28 downed inside the 20. Of his 65 punts on the season, 25 of them went for more than 50 yards, including a career-best 74-yarder which was tied for the sixth-longest punt in school history. Dickson is a finalist for the prestigious Ray Guy Award, which will be announced on Thursday night.
Williams was named first team All-Big 12 at offensive tackle following an impressive sophomore campaign. The Longhorns' left tackle played in and started 11 games, all against Power 5 opponents, and graded at 90% or better in six games, including each of the final four. He totaled 32 knockdowns and allowed just two sacks on over 900 offensive snaps in 2016.
Hager, a second-team selection at defensive end, finished the year with a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss to go along with 64 tackles. He also had six sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Hager's 13.5 tackles for loss ranked third in the Big 12 Conference while his six sacks put him tied for sixth.
Jefferson, a second-team pick at linebacker, finished the year third on the Longhorns with 62 tackles. He had 8.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. His 5.5 sacks ranked tied for 10th in the Big 12 while his 8.5 tackles for loss were 17th.
AP All-Big 12 Voting Panel:
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman; Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register; Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman; Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News; Mark Cooper, Tulsa World; Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News; Bill Haisten, Tulsa World; Kevin Haskin, Topeka Capital-Journal; Tom Keegan, Lawrence Journal-World; Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star; Carlos Mendez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Todd Murray, The Dominion Post; Max Olson, ESPN.com; Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register; Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle; John Shinn, Norman Transcript; Mitch Vingle, Charleston Gazette; John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald; Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
