Tuesday afternoon the preseason All-Big 12 football team was announced by members of the media. Four athletes from local schools made the list, including Kansas State running back Bryce Brown. The inclusion of Brown may come as a surprise as the University of Tennessee transfer has yet to play a down for the Wildcats.
Brown, who prepped at Wichita East High School, was the lone Kansas State player to make the first team. The running back will be expected to lead the rushing attack this season as Daniel Thomas has moved onto the NFL.
Coach Bill Snyder's team is hoping to improve upon a 7-6 record in 2010 that saw them finish the year with a loss to Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl.
In addition to Brown, the Missouri Tigers placed three players on the preseason list, highlighted by tight end Michael Egnew, who also made the John Mackey Award preseason watch list. The Mackey Award goes to the nation's top tight end at the end of the season.
Other Tigers making the first team were defensive lineman Brad Madison and kicker Grant Ressel. While Egnew is a Texas native, both Madison and Ressel are Show-Me-State natives. Madison is from Bethany, while Ressel hails from Jackson.
Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while OU linebacker Travis Lewis was given similar accolades for the defense. Incoming Texas running back Malcom Brown was named the preseason Newcomer of the Year.
Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team
OFFENSE
QB - Landry Jones Oklahoma
RB - Cyrus Gray Texas A&M
RB - Bryce Brown Kansas State
RB - Roy Finch Oklahoma
WR - Justin Blackmon Oklahoma State
WR - Ryan Broyles Oklahoma
TE - Michael Egnew Missouri
OL - Levy Adcock Oklahoma State
OL - Kelechi Osemele Iowa State
C - Ben Habern Oklahoma
OL - Lonnie Edwards Texas Tech
OL - Luke Joeckel Texas A&M
DEFENSE
DL - Brad Madison Missouri
DL - Ronnell Lewis Oklahoma
DL - Kheeston Randall Texas
DL - Frank Alexander Oklahoma
LB - Travis Lewis Oklahoma
LB - Jake Knott Iowa State
LB - Keenan Robinson Texas
DB - Coryell Judie Texas A&M
DB - Markelle Martin Oklahoma State
DB - Blake Gideon Texas
DB - Demontre Hurst Oklahoma
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Grant Ressel Missouri
P - Quinn Sharp Oklahoma State
KR - Coryell Judie Texas A&M
PR - Ryan Broyles Oklahoma