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"You work in a business. Businesspeople need beepers."

"No, they need cellphones."

"Yeah, right now, but the beeper's gonna be making a comeback. Technology's cyclical."

• Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit agree: Oklahoma and Nebraska will play for the Big 12 title.
• Missouri's defense wants 35 turnovers in 2010, reports Dieter Kurtenbach of the Columbia Missourian. It forced 23 last year.
• Texas Tech players don't miss the sand pit outside the practice field some of them got to know well, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Texas isn't messing around with its upcoming schedules. The Longhorns announced a home-and-home agreement with BYU in 2013 and 2014, in addition to a game next season in Austin. The Longhorns also added Notre Dame to their future schedule recently.
• The Longhorns can run the ball all they want, but the hope for 2010 rests with Garrett Gilbert, writes the Statesman's Cedric Golden.
• Former Red Raiders lineman Brandon Carter has a new look for the NFL, but the face paint is still a part of him. He still wants to be a pro wrestler, writes Jordan Godwin of the Houston Chronicle.
• Tom Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald learned some lessons with the recent media fiasco. He shares them in his blog.
• Life as a football player is pretty difficult if you're allergic to milk and you don't know it. Ask Iowa State's Jake McDonough. The Des Moines Register's Randy Peterson did.
• Landry Jones wasn't happy with his performance in Oklahoma's scrimmage on Thursday.
• The highlight of Colorado's scrimmage on Thursday? The running game, reports the Denver Post's Tom Kensler.
• Without Jeron Mastrud, there's a battle at tight end at Kansas State, reports Brady Bauman of the Manhattan Mercury.
• Oklahoma State's Victor Johnson and Jamie Blatnick have become close with a pair of Stairmasters, writes John Helsley of The Oklahoman.
• Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World explains why moving Toben Opurum to linebacker is a gamble.
• Texas A&M free safety Steven Terrell's camp is off to a good start, reports Robert Cessna of the Bryan-College Station Eagle.

Nine players from the Big 12 were drafted in the first round, but not everybody can make millions. Here's where a few notable Big 12ers ended up after going undrafted:

Baylor

• LB Joe Pawelek - Seattle

Four-time All-Big 12er will try to fit in with new coach Pete Carroll.

• S Jordan Lake - unsigned

Everyone respects Lake as a hitter, but a lack of speed will likely keep the Thorpe Award candidate from succeeding at the pro level.

Kansas

• QB Todd Reesing - unsigned

Might end up in Canada after struggling to show scouts he could compensate for his lack of height.

Kansas State

• TE Jeron Mastrud - Tampa Bay
• WR/KR Brandon Banks - unsigned

Banks ran a 4.43 at the combine, the fifth-fastest time recorded by a receiver, but his size will keep him from playing receiver at the next level. Some team will give him a shot as a return man eventually. What he does with it is up to him.

Missouri

• WR Danario Alexander - unsigned

NFL teams are waiting on Alexander to pass a physical after undergoing his fourth knee surgery in just over a year. The nation's receiving leader can't seem to catch a break.

• OL Kurtis Gregory - Carolina
• DT Jaron Baston - Denver

Baston and Gregory were second-team All-Big 12ers and Carolina began contacting Gregory during the sixth round, expressing its interest in signing him.

Nebraska

• DE Barry Turner - Chicago
• S Matt O'Hanlon - Carolina

Turner and O'Hanlon make five Blackshirts who ended up on NFL rosters after leaving Nebraska. DT Ndamukong Suh, S Larry Asante and LB Phillip Dillard were drafted.

Oklahoma

• DE Auston English - Cleveland

An ankle injury ended English's season early and any chance the defensive end, who was named to the All-Big 12 first team as a freshman, had of being drafted.

• DT DeMarcus Granger - Seattle

Former blue-chip recruit never recovered from offseason back surgery before last season and didn't play until the bowl game.

• RB Chris Brown - Denver

Solid runner led the Sooners in rushing the past two seasons. Might be able to slip into Josh McDaniels' uncertain situation at running back. Lesser accomplished backs have done it in Denver in the past, but that was under Mike Shanahan, who's now in Washington.

Oklahoma State

• RB Keith Toston - St. Louis

Toston stepped in after Kendall Hunter was injured and ran for over 1,000 yards.

• OL Andrew Lewis - Kansas City
• OL Brady Bond - San Diego

Lewis began the season on the cover of SI, and Bond came to Oklahoma State after playing eight-man football. Both are now on current NFL rosters.

Texas

• K Hunter Lawrence - Tampa Bay

The most accurate kicker in Texas history, Lawrence doesn't seem likely to beat out the solid Connor Barth, who took over the job midseason last year, for the starting job. But impress during minicamp, or stay on the roster through training camp, and other teams could take notice.

• OL Adam Ulatoski - Houston
• OL Charlie Tanner - New York Jets

Ulatoski has the size (6-foot-6, 310 pounds) to succeed in the NFL, he just has to prove it with the Texans. Tanner and Ulatoski have a handful of All-Big 12 honors heading into the next level.

Texas A&M

• TE/FB Jamie McCoy - St. Louis

McCoy caught 35 passes for 367 yards and two scores and made the All-Big 12 second team.

Texas Tech

• DE Brandon Sharpe - New Orleans

Sharpe finished second in the Big 12 with 15 sacks.

• OL Brandon Carter - New Orleans

Carter, most known for his hair and makeup, turned an All-Big 12 first-team effort in 2009 into a free-agent deal with the world champs.

Kansas State lost leading receiver Brandon Banks, but this spring, the Wildcats must also replace every receiver with more than six catches. Receivers Attrail Snipes and Lamark Brown are also gone, as is tight end Jeron Mastrud.

The only consistent returning target for whoever wins the quarterback job in Manhattan is in the backfield -- running back Daniel Thomas, who caught 25 passes for 257 yards last season.

Now, they'll break in a new set of receivers. Aubrey Quarles redshirted last season with a leg injury, but he caught 34 balls for 407 yards in his lone season of action.

"Aubrey Quarles gives you a reasonably physical receiver. He is a pretty sharp young guy that understands what you are trying to do," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "He's got good hands that can catch the ball and has the capacity to advance the ball and get it up field, because he is a little more physical."

At just 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds, Quarles plays physical, but the Wildcats have a handful of other receivers built to be physical.

Oregon transfer Chris Harper, who Snyder said will work exclusively at receiver and won't get snaps at quarterback, is 6-foot-1 and a stout 234 pounds. Minnesota transfer Brodrick Smith is 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds. He returned back home to Kansas after catching five passes for 50 yards and a score for the Golden Gophers.

"All of us were extremely impressed with his progress, his effort, his quickness, his ability to change direction, etc. [in the offseason program]. Now that he is on the field that has been tempered a little bit and I am quite certain that is because it is a learning process," Snyder said. "He has got to think his way through some things and I think that has kind of tempered his ability to do things naturally. We are just waiting for him to feel more comfortable with the offense, and when he does I think his capabilities will present themselves."

Snyder praised Harper's good hands, and though he won't be working at quarterback, Snyder knew Harper's athleticism would allow him to find his way onto the field somewhere.

"He has got good hands. He has been slowed down a little bit with a nagging injury, so he can't go full speed for us. So there is still some uncertainty in that respect," Snyder said. "Seeing him in the out of season program, the way he runs and changes direction, has good balance and body control, he's probably somebody that is a pretty good athlete."

If Collin Klein doesn't win the quarterback job, he'll switch back to receiver. He caught six passes for 38 yards last season.

Whoever emerges on the edge for the Wildcats, the sooner the better. Quarles will be looking to regain his 2008 form, and if anyone's going to surpass Banks' numbers (56 rec, 705 yards) from 2009, he would be the most likely candidate.

Here, we’ll take a look at one area where each team in the Big 12 can expect to succeed, and another that needs improvement.

Kansas State

Weak: Pass-catchers

Kansas State's leading returning receiver is running back Daniel Thomas, but we'll get back to him in a bit. Brandon Banks is taking his 56 catches to the NFL, not to mention his game-breaking kick returns. Kansas State will have to replace receiver Attrail Snipes and tight end Jeron Mastrud, too. Kansas State threw just seven touchdown passes in 2009, and one came from Thomas.

Strong: Running back

Few could have expected just how effective Thomas would be in his first year in the program. A juco transfer, he was the Wildcats' offense as a junior. With speedster Banks gone, that doesn't seem likely to change. Thomas, like most good running backs, was marked by consistency. He ran for less than 79 yards just twice, and topped 100 yards on five occasions. In a 62-14 blowout win over Texas A&M, he ran for four touchdowns. Thomas touched the ball 272 times last season, and finding a suitable complement could help keep him healthy, a necessity if Kansas State wants to make a bowl game or challenge for the North title.

But like their Sunflower State rivals, the Wildcats could stimulate growth at an uncertain quarterback position with their running game.

More Weak & Strong:

• Baylor
• Colorado
• Iowa State
• Kansas
  

The NFL has released its final list of late additions to its annual pre-draft player combine, which will take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 24 to March 2.

The Big 12 is well represented on the list of invited players, with every team but Iowa State and Texas A&M having at least one representative.

Here's the final list. The late invitations, typically from underclassmen who declared for the draft, are listed in bold.

BAYLOR (2)

WR David Gettis

C J.D. Walton

COLORADO (1)

TE Riar Geer

KANSAS (3)

WR Dezmon Briscoe

WR Kerry Meier

S Darrell Stuckey

KANSAS STATE (3)

WR Brandon Banks

TE Jeron Mastrud

CB Joshua Moore

MISSOURI (4)

WR Danario Alexander

G Kurtis Gregory

WR Jared Perry

LB Sean Weatherspoon

NEBRASKA (4)

S Larry Asante

LB Phillip Dillard

C Jacob Hickman

DT Ndamukong Suh

OKLAHOMA (9)

QB Sam Bradford

RB Chris Brown

OLB Keenan Clayton

TE Brody Eldridge

CB Dominique Franks

TE Jermaine Gresham

CB Brian Jackson

DT Gerald McCoy

T Trent Williams

OKLAHOMA STATE (6)

S Lucien Antoine

WR Dez Bryant

CB Perrish Cox

T Russell Okung

QB Zac Robinson

RB Keith Toston

TEXAS (7)

DT Lamarr Houston

DE Sergio Kindle

QB Colt McCoy

LB Roddrick Muckelroy

WR Jordan Shipley

S Earl Thomas

T Adam Ulatoski

TEXAS TECH (2)

G Brandon Carter

CB Jamar Wall

As we all pore over the recruiting ratings of each school for the next few days, it's wise to take all of these rankings and ratings with a healthy grain of salt.

Recruiting is, always has been and always will be an inexact science. For every can't miss product, there are others who emerge out of nowhere to become standout players.

This trend was shown after I analyzed the first- and second-team All-Big 12 teams from the 2009 season and went back to check their original ESPNU grades. On some, the service hit. But on many others, it missed like Sean Weatherspoon and Danario Alexander.

Both had scores of 40 when they came out in their recruiting class. Weatherspoon weighed 195 pounds. Alexander was projected as a safety. And both put aside their dubious recruiting marks to develop into two of the best players in the country at their position over the course of their college career. I thought it was interesting to go back and look at the best players in the conference and see where they were ranked coming into college.

The ESPNU ratings database goes back only to 2006. That does not allow us to get ratings for players who took a redshirt year during their college careers. But it gives a pretty accurate picture about the crap shoot that college recruiting really is.

Here's a look at the Big 12's coaches' first and second teams for 2009. The positional rankings, typically listed second for most players, are national rankings.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Colt McCoy, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2009.

RB: Keith Toston, Oklahoma State: 77 rating; ranked 44th among all safeties; ranked 73rd in state.

FB: Bryant Ward, Oklahoma State: Walk-on.

WR: Jordan Shipley, Texas: Class of 2004, no information available.

WR: Danario Alexander, Missouri: 40 rating (as safety), ranked 229th in state.

WR: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas: 40 rating, ranked 363rd in state.

TE: Jeron Mastrud, Kansas State: 40 rating, ranked 13th in state.

OL: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State: 73 rating, ranked 61st among all tackles, 138th in state.

OL: Trent Williams, Oklahoma: 76 rating, ranked 22nd among all guards, 78th in state.

OL: Nick Stringer, Kansas State: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Brandon Carter, Texas Tech: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Nate Solder, Colorado: 40 rating (as tight end), ranked 48th in state.

PK: Grant Ressel, Missouri: Walk-on.

KR/PR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2008.

---

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska: Class of 2005, no information available.

DL: Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma: 89 rating, ranked 2nd among all defensive tackle, ranked first in state, ranked 21st in nation.

DL:Von Miller, Texas A&M: 77 rating, ranked 37th among all defensive ends, ranked 52nd in state.

DL: Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech: Junior-college class of 2007.

DL: Jared Crick, Nebraska: 73 rating, ranked 86th among all defensive ends, ranked seventh in state.

LB: Jesse Smith, Iowa State: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri: 40 rating, ranked 294th in state.

LB: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma: 75 rating, ranked 86th among all running backs, ranked 96th in state.

DB: Earl Thomas, Texas: 71 rating, ranked 75th among all cornerbacks, ranked 170th in state.

DB: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State: 77 rating, ranked 25th among all cornerbacks, ranked 57th in state.

DB: Dominique Franks, Oklahoma: 74 rating, ranked 53rd among all cornerbacks, ranked 15th in state.

DB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska: 78 rating, ranked 31st among all running backs, ranked fifth in state.

DB: Larry Asante, Nebraska: Junior college class of 2007.

P: Derek Epperson, Baylor: 76 rating, ranked 15th among all kickers, ranked 87th in state.

---

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M: 79 rating, ranked first among all athletes, ranked 29th in state.

RB Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska: 73 rating, ranked 113th among all running backs, ranked 97th in state.

RB: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma: 92 rating, ranked first among all running backs, ranked first in state, ranked sixth in nation.

FB: Jamie McCoy, Texas A&M: Class of 2005, no information available.

WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma: 77 rating, ranked 58th among all wide receivers, ranked fourth in state.

WR: Kerry Meier, Kansas: Class of 2005 , no information available.

WR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2008.

TE: Riar Geer, Colorado: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: J.D. Walton, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available (transfer from Arizona State).

OL: Chris Hall, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Kurtis Gregory, Missouri: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Adam Ulatoski, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Brody Eldridge, Oklahoma: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Lee Grimes, Texas A&M: Class of 2005, no information available.

PK: Alex Henery, Nebraska: Walk-on.

KR/PR: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State: 77 rating, ranked 25th among all cornerbacks, ranked 57th in state.

---

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Sergio Kindle, Texas: 92 rating, ranked first among all outside linebackers, ranked second in state, ranked seventh in nation.

DL: Lamarr Houston, Texas: 78 rating, ranked seventh among all fullbacks, ranked fourth in state.

DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma: 80 rating, ranked 11th among all defensive ends, ranked 17th in state, ranked 137th nationally.

DL: Jaron Baston, Missouri: Class of 2005, no information available.

DL: Daniel Howard, Texas Tech: Junior college class of 2007

LB: Joe Pawelek, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Phillip Dillard, Nebraska: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Jamar Wall, Texas Tech: 72 rating, ranked 79th among all safeties, ranked 142nd in state.

DB: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma: 77 rating, ranked 39th among all safeties, ranked third in state.

DB: Brian Jackson, Oklahoma: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Jordan Lake, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Cha’pelle Brown, Colorado: 40 rating, ranked 287th in state.

DB: Trent Hunter, Texas A&M: 68 rating, ranked 90th among all cornerbacks, ranked 250th in state.

P: Tress Way, Oklahoma: 78 rating, ranked sixth among all kickers, ranked sixth in state.

It's interesting to note that only four members of the two teams were ESPNU top 150 selections: Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy, DeMarco Murray and Jeremy Beal and Texas' Sergio Kindle.

Kansas State was a dominant North division power early in the decade, earning title-game berths in 2000 and 2003. The Wildcats had three teams that finished among the top 15 teams nationally in the first four seasons of the decade.

That success vanished later in the decade, but Bill Snyder returned to help turn around the program in 2009.

Here are my choices for the top Kansas State players of the last decade.

OFFENSE

QB: Ell Roberson

RB: Darren Sproles

RB: Daniel Thomas

WR: Quincy Morgan

WR: Jordy Nelson

TE: Jeron Mastrud

OL: Ryan Lilja

OL: Nick Stringer

OL: Jeromey Clary

OL: Andy Eby

C: Randall Cummings

DEFENSE

DL: Tank Reese

DL: Ian Campbell

DL: Monty Beisel

DL: Mario Fatafehi

LB: Ben Leber

LB: Terry Pierce

LB: Josh Buhl

DB: Jerametrius Butler

DB: Terence Newman

DB: Jon McGraw

DB: Dyshod Carter

P Tim Reyer

K Jamie Rheem

KR Brandon Banks

Offensive player of the decade: RB Darren Sproles. The key player on the Wildcats’ 2003 Big 12 title team rushed for a school-record 4,979 yards during his career, scoring 45 rushing touchdowns and notching three 1,000-yard seasons. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2003 after rushing for a school-record 1,986 yards to spark the Wildcats' championship season.

Defensive player of the decade: CB Terence Newman. Finished as the most decorated defensive player in Kansas State history, earning All-America honors and the Big 12’s defensive player of the year in 2002. In that season, Newman won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and was a finalist for the Nagurski Award.

Coach of the decade: Bill Snyder. Even a three-season sabbatical couldn’t diminish Snyder’s accomplishments for Kansas State. His 2003 team earned the school’s only Big 12 football championship, punctuating a run of four-straight bowl appearances to start the decade. After returning, he nearly took the team to another bowl game in his first season back in 2009, pushing the Wildcats into the Big 12 North title hunt until its final game of the season.

Moment of the decade: Kansas State notched a 35-7 victory over Oklahoma to earn the 2003 Big 12 title. The Wildcats overcame an early-season three-game losing streak to finish with a seven-game winning streak capped by the title-game upset over the No. 1 Sooners. Darren Sproles rushed for 235 yards and Ell Roberson threw four touchdowns in the wild upset -- the last time a North team has won the Big 12 championship game.

The Big 12 will be well represented when the NFL holds its scouting combine in Indianapolis.

The official list has not been released, although SportingNews.com has accounted for most of the early players. The list does not include juniors and other players who might be invited late to the festivities, which will begin Feb. 24 in Indianapolis.

I would think Baylor linebacker Joe Pawelek, Baylor safety Jordan Lake and Texas center Chris Hall all will be invited later.

And I would expect eligible juniors such as Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant to get their opportunity at the combine.

Baylor: WR David Gettis, C J.D. Walton.

Colorado: TE Riar Geer.

Iowa State: None.

Kansas: WR Kerry Meier, S Darrell Stuckey.

Kansas State: WR Brandon Banks, TE Jeron Mastrud.

Missouri: WR Danario Alexander, G Kurtis Gregory, WR Jared Perry, LB Sean Weatherspoon.

Nebraska: S Larry Asante, LB Phillip Dillard, C Jacob Hickman, DT Ndamukong Suh.

Oklahoma: RB Chris Brown, TE Brody Eldridge, TE Jermaine Gresham, CB Brian Jackson, T Trent Williams.

Oklahoma State: CB Perrish Cox, T Russell Okung, QB Zac Robinson, RB Keith Toston.

Texas: DT Lamarr Houston, DE Sergio Kindle, QB Colt McCoy, LB Roddrick Muckelroy, WR Jordan Shipley, OT Adam Ulatoski.

Texas A&M: None.

Texas Tech: G Brandon Carter, DB Jamar Wall.

Bill Snyder might never have accomplished more with a team than he did by taking Kansas State within a game of the Big 12 North division title this season.

The Wildcats entered the season with serious questions at quarterback and running back. Snyder plugged in South Florida transfer Grant Gregory at quarterback and converted Northwest Mississippi Community College quarterback Daniel Thomas into a power-running tailback. Both arrived in July, only a few days before spring practice started, but emerged as key players in a 6-6 season.

But Snyder, who returned to coaching after a three-season sabbatical, cobbled together a team that had legitimate North Division championship hopes until a late-season tailspin doomed them.

The Wildcats started the season with a 2-2 nonconference record that included road losses to UCLA and Louisiana-Lafayette.

But they returned to claim a tight 24-23 victory over Iowa State that was settled on a blocked extra point. And Snyder’s resilient bunch bounced back from a 52-point loss at Texas Tech to notch a 48-point victory over Texas A&M.

Kick returner/receiver Brandon Banks developed into KSU’s prime offensive playmaker and tied the Big 12 career record for kickoff returns for touchdowns. But when he wasn't involved the offense lagged miserably.

The Wildcats’ defense ranked in the top 20 nationally in turnover margin and rushing. But Snyder couldn’t overcome his sputtering offense against the best opponents. Among KSU’s six victories, only Tennessee Tech had a winning record.

Offensive MVP: RB Daniel Thomas

Thomas was projected as a quarterback by most scouting services when he arrived at Kansas State. But after switching to running back, he emerged as the Wildcats’ most consistent offensive threat and the focal point of the Wildcats’ offense. Thomas led the league with 1,265 rushing yards, 247 attempts, 11 rushing touchdowns and 105.4 yards per game, accounting for more than 100 rushing yards in five different games.

Defensive MVP: S Tysyn Hartman

The sophomore safety was KSU’s catalyst in the secondary with a team-leading five interceptions, 54 tackles and six pass deflections. His importance could be seen when he was injured early in the third quarter against Nebraska. While Hartman was being treated along the sidelines, Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee took advantage of the weak middle of the Wildcats’ defense on a two-play scoring drive that clinched the game and ended the Wildcats’ bowl and title game hopes.

Turning point: Nov. 14 vs. Missouri

The Wildcats returned home in first place in the North Division with two games remaining. Instead, offensive woes bit them in a 38-12 loss to Missouri in which they only scored four field goals. It got worse the following week in a 17-3 season-ending loss to Nebraska where the lingering offensive slump kept the Wildcats from making either a championship game or a bowl appearance.

What’s next?

The lack of bowl practice is a critical loss for Snyder, who is using the time away from game preparations to scour the nation for junior college players. Prime producers like Banks, Gregory, tight end Jeron Mastrud, tackle Nick Stringer and defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald all will depart the program. Snyder is excited about the possibilities of Oregon transfer Chris Harper to challenge Carson Coffman at quarterback. But he needs more talent -- particularly offensively -- to narrow the gap with teams like Nebraska and Missouri.

Texas coach Mack Brown, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh were announced today as the Big 12's coach of the year, offensive player of the year and defensive player of the year.

McCoy and Suh also were the only two unanimous first-team selections to the All-Big 12 team picked by coaches.

McCoy becomes the fourth Texas player to be selected as offensive player and the third Longhorn quarterback. Previous Texas selections included Ricky Williams (1997 and 1998), Major Applewhite (1999) and Vince Young (2005).

Suh becomes the second Nebraska defensive player to be honored, joining Grant Wistrom (1996 and 1997).

And Brown earns his second coach of the year honors after winning it in 2005.

One interesting note that shows the balance in the conference this season is that every team in the league was represented by at least one player on the first-team squad.

Coaches also announced their All-Big 12 teams. They were forbidden from voting for their own players.

Here's a list of the award winners, as selected by the league's coaches

Coach of the Year: Mack Brown, Texas

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Offensive Freshman of the Year: Christine Michael, Texas A&M

Defensive Freshman of the Year: Aldon Smith, Missouri

Special Teams Player of the Year: Brandon Banks, Kansas State

Defensive Newcomer of the Year: David Sims, Iowa State

Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State

Defensive Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Offensive Player of the Year: Colt McCoy, Texas

And here's a look at who the coaches chose for their first-team offensive and defensive units.

OFFENSE:

QB: Colt McCoy, Texas

RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State

RB: Keith Toston, Oklahoma State

FB: Bryant Ward, Oklahoma State

WR: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

WR: Jordan Shipley, Texas

WR: Danario Alexander, Missouri

TE: Jeron Mastrud, Kansas State

OL: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State *

OL: Trent Williams, Oklahoma *

OL: Nick Stringer, Kansas State

OL: Brandon Carter, Texas Tech

OL: Nate Solder, Colorado

K: Grant Ressel, Missouri

KR/PR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State

DEFENSE

DL: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

DL: Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma *

DL: Von Miller, Texas A&M

DL: Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech

DL: Jared Crick, Nebraska

LB: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri *

LB: Jesse Smith, Iowa State

LB: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

DB: Earl Thomas, Texas

DB: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State

DB: Larry Asante, Nebraska

DB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

DB: Dominique Franks, Oklahoma

P: Derek Epperson, Baylor

Note: Bold notations are unanimous selections. Those selections with an asterisk are repeat choices from last season.

I was a little disappointed that the coaches can make a decision to pick a fullback as a specific positional choice and then not designate one of the picks specifically for a center. Every team in the league has a center. Not every team in the Big 12 has a true fullback that plays the majority of his snaps.

Also, it's an age-old pet peeve of mine that they don't break down the defensive choices into specific positions like ends, tackles, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.

Here's a link to the Big 12's web site for a complete listing of the first-team, second-team and honorable mention choices.

Texas tackle Adam Ulatoski and defensive end Sam Acho were chosen for ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-America team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Ulatoski is a graduate student with a 3.53 grade-point average while majoring in corporate communications and advertising. Acho, a junior, has a 3.62 grade-point average in honors business.

Kansas State tight end Jeron Mastrud and Baylor linebacker Joe Pawelek were chosen for the second team. Mastrud, a senior, has a 3.81 grade-point average while majoring in management. And Pawelek, a senior, has a 3.71 grade-point average in finance/economics.

I've met and interviewed all four of these players over the course of their careers. All of them richly deserve their honors.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Fifteen Big 12 players, including quarterbacks Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Todd Reesing of Kansas, were selected Thursday on the 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District team.

The Big 12 area includes two districts with South teams in District 6 and North teams in District 7.

Players who were selected to the first team will be placed on the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.

Here's the list of players who were selected.

Big 12 players on 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District teams DISTRICT 6 FIRST TEAM Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown GPA Major QB Sam Bradford Oklahoma Jr. Oklahoma City, Okla. 3.94 Finance WR Alex Torres Texas Tech So. El Paso, Texas 3.34 Business OL Will Harvey Texas Sr. Houston, Texas 3.52 Finance OL Adam Ulatoski Texas Gr. Southlake, Texas 3.53 Corp. Comm. (BA); Adv. (MA) DB Cody Davis Texas Tech So. Stephenville, Texas 3.61 Business LB Joe Pawelek Baylor Sr. San Antonio, Texas 3.71 Finance / economics DL Sam Acho Texas Jr. Dallas, Texas 3.62 Honors business DL Jason Lamb Baylor Sr. Richardson, Texas 3.33 Mgmt / HR mgmt. P Derek Epperson Baylor Jr. Southlake, Texas 3.47 Management / MIS DISTRICT 7 FIRST TEAM Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown GPA Major QB Todd Reesing Kansas Sr. Austin, Texas 3.64 Finance & economics TE Jeron Mastrud Kansas State Sr. Beaverton, Ore. 3.81 Management OL Kurtis Gregory Missouri Gr. Blackburn, Mo. 3.48 Agriculture OL Nate Solder Colorado Jr. Buena Vista, Colo. 3.45 Biology DB Austin Cassidy Nebraska So. Lincoln, Neb. 3.84 Psychology LB Drew Dudley Kansas Jr. College Station, Texas 3.67 Civil engineering

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Eight Big 12 players, including Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing, are among the semifinalists announced today for the William V. Campbell Award presented by the National Football Foundation.

The award was previously known as the Draddy Award and has been considered the "academic Heisman Trophy."

Big 12 nominees include:

• Baylor linebacker Joe Pawelek
• Colorado fullback Jake Behrens
• Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing
• Kansas State tight end Jeron Mastrud
• Missouri guard Kurtis Gregory
• Nebraska wide receiver Wes Cammack
• Oklahoma defensive end Auston English
• Texas quarterback Colt McCoy

Players are nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each. Semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.

The 15 finalists will be announced on Oct. 29 and will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The winner of the Campbell Award will be announced at the National Football Foundation's annual awards dinner in New York City on Dec. 8.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Five Big 12 tight ends were on the 2009 watch list for the John Mackey Award presented each season to the nation's top tight end.

Four of the Big 12 players will be able to play this season. Texas tight end Blaine Irby, another member on the list released Wednesday, will miss the season after he has been slow to recover from a dislocated right knee.

Other Big 12 players on the Mackey watch list include Colorado senior Riar Geer, Oklahoma senior Jermaine Gresham, Kansas State senior Jeron Mastrud and Nebraska junior Mike McNeill.

The award is presented by the Nassau County Sports Commission and will be announced on Dec. 10.

Two Big 12 players have previous won the Mackey Award since it debuted in 2000. Daniel Graham of Colorado won the award in 2001 and Chase Coffman of Missouri won it in 2008.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Three schools have decided on the players who will join their head coaches at next week's Big 12 media days in Irving, Texas.

Texas A&M, Kansas State and Texas made their decisions and the players were announced by the conference late Friday afternoon.

Here's the list:

Texas A&M (Monday): Coach Mike Sherman, QB Jerrod Johnson, S Trent Hunter, T Lucas Patterson.

Kansas State (Wednesday): Coach Bill Snyder, QB Carson Coffman, TE Jeron Mastrud, LB Alex Hrebec.

Texas (Wednesday): Coach Mack Brown, QB Colt McCoy, WR Jordan Shipley, LB Roddrick Muckelroy.

Considering that all three teams will be bringing their projected starting quarterbacks, I'm betting that few media members will be disappointed about these choices.