IRVING, Texas – July 17, 2012 - Quarterback Geno Smith (West Virginia), defensive end Alex Okafor (Texas) and wide receiver Trey Metoyer (Oklahoma) were picked for individual awards, highlighting the 2012 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, chosen by media representatives who cover the Conference.

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year was awarded to Smith while Okafor earned the nod for Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Metoyer was chosen Preseason Newcomer of the Year.

Smith will lead West Virginia into its first season of Big 12 football. The 6-3 senior enters the 2012 campaign with 26 consecutive starts. He was an all-conference first team selection last year after leading the Mountaineers to their league title. Smith threw for 4,385 yards in 13 games, the fourth-best total in the NCAA in 2011. He earned Most Valuable Player of the Orange Bowl after setting five of the bowl’s records and four BCS bowl records in WVU’s 70-33 win over Clemson.

Okafor was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection last season as well as an AFCA All-American. He posted 58 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three pass breakups, 17 pressures, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2011 after transitioning back to defensive end from defensive tackle.

Metoyer caught 108 passes for 1,540 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2010 at Whitehouse (Texas) High School. He had at least 15 touchdowns in three straight years of prep ball and was listed as the No. 2 wide receiver recruit in 2011 by Rivals.com.

The media Preseason Big 12 Poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Dallas on July 23-24. Live video coverage, including press conferences and one-on-one interviews with a variety of guests, will be featured both days on the Big 12 Digital Network, including Big12Sports.com.

2012 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Smith, West Virginia (QB, 6-3, 214, Sr/3L, Miami, Fla.)

Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Okafor, Texas (DE, 6-4, 260, Sr/3L, Pflugerville, Texas)

Newcomer of the Year: Trey Metoyer, Oklahoma (WR, 6-1, 190, Fr/HS, Whitehouse, Texas)

Offense

Pos Name School Ht Wt Cl/Exp Hometown

WR Kenny Stills2 Oklahoma 6-1 189 Jr/2L Encinitas, Calif.

TE Jordan Najvar Baylor 6-6 260 Jr/1L Spring, Texas

OL Gabe Ikard1 Oklahoma 6-4 295 Jr/2L Oklahoma City, Okla.

OL Cyril Richardson Baylor 6-5 335 Jr/2L Fort Worth, Texas

C Ben Habern^ Oklahoma 6-4 292 Sr/3L Argyle, Texas

OL LaAdrian Waddle2 Texas Tech 6-6 318 Sr/3L Columbus, Texas

OL Lane Taylor Oklahoma State 6-3 328 Sr/3L Arlington, Texas

WR Tavon Austin West Virginia 5-9 174 Sr/3L Baltimore, Md.

QB Geno Smith West Virginia 6-3 214 Sr/3L Miami, Fla.

RB Joseph Randle2 Oklahoma State 6-1 200 Jr/2L Wichita, Kan.

RB Malcolm Brown Texas 6-0 213 So/1L Cibolo, Texas

PK Quinn Sharp1 Oklahoma State 6-1 205 Sr/3L Mansfield, Texas

KR Tyler Lockett2 Kansas State 5-11 175 So/1L Tulsa, Okla.

Defense

DL Jackson Jeffcoat2 Texas 6-5 250 Jr/2L Plano, Texas

DL Stansly Maponga TCU 6-2 265 Jr/2L Carrollton, Texas

DL Alex Okafor1 Texas 6-4 260 Sr/3L Pflugerville, Texas

DL Jamarkus McFarland Oklahoma 6-2 296 Sr/3L Lufkin, Texas

LB Arthur Brown1 Kansas State 6-1 228 Sr/3L Wichita, Kan.

LB A.J. Klein1 Iowa State 6-2 244 Sr/3L Kimberly, Wis.

LB Jake Knott^2 Iowa State 6-3 239 Sr/3L Waukee, Iowa

DB Brodrick Brown1 Oklahoma State 5-8 185 Sr/3L Houston, Texas

DB Kenny Vaccaro1 Texas 6-1 215 Sr/3L Brownwood, Texas

DB Tony Jefferson Oklahoma 5-10 199 Jr/2L Chula Vista, Calif.

DB Nigel Malone1 Kansas State 5-10 185 Sr/3L Manteca, Calif.

P Quinn Sharp^1 Oklahoma State 6-1 205 Sr/3L Mansfield, Texas

PR Tavon Austin West Virginia 5-9 174 Sr/3L Baltimore, Md.