The list provides yet another indication of the talent drain from the 2014 team in terms of proven players since there aren’t many other candidates to make this list.
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Returning Offensive Player of the Year, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin, is the preseason pick for the same honor, while Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The five selections tied OU with TCU for the second most in the league, trailing only Baylor’s seven honorees. He set a new NCAA single-game rushing mark with 427 yards against Kansas. Despite the missed time, Shepard ranked sixth in the Big 12 in receiving yards per game (80.8 avg.) and eighth in receiving yards while leading the Sooners in every major receiving statistic.
Shepard caught 51 passes for 970 yards last season for OU, despite missing five regular-season games with an injury. His two touchdown returns tied for the most in the country in 2014, and his 31.2 average per kick return was third best in the nation.
The Big 12 announced the media’s pre-season All Big 12 selections today.
If you’re looking for West Virginia snubs-and really, how much of a snub can it be considering it’s the postseason team that actually matters-the only one may be junior Daryl Worley.
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Lambert is on the preseason Lou Groza Award Watch List after being named a finalist for the honor in his sophomore season. His six interceptions ranked second in the Big 12 and 13th nationally. A native of Longview, Texas, Robertson is already a member of the Butkus Award watch list (nation’s top linebacker) and is also a candidate for two national defensive player of the year awards in the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
