Bedlam running backs top preseason All-Big 12 team

Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson and Oklahoma State counterpart Justice Hill highlighted the Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, announced Wednesday by the conference.

The Sooners had six offensive players on the team, with Oklahoma State having three players overall — two on offense and one on defense.

Hill led the Big 12 with 1,467 rushing yards last season, scoring 15 touchdowns on the ground and another receiving.

Anderson ran for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago with five more touchdowns receiving.

The team was chosen by media covering the league.

Oklahoma's offensive contingent includes a pair of offensive linemen — junior tackle Bobby Evans and senior guard Ben Powers. The pair have combined for 48 starts over the last two seasons.

The Sooners are also represented by wide receiver Marquise Brown and tight end Grant Calcaterra.

Brown led the Sooners with 1,095 yards receiving with seven touchdowns. Calcaterra, playing behind Mackey Award winner Mark Andrews at tight end, had 10 catches for 162 yards and three touchdowns.

Oklahoma kicker Austin Seibert earned preseason honors at both kicker and punter. Seibert averaged 42.3 yards per punt with 11 punts of 50 or more yards last year and made 17 of 21 field-goal tries and all 81 of his point-after kicks.

The Sooners do have defensive representation on the list, with freshman defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles named the preseason Newcomer of the Year.

Radley-Hiles, known as "Bookie," is a five-star recruit who made a big impression in the spring.

Oklahoma State also has offensive lineman Marcus Keyes and defensive end Jordan Brailford on the team.

Brailford had 57 tackles, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble a year ago. Keyes started all 13 games at left guard a year ago.

Other preseason honors included West Virginia quarterback Will Grier as Offensive Player of the Year and TCU defensive end Ben Banogu as Defensive Player of the Year.

The conference's preseason media poll will be announced Thursday, with Big 12 Football Media Days scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Frisco, Texas.

Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team

Offense

QB: Will Grier, West Virginia

RB: David Montgomery, Iowa State; Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma; Justice Hill, Oklahoma State

WR: Denzel Mims, Baylor; Marquise Brown, Oklahoma; David Sills V, West Virginia

TE: Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma

OL: Dalton Risner, Kansas State; Bobby Evans, Oklahoma; Ben Powers, Oklahoma; Marcus Keyes, Oklahoma State; Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia

PK: Austin Seibert, Oklahoma

KR/PR: KaVontae Turpin, Oklahoma

Defense

DL: JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State; Daniel Wise, Kansas; Jordan Brailford, Oklahoma State; Ben Banogu, TCU; Breckyn Hager, Texas

LB: Joe Dineen Jr., Kansas; Dakota Allen, Texas Tech; David Long Jr., West Virginia

DB: Brian Peavy, Iowa State; Kendall Adams, Kansas State; Kris Boyd, Texas; Jah'Shawn Johnson, Texas Tech; Justus Parker, Texas Tech

P: Austin Seibert, Oklahoma

Tie created extra running back position