Nick KrugKansas University senior linebacker Ben Heeney was named to the 2014 Preseason All-Big 12 football team as selected by members of the media and announced by the league office on Wednesday.
Heeney, who was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection in 2013, is heading into 2014 as the conference’s leading returning tackler. Last year the Hutchinson, Kansas native recorded a team-high 88 tackles and finished fourth in the conference with 8.7 tackles-per-game. Heeney also recorded double-digit tackles in six of his 10 games in 2013 and is one of six active linebackers with 200 tackles and 20 tackles for loss in the last two seasons.
Heeney’s selection to the All-Big 12 team comes on the heels of six other preseason awards he has garnered in 2014. He was named preseason All-Big 12 First Team by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Magazine, and was selected to the preseason watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik, Butkus and Rotary Lombardi Awards, as well as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while TCU defensive lineman Devonte Fields was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year. Oklahoma State wide receiver Tyreek Hill was selected as the Newcomer of the Year.
The annual Big 12 Football Media Days will be held in Irving, Texas, on Monday and Tuesday, with Kansas taking part on the first day. Heeney will be joined at media day by wide receiver Nick Harwell, tight end Jimmay Mundine and safety Cassius Sendish, all of whom are seniors.
OFFENSE
WR – Antwon Goodley, Baylor
TE – E.J. Bibbs, Iowa State
OL – Spencer Drango, Baylor
OL – Cody Whitehair, Kansas State
C – B.J. Finney, Kansas State
OL – Daryl Williams, Oklahoma
OL – Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech
WR – Tyler Lockett, Kansas State
QB – Bryce Petty, Baylor
RB – Shock Linwood, Baylor
RB – Malcolm Brown, Texas
PK – Michale Hunnicutt, Oklahoma
KR – Tyler Lockett, Kansas State
DEFENSE
DL- Ryan Mueller, Kansas State
DL – Devonte Fields, TCU
DL – Chucky Hunter, TCU
DL – Cedric Reed, Texas
LB – Bryce Hager, Baylor
LB – Ben Heeney, Kansas
LB – Eric Striker, Oklahoma
DB – Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma
DB – Sam Carter, TCU
DB – Quandre Diggs, Texas
DB – Karl Joseph, West Virginia
P – SPencer Roth, Baylor
PR – Levi Norwood, Baylor
