Oklahoma dominates all-Big 12 team

Sooners take nine spots on first unit; no other school lands more than four

? Chalk up another dominating win for the Oklahoma Sooners.

After convincing every one of their No. 1 status during an undefeated season, top-ranked Oklahoma trampled the competition again in the voting for The Associated Press All-Big 12 team.

Consider:

  • There are nine Sooners on the 26-member first team. No other school had more than four. The entire North division had eight.
  • Of the five players elected unanimously, four play for Oklahoma. That includes quarterback Jason White, the AP’s offensive player of the year, and cornerback Derrick Strait, the AP’s defensive player of the year.
  • Of the eight first-teamers who return from last year’s squad, four are Sooners. That includes the other two unanimous picks from Oklahoma, offensive lineman Jammal Brown and linebacker Teddy Lehman. Lehman gets extra kudos for being an unanimous choice both years.
  • Oklahoma honorees are spread all over the field. There are three on offense (OL, QB, WR), five on defense (DL, LB, DB) and one special teamer (K Trey DiCarlo).
  • Sooners filled three of the four spots on the defensive line: Tommie Harris (who made first-team for a third straight year), Dan Cody and Dusty Dvoracek.
  • Eighteen Oklahoma players received votes, including Gayron Allen, who began the season as a third-string linebacker. Antonio Perkins is only counted once, although he was named second-team all-purpose for his punt returning and honorable mention at defensive back.

The AP squad was picked through a vote of 19 sports writers who regularly cover the league for newspapers throughout the league’s seven states.

Oklahoma’s nine first-teamers matches the most by one school on the AP All-Big 12 team. Kansas State did it in 1998.

The Sooners were the second team to sweep the top individual honorees, with White and Strait, plus Bob Stoops receiving coach of the year. Oklahoma did it first in 2000.

With so much talent, it’s little wonder the Sooners (12-0) are almost assured a spot in the national championship game. They can clinch it by beating No. 13 K-State (10-3) in the league title game Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

The Wildcats go in with three first-teamers: center Nick Leckey, who earned that spot last year, too; running back Darren Sproles, the only non-Sooner unanimously chosen; and linebacker Josh Buhl.

The second-most honorees came from two teams that fell shy of their preseason hopes, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. Both had four players recognized.

The Cowboys were represented by returning first-teamer Rashaun Woods at receiver; Greg Richmond, the only non-Sooner on the defensive line; running back Tatum Bell and defensive back Darrent Williams.

The Cornhuskers chosen were offensive lineman Richie Incognito, linebacker Demorrio Williams, defensive back Josh Bullocks and punter Kyle Larson.