Dorance Armstrong Jr. named All-Big 12 first-teamer by AP

Wise and Smithson make second team

Dorance Armstrong, Jr.

After surfacing as one of the most unstoppable defensive players in the conference this fall, Kansas sophomore defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. landed on the Associated Press All-Big 12 first team for 2016.

A 6-foot-4, 246-pound lineman from Houston, Armstrong led the league in tackles for loss (20.0) while playing on the edge for the Jayhawks. The powerful and swift end also ranked second in the Big 12 in sacks (10.0), trailing only Kansas State senior defensive end Jordan Willis (11.5), who the AP selected as the conference’s defensive player of the year.

While Armstrong became the only representative form KU (2-10 overall, 1-8 Big 12) on the first team, two of his teammates earned all-league distinctions, too. A fellow sophomore, and often the defensive lineman Armstrong lined up next to, Daniel Wise was named to the AP’s second team at tackle. At safety, senior Fish Smithson earned a second-team spot.

In 11 games this season, Wise, a 6-3, 285-pound lineman from Lewisville, Texas, made 38 total tackles and 10.0 tackles for loss. The interior defender also recorded three sacks and blocked two kicks for the Jayhawks, and recovered a fumble.

Just as he did as a junior, Smithson led KU in tackles during his final season in the program. Smithson totaled 93 stops, making 70 solo tackles. The 5-11, 190-pound defensive back from Baltimore also led Kansas with seven pass breakups and four interceptions. Smithson forced two fumbles, made 2.5 tackles for loss and had a sack and fumble recovery, as well.

2016 ALL-BIG 12 FOOTBALL (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, 6-1, 210, Jr., Austin, Texas.

Running backs — D’Onta Foreman, Texas, 6-1, 249, Jr., Texas City, Texas; Joe Mixon, Oklahoma, 6-1, 226, So., Oakley, California.

Tackles — Connor Williams, Texas, 6-6, 288, So., Coppell, Texas; Orlando Brown, Oklahoma, 6-8, 340, So., Duluth, Georgia.

Guards — Terrale Johnson, Kansas State, 6-1, 312, Sr., Manhattan, Kansas; Kyle Bosch, West Virginia, 6-5, 310, Jr., St. Charles, Illinois.

Center — Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia, 6-4, 296, Sr., Cleveland.

Receivers — Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 6-0, 175, Sr., Cameron, Texas; James Washington, Oklahoma State, 6-0, 205, Jr., Stamford, Texas.

Tight end — Mark Andrews, Oklahoma, 6-5, 250, So., Scottsdale, Arizona.

All-purpose player — Shelton Gibson, West Virginia, 5-11, 195, Jr., Cleveland.

Kicker — Cole Netten, Iowa State, 6-1, 210, Sr., Ankeny, Iowa.

DEFENSE

Ends — Jordan Willis, Kansas State, 6-5, 258, Sr., Kansas City; Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas, 6-5, 246, So., Houston.

Tackles — Vincent Taylor, Oklahoma State, 6-3, 310, Jr., San Antonio; Will Geary, Kansas State, 6-0, 298, Jr., Topeka, Kansas.

Linebackers — Travin Howard, TCU, 6-1, 210, Jr., Longview, Texas; Elijah Lee, Kansas State, 6-3, 228, Jr., Blue Springs, Missouri; Jordan Evans, Oklahoma, 6-2, 235, Sr., Norman, Oklahoma.

Cornerbacks — Rasul Douglas, West Virginia, 6-2, 208, Sr., East Orange, New Jersey; Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma, 6-0, 192, Jr., Klein, Texas.

Safeties — Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State, 6-0, 200, Sr., Cibolo, Texas; Orion Stewart, Baylor, 6-2, 205, Sr., Waco, Texas.

Punter — Michael Dickson, Texas, 6-2, 209, So., Sydney, Australia.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech, 6-3, 230, Jr., Whitehouse, Texas.

Running backs — Samaje Perine, Oklahoma, 5-10, 235, Jr., Pflugerville, Texas; Justin Crawford, West Virginia, 6-1, 190, Jr., Columbus, Georgia.

Tackles — Dalton Risner, Kansas State; 6-5, 300, So., Wiggins, Colorado; Victor Salako, Oklahoma, 6-6, 335, Sr., Huntsville, Alabama.

Guards — Ben Powers, Oklahoma, 6-4, 315, So., Wichita, Kansas; Adam Pankey, West Virginia, 6-5, 316, Sr., Hamilton, Ohio.

Center –Kyle Fuller, Baylor, 6-5, 315, Sr., Wylie, Texas.

Receivers — Jonathan Giles, Texas Tech, 5-11, 185, So., Missouri City, Texas; KD Cannon, Baylor, 6-0, 180, Jr., Mount Pleasant, Texas.

Tight end — Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State, 6-5, 248, Sr., Tuttle, Oklahoma.

All-purpose player — Joe Mixon, 6-1, 226, So., Oakley, California.

Kicker — Ben Grogan, Oklahoma St., 6-1, 190, Sr., Arlington, Texas.

DEFENSE

Ends — Josh Carraway, TCU, 6-4, 250, Sr., Flower Mound, Texas; Breckyn Hager, Texas, 6-3, 227, So., Austin, Texas.

Tackles — Daniel Wise, Kansas, 6-3, 285, So., Lewisville, Texas; Aaron Curry, TCU, 6-2, 270, Sr., Keller, Texas.

Linebackers — Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma, 6-2, 245, Jr., Houston; Devante Averette, Oklahoma St., 6-11, 230, Sr., Detroit; Malik Jefferson, Texas, 6-3, 238, So., Mesquite, Texas.

Cornerbacks — Ranthony Texada, TCU, 5-10, 170, Jr., Frisco, Texas; D.J. Reed, Kansas State, 5-9, 188, So., Bakersfield, California.

Safeties — Denzel Johnson, TCU, 6-2, 210, Sr., Gainesville, Texas; Fish Smithson, Kansas, 5-11, 190, Sr., Baltimore.

Punter — Zach Sinor, Oklahoma State, 5-10, 215, So., Castroville, Texas.