Kansas football players weren’t surprised when junior defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. was recently named the Big 12’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Jayhawks, and opponents across the conference, saw Armstrong’s ability to disrupt plays throughout the 2016 season and they expect him to only improve this fall.

“First of all, his work ethic is crazy,” KU linebacker Joe Dineen said. “Nothing he’s got is just because it fell in his lap. He’s worked for everything that he has gotten. But he’s got speed, strength, all of the moves you need. He’s legit D-end and he’s going to find himself in NFL one day getting paid to do that.”

Armstrong finished his sophomore season with 10 sacks, the most by a KU player since 2008, and 79 total tackles. He was one of three unanimous preseason all-Big 12 selections, and the only unanimous choice on the defense.

“He’s got really long arms, really good size,” said Oklahoma offensive tackle Orlando Brown, a unanimous preseason all-Big 12 pick. “His first step is really good. He’s a guy in college that you very rarely see.”