Three Sooners Named to AP All-Big 12 First Team

Originally Published: Dec 3, 2009 5:38 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma – Three Oklahoma players were named to the Associated Press All-Big 12 team announced Thursday.

OU’s defensive line was its strongest unit all season, and it was rewarded with first-team selections for tackle Gerald McCoy and end Jeremy Beal. Offensive lineman Trent Williams joined the two defensive players on the first team.

The selections on the first team were spread among all 12 conference teams. Every team had at least one player on the first team, and only Nebraska, Colorado and Texas A&M failed to have two selections.

Texas led the conference with four first-team selections, including unanimous selections for quarterback Colt McCoy and safety Earl Thomas. The other unanimous selections were Oklahoma State offensive lineman Russell Okung, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndomukong Suh, and Missouri wide receiver Danario Alexander and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.

OU tied for the conference lead with five players on the second team: receiver Ryan Broyles, linebacker Travis Lewis, cornerbacks Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson, and punter Tress Way.

Six other Sooners received honorable mention by the AP: offensive linemen Brody Eldridge and Jarvis Jones, running back DeMarco Murray, defensive tackle Adrian Taylor, and linebackers Keenan Clayton and Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Broyles was also mentioned again, this time for his punt and kick return abilities.

A total of eight of the Sooners' 11 defensive starters were named by the AP in some capacity.