The media preseason all-Big 12 football team was voted on and published a few weeks ago, and I was surprised to see that not one K-State Wildcat was selected. It is odd, considering K-State is one of the contenders to win the league this fall.

Curiously, the following programs had more than two players selected:

Oklahoma State: 6
Arizona: 5
Iowa State: 3
Colorado: 3
Utah: 3
Texas Tech: 2
UCF: 2
Cincinnati: 2
The University of Kansas: 2

Hopefully, K-State’s players take it to heart and try to prove on the field this season that they belong on the list. There are between five and ten players on the roster who have a great shot at being selected first-team all-Big 12 after the conclusion of the regular season. Here are those most likely to be on that post-season team.

Avery Johnson, QB

There is no doubt there are some good quarterbacks in the Big 12, but Avery Johnson is among the best. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders was the preseason pick for first-team quarterback. He led the Buffaloes to a 4-8 record last season, 1-8 in the Pac 12. Sanders had 3,230 yards last season, with 27 touchdowns and three interceptions. The yardage was good enough for fifth in the Pac-12. I guess the media thinks he will dominate in the Big 12. I do not see it happening, but I could be proven wrong. I think it is much more likely that Avery Johnson has a season worthy of being a first-team all-Big 12 quarterback. The New York Post published an article this week saying they believe Johnson will win the Heisman. Johnson also has the best odds to win the Heisman of any Big 12 quarterback. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is tied for second-best odds with Sanders, but Daniels has not proved he can stay healthy for an entire season. So give me Johnson over Daniels or Sanders.

Austin Moore. LB

Moore was second-team all-Big 12 by the coaches in 2023. He tied for the team lead in tackles with 63 and led the team in tackles for loss with 12.5. Oklahoma State’s Nickolas Martin and Collin Oliver were selected to the preseason all-Big 12 team along with Arizona’s Jacob Manu. Martin led the Big 12 in tackles in 2023 by a wide margin, with 140. Manu had 105 tackles for Arizona last season. Oliver was second-team all-Big 12 in 2023. Moore may have a tough time breaking into the first-team linebacker spot, but he is poised to have a big season and might just do it.

DJ Giddens, RB

Giddens will compete with Dylan Edwards and Avery Johnson for rushing opportunities, but he might be ready for a breakout year. Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon and Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks were the preseason first-team running backs, and both deserve that honor. Gordon was the top running back in the league in 2023 (1,732 yards), and Brooks (1,538) was second. Giddens was seventh with 1,226 yards.

Jacob Parrish, CB

Parrish was selected honorable mention all-Big 12 in 2023. He tied for fourth in the Big 12 in interceptions. If he continues his upward trajectory, he will be in the running for a first-team spot.

Marques Sigle, S

Sigle was honorable mention all-Big 12 in 2023 and tied for the team lead in tackles with 63. He was impressive and will be a key player on K-State’s defense in 2024. Look for him to earn some post-season accolades.

Uso Seumalo, DT

Seumalo is my dark horse pick. He was also an honorable mention all-Big 12 pick in 2023 despite missing the last two games due to injury. If he stays healthy, he will be considered for some post-season awards again this year. He is listed at 6’3” and 339 pounds, making him the beefiest of all the preseason first-team defensive tackle selections.

Jayce Brown, WR

Jayce Brown is another dark horse, but with how he came on at the end of the season, maybe he is not so much of a dark horse anymore. He started the final six games of the 2023 season and had 437 yards and three touchdowns on 27 catches. He had 16.2 yards per reception, ranked number one nationally among true Freshmen. Avery Johnson and Brown have great chemistry together, and I believe Brown will be his go-to receiver early and often.

It is a good bet that at least one, or many, of these players will be first-team all-Big 12 at the end of the season, especially if the Wildcats are in contention for a league title. There are a few more players that could jump up and contend for a spot on the first team, but these are probably the most likely.