Kansas State University Athletics
Willis, Reed and Walker Lead 13 Wildcats Honored by Big 12 Coaches
Dec 07, 2016 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Led by three Wildcats who earned player of the year honors, 13 Kansas State football players earned accolades from the Big 12 as the conference announced the coaches’ All-Big 12 selections and specialty awards on Wednesday.
Senior defensive end Jordan Willis was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in addition to being a unanimous selection on the All-Big 12 First Team. Sophomore defensive back D.J. Reed picked up Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Big 12 honors, while redshirt freshman defensive end Reggie Walker was named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. The four specialty awards by the Wildcats this year improved their total to 17 since the 2011 season, five more than any other team in the league.
In addition to Willis and Reed, K-State’s other First Team All-Big 12 selections included fullback Winston Dimel, offensive lineman Dalton Risner, kick returner Byron Pringle and linebacker Elijah Lee. The six Wildcats on the first team were the second-most to conference champion Oklahoma and marked the second time in the last three years K-State garnered six first-team selections.
Six other Wildcats earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 accolades in defensive back Dante Barnett, defensive tackle Will Geary, kick returner Dominique Heath, linebacker Charmeachealle Moore, offensive lineman Reid Najvar and tight end Dayton Valentine. Pringle was also an honorable mention pick at wide receiver, while Lee picked up votes for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Willis swept Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors from both the coaches and Associated Press. He became the fourth Wildcat to earn the honor from the coaches, joining linebacker Arthur Brown (2012), defensive back Terence Newman (2002) and linebacker Mark Simoneau (1999). A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Willis leads the league and ranks ninth nationally with a school-record tying 11.5 sacks in addition to 16.5 tackles for loss to rank second in the conference and 20th in the country.
Reed, a community-college transfer, picked up the Wildcats’ 11th newcomer of the year honor since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996, a mark that leads the conference, while it was the first since Brown was honored following the 2011 season. The Bakersfield, California, native has totaled a Big 12-leading 18 passes defended to rank fifth in the nation. He has three interceptions this year, including one he returned 35 yards for a touchdown against Texas Tech.
Walker, a product of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, is the Wildcats’ first Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year since Terry Pierce was honored in 2000. The redshirt freshman has 6.5 sacks and 11.0 TFLs to rank fifth and sixth in the Big 12, respectively. His 6.5 sacks also rank second in school history among freshmen.
Dimel is a repeat first-team honoree as he had 12 rushing touchdowns to tie for second in the conference and rank third in school history among sophomores.
A product of Wiggins, Colorado, Risner has led an offensive line that has pushed the Wildcats into the top 10 in several rushing categories, including a first-place ranking in yards per carry (5.26), third in rushing yards per game (232.9), fourth in total rushing yards (2,795) and seventh in rushing touchdowns (36).
Pringle, a community-college transfer, leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth nationally with a 28.7-yard average on kickoff returns, which is highlighted by a 99-yard touchdown against Texas Tech. The Tampa, Florida, native sits fifth in school history in total kickoff return yards (659) and ninth in average.
Lee, a native of Blue Springs, Missouri, leads the team with 98 tackles this year, including 5.5 TFLs and three interceptions. He ranks fifth in the Big 12 in tackles, while he now has five career interceptions, the most by a linebacker under head coach Bill Snyder.
Riding momentum by winning five of its last six, Kansas State (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) will take on Texas A&M (8-4 SEC) in the 2016 AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on Wednesday, December 28. It is the 20th bowl game in school history and the 18th under Snyder. The game kicks off at 8 p.m., and will be shown to a national audience on ESPN, while it can be heard across the K-State Sports Network and on ESPN Radio.
Public tickets for K-State fans are still available at the K-State Online Ticket Office and through the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum or via phone at 1-800-221-CATS. Fans are strongly encouraged to order through K-State’s official allotment to ensure that all Wildcat fans are seated in the official K-State sections of the stadium. The location for K-State’s ticket allotment at the Texas Bowl is among the best of any bowl game with prime sideline seating locations available for $85.
Student tickets, priced at $85, will go on sale at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday to ICAT members, while all remaining students can purchase tickets beginning Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Coaches’ All-Big 12 Teams (Kansas State)
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan Willis (DE).
Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year: D.J. Reed (DB).
Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year: Reggie Walker (DE).
Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year: Jordan Willis (DE).
First Team: Winston Dimel (FB), Dalton Risner (OL), Byron Pringle (KR/PR), Jordan Willis (DE), Elijah Lee (LB) and D.J. Reed (DB).
Honorable Mention: Dante Barnett (DB), Will Geary (DL), Dominique Heath (KR/PR), Elijah Lee (Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year), Charmeachealle Moore (LB), Reid Najvar (OL), Byron Pringle (WR) and Dayton Valentine (TE).
