TCU Duo Named AP Big 12 Players of the Year
12/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Associated Press has named TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin the unanimous selection for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, while Horned Frogs' linebacker Paul Dawson is the Defensive Player of the Year.
The AP panel consists of 20 sportswriters who cover the Big 12 from the conference's five states.
TCU is the first school since 2008 to sweep the Big 12 Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year Awards. It's just the fourth time it's happened in conference history.
Joining Boykin and Dawson on the first team were safeties Sam Carter and Chris Hackett. Dawson was the lone unanimous selection on the first-team defense. Offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje, center Joey Hunt, defensive tackle Chucky Hunter and place-kicker Jaden Oberkrom were second-team picks.
A finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award and Manning Award, Boykin tops the Big 12 and is third nationally in total offense (363.0 yards per game). He is on pace to become just the third quarterback since 2009 to average over 300 yards passing (309.5) and 50 yards rushing (53.5). The other two were Heisman Trophy winners Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel.
Boykin has set TCU single-season records for passing yards (3,714), touchdown passes (30), total offense (4,356) and touchdowns responsible for (39).
A Dallas native, Boykin is second on the Horned Frogs with 642 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on a 4.5 per carry mark.
Boykin was the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week after his TCU-record seven touchdown passes and 433 yards passing in an 82-27 win over Texas Tech.
Dawson is the lone player in the nation with at least 100 tackles (128), five sacks and four interceptions. He has 18 1/2 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, five pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.
Dawson has been in double figures in tackles in nine of 12 games this season. His 128 stops are just three shy of Martin Patterson (131, 2004) for the most by a Horned Frog in the 14-season tenure of head coach Gary Patterson.
