Ben Heeney Named to 2014 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas senior linebacker Ben Heeney was named to the 2014 Preseason All-Big 12 Football team as selected by members of the media and announced by the league office on Wednesday.
Heeney, who was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection in 2013, is heading into 2014 as the conference’s leading returning tackler. Last year the Hutchinson, Kansas native recorded a team-high 88 tackles and finished fourth in the conference with 8.7 tackles-per-game. Heeney also recorded double-digit tackles in six of his 10 games played a season ago and is one of six active linebackers with 200 tackles and 20 tackles for loss in the last two seasons.
Heeney’s selection to the All-Big 12 team comes on the heels of six other preseason awards he has garnered in 2014 as he was named preseason All-Big 12 First Team by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Magazine and was selected to the preseason watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik, Butkus and Rotary Lombardi Awards, as well as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while TCU defensive lineman Devonte Fields was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year. Oklahoma State wide receiver Tyreek Hill was selected as the Newcomer of the Year.
The annual Big 12 Football Media Days will be held in Irving, Texas, July 21-22 with Kansas taking part on Monday, July 21. Heeney will be joined at media day by wide receiver Nick Harwell, tight end Jimmay Mundine and safety Cassius Sendish, all of whom are seniors. Live video coverage will be featured each day on Big12Sports.com and KU’s participants can be tracked by following @KU_Football on twitter or by visiting KUAthletics.com.
The Jayhawks are set to begin the 2014 slate Sept. 6, as they play host to Southeast Missouri State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium.
Kansas football season ticket packages for all six home games are available for as low as $99, as well as a three-game mini pack (Southeast Missouri State, Texas and Oklahoma State) with Tier 2 seating for $145. Information on all available packages is available by visiting OneTeamOneChant.com or KUAthletics.com.
Offensive Player of the Year: Bryce Petty, Baylor, QB
Defensive Player of the Year: Devonte Fields, TCU, DL
Newcomer of the Year: Tyreek Hill, Oklahoma State, WR
Offense
| Position | Name | School | Ht. | Wt. | Class/Exp. | Hometown |
| Wide Receiver | ~Antwon Goodley | Baylor | 5-11 | 225 | Sr/3L | Midland, Texas |
| Tight End | !E.J. Bibbs | Iowa State | 6-3 | 261 | Sr/1L | Chicago, Ill. |
| Offensive Line | ~Spencer Drango | Baylor | 6-6 | 305 | Jr/2L | Cedar Park, Texas |
| Offensive Line | !Cody Whitehair | Kansas State | 6-4 | 309 | Jr/2L | Abilene, Kan. |
| Center | ~B.J. Finney | Kansas State | 6-4 | 303 | Sr/3L | Andale, Kan. |
| Offensive Line | !Daryl Williams | Oklahoma | 6-6 | 329 | Sr/3L | Lake Dallas, Texas |
| Offensive Line | ^!Le’Raven Clark | Texas Tech | 6-5 | 303 | Jr/2L | Rockdale, Texas |
| Wide Receiver | ~Tyler Lockett | Kansas State | 5-11 | 175 | Sr/3L | Tulsa, Okla. |
| Quarterback | ~Bryce Petty | Baylor | 6-3 | 230 | Sr/3L | Midlothian, Texas |
| Running Back | Shock Linwood | Baylor | 5-9 | 200 | So/1L | Linden, Texas |
|
Running Back |
!Malcolm Brown | Texas | 6-0 | 228 | Sr/3L | Cibolo, Texas |
| Place Kicker | !Michael Hunnicutt | Oklahoma | 6-1 | 180 | Sr/3L | Richardson, Texas |
| Kick Returner | ^~Tyler Lockett | Kansas State | 5-11 | 175 | Sr/3L | Tulsa, Okla. |
Defense
| Position | Name | School | Ht. | Wt. | Class/Exp. | Hometown |
| Defensive Line | ~Ryan Mueller | Kansas State | 6-2 | 245 | Sr/3L | Leawood, Kan. |
| Defensive Line | ^#Devonte Fields | TCU | 6-4 | 240 | So/1L | Arlington, Texas |
| Defensive Line | ^Chucky Hunter | TCU | 6-1 | 305 | Sr/3L | West Monroe, La. |
| Defensive Line | ^Cedric Reed | Texas | 6-6 | 271 | Sr/2L | Cleveland, Texas |
| Linebacker | ^Bryce Hager | Baylor | 6-2 | 235 | Sr/3L | Austin, Texas |
| Linebacker | !Ben Heeney | Kansas | 6-0 | 230 | Sr/3L | Hutchinson, Kan. |
| Linebacker | !Eric Striker | Oklahoma | 6-0 | 221 | Jr/2L | Seffner, Fla. |
| Defensive Back | Zack Sanchez | Oklahoma | 5-11 | 179 | So/1L | Keller, Texas |
| Defensive Back | !Sam Carter | TCU | 6-1 | 215 | Sr/3L | New Orleans, La. |
| Defensive Back | ^Quandre Diggs | Texas | 5-10 | 204 | Sr/3L | Angleton, Texas |
| Defensive Back | Karl Joseph | West Virginia | 5-10 | 196 | Jr/2L | Orlando, Fla. |
| Punter | ~Spencer Roth | Baylor | 6-4 | 225 | Sr/3L | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Punt Returner | Levi Norwood | Baylor | 6-2 | 200 | Sr/3L | State College, Pa. |
^ 2013 Preseason Team
~ 2013 All-Big 12 First Team Selection
! 2013 All-Big 12 Second Team Selection
# Injured in 2013
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