🏈 Pooka Williams Jr., Named All-Big 12 First Team by the Associated Press, Hakeem Adeniji Takes Home Second Team Honors

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas sophomore running back Pooka Williams Jr., took home All-Big 12 First Team honors from the Associated Press for the second-consecutive season as the media made their all-conference selections Friday. KU senior offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji was chosen for the All-Big 12 Second Team.

Williams, a New Orleans, native, played a huge part in KU’s productivity on offense as he posted his second-straight 1,000-yard season, becoming just the second player in KU history to do so, joining James Sims (2012-13). He collected 1,061 yards on 203 carries, including three touchdowns. Williams also amassed 214 receiving yards on 27 catches, with two resulting in scores. Williams recorded five 100-yard rushing games on the season, including a season-high 190-yard outing at Texas.

Williams, who earned first-team honors in 2018 as the all-purpose player, is Kansas’ first player to earn AP All-Big 12 honors in back-to-back seasons since Aqib Talib did so in 2006 and 2007. Additionally, he is the first Jayhawk offensive player to earn the honor in consecutive seasons.

Adeniji, an offensive lineman from Garland, Texas, took home Associated Press honors for the first time in his KU career. He tied a KU school record by starting 48-straight games, every game in his career, on the offensive line. Adeniji helped pave the way for the Jayhawks offense to its most productive output in 10 years as it averaged 377.3 yards per game, including three games with more than 500 yards of total offense.

Williams and Adeniji both were tabbed All-Big 12 First Team honorees by the conference coaches in 2019.