Jeffcoat Voted AP Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Horns land six on All-League Team

Senior Jackson Jeffcoat was the voted the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year Monday by the Associated Press.

Jeffcoat was one of four Texas players to earn a spot on the AP All-Big 12 First Team, joining OG Trey Hopkins, DE Cedric Reed and PK Anthony Fera. WR Mike Davis and OT Donald Hawkins secured spots on the second team.

Jeffcoat is the third Longhorn to earn AP Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. LB Derrick Johnson won in 2004 and DE Brian Orakpo in 2008.

The four AP first team selections are the most for the Longhorns since 2009 when they also had four. Jeffcoat was one of two unanimous choices to the defense (also TCU CB Jason Verrett).

Jeffcoat leads the team in tackles (80), tackles for loss (21), sacks (12.0), quarterback pressures (18) and fumbles recovered (3). He ranks third in the nation in sacks (1.0 per game) and fifth among defensive linemen in fumbles recovered (0.25 pg). Alex Okafor, who tallied 12.5 last season, is the only other Longhorn to record more sacks than Jeffcoat in the last 29 seasons.

Reed also had an outstanding season, finishing tied for second on the team in tackles (75) and second in both tackles for loss (18) and sacks (9.0). He leads the team in forced fumbles (4) and also has four pass breakups. The junior is one of only four players in the FBS with at least 6.0 sacks, four pass breakups and four forced fumbles this season (also Khalil Mack, Buffalo; Vic Beasley, Clemson; Ryan Mueller, Kansas State).

Hopkins and Hawkins helped the Longhorns rank 36th nationally in rushing offense (197.6 yards per game) and allow just 14 sacks which ranks tied for 17th fewest in the FBS.

Fera is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, which honors the nation’s top place-kicker. He has connected on 20 of 22 field goals (90.9 percent) this season. His percentage ranks tied for the fourth in the nation (minimum 15 attempts) and he matched Phil Dawson’s school record (1996-97) of 15 straight field goals this season. Dawson (1996) was the only other Longhorn to earn AP first team All-Big 12 honors.

Davis is one of the top wide receivers in school history. He ranks fourth on both the UT career receptions list (195) and receiving yards chart (2,741). The senior leads the team this season in receiving yards (715) and receiving touchdowns (8), and is second in receptions (49).

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