Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech leads league in first-team All-Big 12 picks, Rodriguez wins DPOY
December 04, 2025 | Football
All Big 12 postseason awards are based on votes of the conference's 16 head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.
This was the first season the Big 12 expanded its selections to a third team, as well as changes to the positional format with the addition of one wide receiver and the transition of a dedicated fullback spot to a tight end/h-back flex spot to better represent those positions on offense. On the defensive side, an additional linebacker spot was added. Special teams was pulled out of the offense and defense categories and into a standalone category. These honorees include one kicker, one punter, one returner, and one specialist, which encompasses a standout from outside those three positions (longsnapper, gunner, etc.).
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| Players of the Year (3) | First-Team (6) | Second-Team (3) | Third-Team (6) | Honorable Mention (8) |
| Defensive Player of the Year, Jacob Rodriguez | DL, David Bailey | RB, Cameron Dickey | OL, Howard Sampson | QB, Behren Morton |
| Defensive Newcomer of the Year, David Bailey | DL, Romello Height | WR, Caleb Douglas | OL, Sheridan Wilson | RB, J'Koby Williams |
| Defensive Lineman of the Year, David Bailey | DL, Lee Hunter | TE, Terrance Carter Jr. | DL, A.J. Holmes | WR, Coy Eakin |
| LB, Jacob Rodriguez | LB, Ben Roberts | WR, Reggie Virgil | ||
| DB, Brice Pollock | Ret., J'Koby Williams | OL, Davion Carter | ||
| K, Stone Harrington | Specialist, Bryce Ramirez | OL, Jacob Ponton | ||
| DB, John Curry | ||||
| DB, Cole Wisniewski |
Jacob Rodriguez, who was tabbed the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, honored those summer voters by his standout senior season to claim the postseason award. Rodriguez is not only the league's top defensive player but a finalist for numerous national player of the year awards, including the Bednarik, Butkus, Lombardi, Nagurski, and Lott awards. On Monday, he was tabbed one of five finalists for the Walter Camp National Player of the Year, and was the lone defensive player in the group. Rodriguez, who was also a first-team linebacker in 2024, becomes the eighth Red Raider in school history to be a multi-year All-Big 12 first team selection and the third from the defensive side of the ball, joining defensive end Montae Reagor (1997, 1998) and safety Kevin Curtis (1999, 2000).
David Bailey, who joined the Red Raiders last spring from Stanford, was an instant contributor, wreaking havoc all season on quarterbacks as he finished the regular season not only leading the league in sacks (12.5), but the nation in that category. Listed as an outside linebacker, Bailey, who plays the edge, was named the Big 12 Lineman of the Year, as well as the Defensive Newcomer of the Year. In addition, he was the only unanimous selection for the All-Big 12 first-team.Â
Joining Rodriguez and Bailey on the first team were defensive linemen Lee Hunter and Romello Height, as well as cornerback Brice Pollock and kicker Stone Harrington.Â
It marks three straight All-Big 12 honors for Hunter, who was a second-team selection in 2024 and named honorable mention in 2023 while a member of the UCF Knights. Height and Pollock, who are new to the league, garnered their first career postseason honors in any league. Meanwhile, Harrington became the third Red Raider place kicker since 2018 to be named a first-team All-Big 12 selection.
To view the complete All-Big 12 team, visit Big12.sports.com.Â
– TECH –
