Big 12 Media Selects Four Huskers to 2010 All-Big 12 Preseason Team

The Big 12 media released their 2010 preseason team, picking four Huskers in the process. 

Jared Crick tied with Texas A&M's Von Miller for defensive player of the year awards, while Alex Henery gets the nod at placekicker and Prince Amukamara is selected in the defensive secondary. All of those make sense - each one of those players is the best (or damned close to it) in the conference. 

I'll admit I was surprised to see Mike McNeill selected. I think the general feeling about McNeill is that he disappeared at times last season, having no receptions against Baylor and Texas and only one reception each against Virginia Tech, Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado. Despite those, he finished with (only) 259 yards and four touchdowns. If you look at Nebraska with a historical perspective, his 28 receptions were pretty good for a tight end, though, and he did finish 2009 as the second-leading receiver. 

I haven't seen this mentioned, but unless he's  injured or thrown off the team, McNeill should set the all-time reception record for tight ends this season. He enters 2010 with 61 receptions - just four shy of Matt Herian's 65 career receptions. 

Let's move on to Jared Crick. So far, he's probably gotten more accolades than Ndamukong Suh did coming into last season (I'm not looking that up, just guessing). There will be an amazing amount of pressure on him to prove that he's worth all the hype. The Washington game looms large for Crick - nothing would garner more attention than having him pound first-round NFL quarterback prospect Jake Locker into the turf. 

Amukamara  - the Prince picked off five balls in 2009, second only to Matt O'Hanlon's six. If the Husker defense is (somehow) going to be better in 2010, expect an active secondary. Idaho, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Texas A&M - Amukamara will get his chances. 

Then there's Henery. Not sure what you can say about him except that he darned well better win some awards this season. If the Lou Groza people don't take into account his work as a punter - well, maybe they should. Same for those Ray Guy people. The best thing that could happen this season is that Henery's point total drops unless the points are coming from PATs. If the Husker fans have to rely on field goals the whole season, it's doubtful the team will have the season the fans want them to have. 

A couple more things of note. I expected to see Nate Solder selected on the offensive line, but Ryan Miller is a bit of a surprise, maybe because Colorado's offense was so inept that it's amazing that the media would select two Buff offensive linemen. If you're going to do that, hell, why not put Ricky Henry or Keith Williams up there? He developed into a strong guard last season. 

Three defensive backs from Texas? Really? Probably the right choices, although the conference does have a number of exceptional secondaries. Nebraska's is pretty awesome. Colorado's isn't bad, although you might not be able to tell this season if the team falls apart under Dan Hawkins. Oklahoma is pretty solid, and Kansas State is pretty decent as well. Still - three from Texas? Really? 

Texas' offense may struggle, but teams will find it difficult scoring against them. Maybe karma will give them a horrible offense so we can spend our last season in the Big 12 making fun of them. That'd be sweet, eh? 

What'd all y'all think of these preseason selections? Who got missed? Who got dissed? 

2010 Media Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team

^ 2009 Preseason Team

* 2009 All-Big 12 First Team selection

# 2009 All-Big 12 Second Team selection

Ties in voting created an additional spot at offensive line, defensive back and linebacker.

Unanimous selections: DL - Jared Crick (NU) and Jeremy Beal (OU); LB - Travis Lewis (OU)