Andrew Buie (West Virginia), Alex Okafor (Texas) and Tavon Austin (West Virginia) have been named Big 12 Football Players of the Week, as selected by a media panel. Austin (special teams) was recognized for the second time this season after picking up offensive player of the week honors on Sept. 24. Buie (offense) and Okafor (defense) earned awards for the first time.
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Andrew Buie, West Virginia, RB, So, Jacksonville, Fla.
Andrew Buie rushed for a career-high 207 yards on 31 carries in West Virginia's 48-45 win at Texas. He averaged 6.7 yards per touch in his first game of running for over 100 yards. The sophomore picked up first downs on eight of his runs and had seven that went for at least 10 yards, including three of 20-plus yards. Buie also caught three passes for 66 yards to register 281 all-purpose yards on the night.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Alex Okafor, Texas, DE, Sr, Pflugerville, Texas
Alex Okafor had two sacks, two forced fumbles, blocked a field goal and had three quarterback pressures in Texas' three-point loss to West Virginia. Prior to the game, the Mountaineers had allowed just four sacks in four games. Okafor's first sack and forced fumble came late in the second quarter and was recovered by Jackson Jeffcoat for a touchdown that knotted the game at 21-all. His second sack came midway through the fourth quarter and gave the Horns the ball at the WVU 12-yard line with 7:37 remaining and the Mountaineers up 41-38. His blocked field goal occurred in the first quarter and kept the game tied at 7-7.
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
Tavon Austin, WVU, KR, Sr, Baltimore, Md.
Tavon Austin finished with three kickoff returns for 111 yards, averaging 37 yards per return, in West Virginia's win at Texas. The senior had a season-long return of 67 yards and ran back a 44-yarder on the opening kickoff that set up WVU's first touchdown. Austin added 10 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.
2012 Big 12 Football Players of the Week
Offense Defense Special Teams
9/4 Geno Smith, WVU, QB Isaiah Bruce, WVU, LB Kirby Van Der Kamp, ISU, P
9/10 Collin Klein, K-State, QB Jake Knott, ISU, LB Deante' Gray, TCU, PR
9/17 David Ash, UT, QB Joel Hasley, TCU, LB Tyler Lockett, K-State, KR
9/24 Tavon Austin, WVU, WR Kenny Cain, TCU, LB Ryan Doerr, K-State, P
10/1 Geno Smith, WVU, QB Cornelius Douglas, TTU, CB DJ Monroe, UT, KR
10/8 Andrew Buie, WVU, RB Alex Okafor, UT, DE Tavon Austin, WVU, KR
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Andrew Buie, West Virginia, RB, So, Jacksonville, Fla.
Andrew Buie rushed for a career-high 207 yards on 31 carries in West Virginia's 48-45 win at Texas. He averaged 6.7 yards per touch in his first game of running for over 100 yards. The sophomore picked up first downs on eight of his runs and had seven that went for at least 10 yards, including three of 20-plus yards. Buie also caught three passes for 66 yards to register 281 all-purpose yards on the night.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Alex Okafor, Texas, DE, Sr, Pflugerville, Texas
Alex Okafor had two sacks, two forced fumbles, blocked a field goal and had three quarterback pressures in Texas' three-point loss to West Virginia. Prior to the game, the Mountaineers had allowed just four sacks in four games. Okafor's first sack and forced fumble came late in the second quarter and was recovered by Jackson Jeffcoat for a touchdown that knotted the game at 21-all. His second sack came midway through the fourth quarter and gave the Horns the ball at the WVU 12-yard line with 7:37 remaining and the Mountaineers up 41-38. His blocked field goal occurred in the first quarter and kept the game tied at 7-7.
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
Tavon Austin, WVU, KR, Sr, Baltimore, Md.
Tavon Austin finished with three kickoff returns for 111 yards, averaging 37 yards per return, in West Virginia's win at Texas. The senior had a season-long return of 67 yards and ran back a 44-yarder on the opening kickoff that set up WVU's first touchdown. Austin added 10 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.
2012 Big 12 Football Players of the Week
Offense Defense Special Teams
9/4 Geno Smith, WVU, QB Isaiah Bruce, WVU, LB Kirby Van Der Kamp, ISU, P
9/10 Collin Klein, K-State, QB Jake Knott, ISU, LB Deante' Gray, TCU, PR
9/17 David Ash, UT, QB Joel Hasley, TCU, LB Tyler Lockett, K-State, KR
9/24 Tavon Austin, WVU, WR Kenny Cain, TCU, LB Ryan Doerr, K-State, P
10/1 Geno Smith, WVU, QB Cornelius Douglas, TTU, CB DJ Monroe, UT, KR
10/8 Andrew Buie, WVU, RB Alex Okafor, UT, DE Tavon Austin, WVU, KR
