Nov. 29, 2006
WACO, Texas -- Baylor freshman linebacker Joe Pawelek was named Big 12 Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year by The Associated Press, the news organization announced Wednesday. Pawelek is the first Baylor football student-athlete to earn AP player of the year honors of any sort.
A product of Smithson Valley [Texas] High School, Pawelek led Baylor with 86 tackles this season. He ranks 11th in the Big 12 with 7.17 tackles per game, the highest per-game average of any freshman nationally. Pawelek finished the season with 2.0 sacks, one interception, four passes broken up and a team-high nine quarterback hurries. His lone interception ended Baylor's 34-31 triple-overtime victory at Colorado.
Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Oklahoma linebacker Rufus Alexander was named Defensive Player of the Year. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy earned Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops was selected as Coach of the Year.
The selections were made in voting by 20 reporters who regularly cover the conference for newspapers in the seven states with Big 12 schools. The AP all-conference team will be announced Thursday.
