Several members of the Kansas football team were recognized by the Big 12 Conference today for their stellar performance this season in route to an 8-4 record and back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 2008.
Three Jayhawks took home All-Big 12 First Team honors: redshirt-senior offensive lineman Dominick Puni, junior cornerback Cobee Bryant, and redshirt-sophomore defensive end Austin Booker.
Puni, who transferred to KU from Division II Central Missouri prior to the 2022-23 season, was a big key to KU’s passing and rushing success this season. He started every game this year at left tackle and did not allow a single sack.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Puni had a 90.5 pass-blocking grade this season – which was third among all FBS offensive tackles. With numbers like that, Puni may have very well played his way into being an NFL Draft pick next spring.
Bryant has now earned First Team All-Big 12 honors in back-to-back seasons – the first KU defensive back to do that since Aqib Talib in 2006-07. He was an absolute star for the Jayhawks’ defense this year and proved to be one of the best defensive backs in the country.
Bryant tallied 30 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 interceptions this year and always seemed to make a big play when his team needed it. He’ll be a name to watch this offseason as he may test the NFL Draft waters.
Welcome to the Big-12, BYU 😳
— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) September 23, 2023
Cobee Bryant laid the hammer, picked up the ball and sped into the end zone for a TD on the Cougars' first offensive play.
🎥 @Big12Conferencepic.twitter.com/NSneCvJGad
Booker was named First Team All-Big 12 and Defensive Newcomer of the Year in his first season as a Jayhawk after transferring from Minnesota. He finished the season with 56 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Kansas running back Devin Neal earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors after another sensational season. For the second consecutive season, Neal ran for more than 1,000 yards – just the third Jayhawk in history to accomplish that feat.
In total, Neal ran for 1,209 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 100.8 yards rushing per game. Following the game against Cincinnati, Neal climbed to fifth in rushing yards in school history with 3,006 yards and is now third all-time with 32 rushing touchdowns.
Joining Neal on the Second Team is senior safety Kenny Logan Jr. A Jayhawk through and through, Logan had a great season to end his accomplished KU career. He led the Jayhawks in tackles for the fourth straight season and became the school’s all-time leader in tackles by a defensive back with 377. He finished his senior year with 86 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.
Kansas players who earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention included Jason Bean (QB), Lawrence Arnold (WR), Mello Dotson (DB), Mason Fairchild (TE), Mike Novitsky (C), and Jerome Robinson (DL).
The full list of honorees can be found here.