Big 12 names inaugural coaches All-Big 12 conference teams

By the Associated Press/Staff Writer

DALLAS (AP) - The nation's top running backs headline the inaugural Coaches All-Big 12 Conference football team announced Tuesday.

Iowa State standout Troy Davis (402 carries, 2,185 yards, 21 TDs, also the national all-purpose running yards' leader with 2,364 yards) joins Texas Tech's Byron Hanspard (339 carries, 2,084 yards) as the team's top two rushers. Both are also the first two running backs from the same conference to top 2,000 yards in the same season.

Texas star Ricky Williams (175 carries, 1,120 yards, 11 TDs after 10 contests) joins the pair as one of six Big 12 rushers to crack the 1,000-yard barrier this fall.

Honorable mention choice Ahman Green has a chance to join the group if he can gain 92 yards in his regular-season finale against Colorado on Friday.

First team wide receivers Kevin Lockett (72 catches for 882 yards, six TDs) of Kansas State and Rae Carruth (52 receptions, 1,069 yards, eight TDs) of Colorado combined for 124 grabs and over a mile (1,951 yards) in receiving yards during 21 games.

That's prior to Friday's Colorado-Nebraska and Texas-Texas A&M contests that will determine the Big 12's North and South Division winners. The two victors meet Dec. 7 in the Dr Pepper Football Championship Game at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis that will be broadcast on ABC.

The Coaches All-Big 12 team also had some top defenders.

All-America outside linebackers-defensive end Grant Wistrom of Nebraska and Kansas State's Nyle Wiren are the bookends for defensive linemen Ryan Olson of Colorado, Jason Peter of Nebraska and Brandon Mitchell of Texas A&M on the coaches's team.

The coaches Big 12 specialty awards - offensive and defensive player of the year, offensive and defensive freshman of the year, offensive and defensive newcomer of the year, coach of the year - will be released Wednesday.