WOAY – The Big 12 Conference released its preseason football team and individual awards Thursday, with one West Virginia Mountaineer among the honorees.
Senior defensive lineman Darius Stills, originally from Fairmont, was named the league’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and is the only Mountaineer on the preseason team.
Stills, who was a First Team selection in 2019, led WVU with 14.5 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with seven sacks. He also forced a fumble against Kansas State and blocked a field goal against James Madison. On Monday, Stills was named to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes annually to the best defensive player in college football.
WVU had one player named to the preseason football team in 2019; Colton McKivitz would earn a First Team selection and Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.
The Big 12 Conference will announce its preseason poll on Friday. Virtual media days are planned for next week, with head coach Neal Brown and two players scheduled to hold interviews on Tuesday.
