The Big 12 released its preseason awards on Wednesday and Texas Longhorns senior linebacker Jaylan Ford was named conference preseason Defensive Player of the Year while joining five other Longhorns on the first team.
Junior wide receiver Xavier Worthy, junior right end Ja’Tavion Sanders, sophomore left tackle Kelvin Banks, junior defensive tackle Byron Murphy, and Ford were all named to the Preseason All-Big 12 football team. While Worthy was the only unanimous selection, the five players picked were the most of any team in the conference.
With 15 starts over 35 career games, Ford had a breakout season in 2022, pacing the Horns with a career-high 119 tackles (61 solo), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions, the most for a Texas linebacker since Derrick Johnson in 2002 and 2003.