With Big 12 media day Tuesday and Wednesday, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez were honored with preseason awards by the conference on Monday.
Leavitt — a redshirt sophomore — was named the Big 12 2025 preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Rodriguez — a senior — was dubbed the conference’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Leavitt transferred to Arizona State after redshirting in his freshman season at Michigan State. In his first full season with the Sun Devils, Leavitt led Arizona State to a Big 12 title in the program’s first season in the conference.
Leavitt finished his first season in Tempe, Arizona, as the school’s new record holder for most total yards by a freshman with 3,328. He threw for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in 13 games.
Jacob Rodriguez, on the other hand, led Texas Tech’s defense in 2024 with a team-high 127 total tackles, five sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss. At season’s end, Rodriguez was named to the All-Big 12 first team by conference coaches and the Associated Press.
After losing an overtime heartbreaker to Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoff last year, Leavitt seeks to lead Arizona State to the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez serves as a vital piece of consistent leadership on the Red Raiders, who are bringing in the No. 2 transfer portal class in the country.
In addition to Leavitt and Rodriguez, Utah junior quarterback Devon Dampier was chosen as the Big 12’s preseason Newcomer of the Year.
The full All-Big 12 team is below. Texas Tech and Iowa State each lead the conference with three selections each.
Preseason All-Conference Team (Offense)
Quarterback: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, Redshirt Sophomore
Running Back: Bryson Washington, Baylor, Redshirt Sophomore
Running Back: Jahiem White, West Virginia, Junior
Fullback/Halfback: Will Swanson, Kansas State, Senior
Wide Receiver: Eric McAlister, TCU, Senior
Wide Receiver: Chase Roberts, BYU, Redshirt Senior
Wide Receiver: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, Redshirt Junior
Tight End: Joe Royer, Cincinnati, Redshirt Senior
Offensive Lineman: Ben Coleman, Arizona State, Graduate
Offensive Lineman: Spencer Fano, Utah, Junior
Offensive Lineman: Bryce Foster, Kansas, Redshirt Junior
Offensive Lineman: Caleb Lomu, Utah, Redshirt Sophomore
Offensive Lineman: Jordan Seaton, Colorado, Sophomore
Place Kicker: Will Ferrin, BYU, Redshirt Senior
Punt Returner/Kick Returner: Josh Cameron, Baylor, Redshirt Senior
Preseason All-Conference Team (Defense)
Defensive Lineman: David Bailey, Texas Tech, Senior
Defensive Lineman: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, Redshirt Senior
Defensive Lineman: C.J. Fite, Arizona State, Junior
Defensive Lineman: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, Senior
Defensive Lineman: Domonique Orange, Iowa State, Senior
Linebacker: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Senior
Linebacker: Austin Romaine, Kansas State, Junior
Linebacker: Keaton Thomas, Baylor, Redshirt Junior
Defensive Back: Xavion Alford, Arizona State, Redshirt Senior
Defensive Back: Bud Clark, TCU, Senior
Defensive Back: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Senior
Defensive Back: DJ McKinney, Colorado, Junior
Defensive Back: Jontez Williams, Iowa State, Redshirt Junior
Punter: Palmer Williams, Baylor, Junior
