The All-Big 12 Team Proves Texas Tech Kicker Was Snubbed By National Award

Jonathan Garibay was the best field goal kicker in the Big 12 this season, as voted on by the Big 12 coaches for the season-ending awards that the Big 12 conference puts out this time of the year. This means that the league's coaches thought he was a better kicker than Gabe Brkic from Oklahoma who somehow was named as a Lou Groza Award finalist.

Maybe I'm a homer, but Garibay not missing a single kick until the very last second of the regular season from 53-yards out in the rain, seems pretty good.

Moving on, Garibay was the only Red Raider named to the All-Big 12 1st team, even though the Big 12 put two punters on the 1st team not named Austin McNamara. Am I just getting too salty at this point?

McNamara was included on the second team, along with Colin Schooler, Dawson Deaton, Erik Ezukanma, and Damarcus Fields.

The Red Raiders also had more than a few on the All-Big 12 honorable mention list including Jaylon Hutchings who I think is severely underrated, Riko Jeffers, Tyree Wilson, Reggie Pearson, and more. You can see the full list below.

The Red Raiders only notching one player on the first-team isn't a surprise. They finished the season 6-6, but I do think you look back at the year with some disappointment that some guys struggled more than you thought they would. Namely, Ezukanma, who I thought would have a career year. Instead, he turned in a workmanlike season like he's done for the past two seasons. A good season, but not a great one.

As we head into the off-season we now anxiously await all of these players who have eligibility left as they make their decisions on whether to transfer, return, or go pro. Can't wait. That's of course after a bowl game and one last ride for Sonny Cumbie and the boys.