Texas Tech University Athletics
Seven Red Raiders earn AP All-Big 12 first-team, most in league
December 11, 2025 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – Seven Red Raiders earned spots on the 2025 Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team on Thursday, as nine Texas Tech players overall were recognized by a panel of 17 media members. Texas Tech's seven first-team honorees led the conference.
Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was named the AP Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, while defensive end David Bailey was selected as the AP Big 12 First-Year Transfer of the Year. Both were among Tech's seven first-team picks and were two of the league's three unanimous selections.
Texas Tech's seven first-team selections topped BYU's four honorees. The Cougars finished as the Big 12 runner-up after Tech claimed its first conference title with a 34-7 win last Saturday in Arlington. Rounding out the AP first-team leaders were Baylor (3), Utah (3), Arizona (2), Cincinnati (2), TCU (2), Arizona State (1) and Houston (1).
Five of the Red Raiders' seven first-team honorees came from the defensive side of the ball, a unit that finished with top-five national rankings in turnovers gained (1st, 31), rushing defense (1st, 68.5 yards allowed per game), scoring defense (3rd, 10.9), total defense (5th, 254.4) and sacks (T-5th, 3.0 per game). Joining Bailey and Rodriguez on the first team were defensive tackles Lee Hunter and A.J. Holmes Jr., as well as cornerback Brice Pollock.
On offense, running back Cameron Dickey earned first-team recognition, as did place-kicker Stone Harrington.
The 2025 Associated Press All-Big 12 Team is selected by a panel of 17 media members who regularly cover the league.
2025 AP ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
First Team Offense
RB: Cameron Dickey
PK: Stone Harrington
First Team Defense
DE: David Bailey (unanimous)
DT: Lee Hunter
DT: A.J. Holmes Jr.
LB: Jacob Rodriguez (unanimous)
CB: Brice Pollock
Second Team Offense
OG: Davion Carter
Second Team Defense
DE: Romello Height
Individual honors
Defensive player of the year — Jacob Rodriguez, LB
First-year Transfer of the year — David Bailey, DE
All-Big 12 voting panel
Eric Bailey, Tulsa World; Brice Cherry, Waco Tribune-Herald; David Collier, KAMC-TV, Lubbock, Texas; Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle; Rob Gray, The Cedar Rapids Gazette; Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World; Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera; Nick Jacobs, KSHB 41-TV, Kansas City; Sean Keeler, The Denver Post; Taylor Kennedy, Charleston Gazette-Mail; Michael Lev, Arizona Daily Star; Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel; Jerry Ramsey, The Franchise 107.7 Oklahoma City; Spencer Ripchik, The Dominion Post; Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald; Justin Spears, Arizona Daily Star; Sean Walker, KSL.com.
– TECH –
Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was named the AP Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, while defensive end David Bailey was selected as the AP Big 12 First-Year Transfer of the Year. Both were among Tech's seven first-team picks and were two of the league's three unanimous selections.
Texas Tech's seven first-team selections topped BYU's four honorees. The Cougars finished as the Big 12 runner-up after Tech claimed its first conference title with a 34-7 win last Saturday in Arlington. Rounding out the AP first-team leaders were Baylor (3), Utah (3), Arizona (2), Cincinnati (2), TCU (2), Arizona State (1) and Houston (1).
Five of the Red Raiders' seven first-team honorees came from the defensive side of the ball, a unit that finished with top-five national rankings in turnovers gained (1st, 31), rushing defense (1st, 68.5 yards allowed per game), scoring defense (3rd, 10.9), total defense (5th, 254.4) and sacks (T-5th, 3.0 per game). Joining Bailey and Rodriguez on the first team were defensive tackles Lee Hunter and A.J. Holmes Jr., as well as cornerback Brice Pollock.
On offense, running back Cameron Dickey earned first-team recognition, as did place-kicker Stone Harrington.
The 2025 Associated Press All-Big 12 Team is selected by a panel of 17 media members who regularly cover the league.
2025 AP ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
First Team Offense
RB: Cameron Dickey
PK: Stone Harrington
First Team Defense
DE: David Bailey (unanimous)
DT: Lee Hunter
DT: A.J. Holmes Jr.
LB: Jacob Rodriguez (unanimous)
CB: Brice Pollock
Second Team Offense
OG: Davion Carter
Second Team Defense
DE: Romello Height
Individual honors
Defensive player of the year — Jacob Rodriguez, LB
First-year Transfer of the year — David Bailey, DE
All-Big 12 voting panel
Eric Bailey, Tulsa World; Brice Cherry, Waco Tribune-Herald; David Collier, KAMC-TV, Lubbock, Texas; Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle; Rob Gray, The Cedar Rapids Gazette; Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World; Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera; Nick Jacobs, KSHB 41-TV, Kansas City; Sean Keeler, The Denver Post; Taylor Kennedy, Charleston Gazette-Mail; Michael Lev, Arizona Daily Star; Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel; Jerry Ramsey, The Franchise 107.7 Oklahoma City; Spencer Ripchik, The Dominion Post; Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald; Justin Spears, Arizona Daily Star; Sean Walker, KSL.com.
– TECH –
Players Mentioned
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