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PROVO — Will Ferrin's long road to BYU from his native home in Davis County, with a pit stop at Boise State, landed him on a short list.
Ferrin was named Big 12 special teams co-player of the year, splitting the honor with Iowa State returner Jaylin Noel, from league coaches with Thursday's release of the All-Big 12 selections across the conference.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was named offensive player of the year, and Buffaloes teammate Travis Hunter was named defensive player of the year in the honor voted on by all 16 Big 12 coaches who could not vote for members of their own team.
Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham was selected as the Chuck Neinas Coach of the Year after taking the Sun Devils, who were picked last in the Big 12 preseason media poll, to the Big 12 championship game. No. 15 ASU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) will kick off against No. 16 Iowa State from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 10 a.m. MST on ABC.
A Lou Groza Award semifinalist given to the nation's top placekicker, Ferrin led the Big 12 with 21 field goals, good for eighth nationally, and tied the single-season scoring record at BYU held by Justin Sorensen since 2013.
The junior majoring in business management converted all 39 of his extra-point attempts to lead all Big 12 kickers in scoring 101 points (8.4 points per game), including a 44-yard game-winning field goal against rival Utah in the Cougars' 22-21 win.
In addition to Ferrin, BYU offensive tackle Caleb Etienne and defensive end Tyler Batty earned All-Big 12 first-team honors. Etienne, the senior from New Orleans who previously transferred from Oklahoma State, started all 12 games at left tackle to anchor an offensive line that allowed just 1.3 sacks per game while averaging 160 rushing yards.
Batty also earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors for both the Big 12 defensive player of the year and defensive lineman of the year honors that went to Hunter and Kansas State's Brendan Mott, respectively.
The senior from Payson led BYU's defensive front with 55 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, in 2024 with eight quarterback hurries and was the only defensive lineman in the country with two interceptions.
Utah tight end Brant Kuithe was one of two Utes named to the All-Big 12 first team with offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
Kuithe departs Utah with 183 receptions for 2,387 yards and 22 touchdowns in 60 career games including 32 starts. He leads all tight ends in program history for receptions and receving yards, and ranks third all-time among all players in both categories for receiving touchdowns.
The senior from Katy, Texas, who earned all-conference honors four times caught a pass in 41 straight games he's appeared in, the longest active streak by a tight end in the FBS, and wrapped up the season with 35 catches for 505 yards and six touchdowns, as well as two rushing touchdowns.
Fano, a sophomore from Spanish Fork, started all 12 games at right tackle in 2024, allowing just one sack and grading out at 91.4 by Pro Football Focus to ranked first among right tackles in the country.
BYU junior Keelan Marion was named All-Big 12 second-team kick returner after finishing the regular season tied atop the Football Bowl Subdivision with two kickoff return touchdowns, averaging 26.2 yards per return for 12th nationally.
The former UConn transfer also has 23 catches for 340 yards and a touchdown at wide receiver to go along with 18 carries for 95 yards and two scores on the ground.
BYU senior cornerback Jakob Robinson also received second-team honors after tying for eighth in the Big 12 with three interceptions. His 11 career picks are the second-most in BYU history since 2000, when the NCAA began tracking defensive statistics.
Utah's Van Fillinger and punter Jack Bouwmeester also earned All-Big 12 second team honors.
A senior out of Corner Canyon High, Filinger had 44 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and six sacks while adding five pass breakups, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble and a blocked kick on special teams. His six sacks tied for fifth in the Big 12.
Bouwmeester, a junior Michigan State transfer from Bendigo, Australia, in his third season with the Utes, led the conference with 44.7 yards per punt for 2,680 total yards. He ranks top-10 in Utah football history in career punts, punting yards, yards per punt and punts of 50 or more yards.
Honorable mentions from BYU include: Batty (DPOY, DLOY), Marque Collins (DB), Etienne (OLOY), Isaiah Glasker (LB), Brayden Keim (OL), Jack Kelly (DNOY, LB), Weylin Lapuaho (OL), Blake Mangelson (DL), Tommy Prassas (OFOY) and Jake Retzlaff (QB).
Honorable mentions from Utah include Junior Tafuna (DL) and Keanu Tanuvasa (DL).
