TCU safety Jamel Johnson was the lone Horned Frog to earn preseason All-Big 12 honors, the conference announced Monday.
Johnson was a second-team All-Big 12 pick last season after producing the best season of his career. The former Arlington Seguin standout posted 96 tackles (60 solo), three pass breakups and tied for a team-high with five interceptions.
The senior’s return is one of many reasons TCU is optimistic about the potential of the defense in year three under Andy Avalos.
Johnson will assume a leadership with the departure of longtime veteran Bud Clark to the NFL, and was one of the Horned Frogs’ top performers during spring camp.
Other notable selections include former TCU running back Cam Cook, who earned preseason All-Big 12 honors in 2025 after a breakout season at Jacksonville State. Cook now plays for West Virginia and will face TCU on Oct. 24.
North Texas transfer and Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker was voted Newcomer of the Year. Texas Tech led all programs with seven selections while BYU was second with six, including preseason Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin.
The rest of the all-conference list:
Offensive Player of the Year
LJ Martin, RB, BYU, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year
A.J. Holmes Jr., DL, Texas Tech, Sr.
Newcomer of the Year
Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State, RS-So.
2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Quarterback: Noah Fifita, Arizona, RS-Sr.
Running Back: Cam Cook, West Virginia, Sr.
Running Back: LJ Martin, BYU, Sr.
Fullback: Kayden Luke, West Virginia, Jr.
Wide Receiver: Omarion Miller, Arizona State, Sr.
Wide Receiver: Amare Thomas, Houston, Sr.
Wide Receiver: Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State, Jr.
Tight End: Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech, Sr.
Offensive Line: Joe Cotton, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.
Offensive Line: Shadre Hurst, Houston, Sr.
Offensive Line: Bruce Mitchell, BYU, RS-Sr.
Offensive Line: John Pastore, Kansas State, Sr.
Offensive Line: Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati, RS-Jr.
Kicker: Stone Harrington, Texas Tech, Sr.
Punt/Kick Returner: Mana Carvalho, Utah, So.
Defensive Line: C.J. Fite, Arizona State, Sr.
Defensive Line: Wendell Gregory, Kansas State, So.
Defensive Line: A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech, Sr.
Defensive Line: Keanu Tanuvasa, BYU, RS-Sr.
Defensive Line: Adam Trick, Texas Tech, Sr.
Linebacker: Ben Roberts, Texas Tech, Sr.
Linebacker: Austin Romaine, Texas Tech, Sr.
Linebacker: Cade Uluave, BYU, Sr.
Defensive Back: Will James, Houston, Jr.
Defensive Back: Evan Johnson, BYU, RS-Sr.
Defensive Back: Jamel Johnson, TCU, Sr.
Defensive Back: Brice Pollock, Texas Tech, Sr.
Defensive Back: Faletau Satuala, BYU, Jr.
Punter: Palmer Williams, Baylor, Sr.
Game schedule dates, times, locations NEXT UP: Game dates, times, locations, channel June 29 Rangers 6, Cleveland 3 June 30 Rangers 4, Cleveland 2 July 1 Cleveland 9, Rangers 4 July 2 Rangers 10, Detroit 4 July 4 Detroit 3, Rangers 0 July 5 Detroit 6, Rangers 3 July 7 vs. L.A. Angels, 7:05 p.m., RSN July 8 vs. L.A. Angels, 7:05 p.m., RSN July 9 vs. L.A. Angels, 7:05 p.m., RSN July 10 vs. Houston, 7:05 p.m., CW July 11 vs. Houston, 6:05 p.m., RSN July 12 vs. Houston, 1:35 p.m., RSN All-Star break June 22 Wings 112, Seattle 110 (OT) June 25 Las Vegas 99, Wings 84 June 28 Minnesota 85, Wings 77 July 2 Wings 86, Connecticut 83 July 5 Wings 89, Toronto 76 July 7 at New York, 7 p.m., ESPN July 10 vs. Toronto (at Montreal), 6:30 p.m., Ion July 12 vs. Chicago (at American Airlines Center), 6 p.m., ESPN, Disney+ July 16 vs. New York, 8 p.m., Amazon Prime Video July 19 vs. Los Angeles, 12 p.m., ABC 2026 season Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina (at Dublin), 11 a.m., ESPN Sept. 12 vs. Grambling State, 7 p.m., ESPN+ Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State, 7 p.m., ESPNU Sept. 26 at Central Florida, TBA Oct. 3 vs. BYU, TBA Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA Nov. 6 at Arizona, 9:15 p.m., ESPN Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN Sept. 13 at N.Y. Giants, 7:20 p.m., NBC Sept. 20 vs. Washington, 3:25 p.m., Fox Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore (at Rio de Janeiro), 3:25 p.m., CBS Oct. 4 at Houston, 12 p.m., Fox Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Oct. 18 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Nov. 1 vs. Arizona, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 8 at Indianapolis, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., Fox Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., Fox Dec. 7 at Seattle, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Dec. 20 at L.A. Rams, 3:25 p.m., CBS Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m., NBC Jan. 3 vs. N.Y. Giants, 12 p.m., Fox Jan. 9 or 10 at Washington, TBA All local matches at AT&T Stadium Group stage June 14 Japan 2, Netherlands 2 (Group F) June 17 England 4, Croatia 2 (Group L) June 22 Argentina 2, Austria 0 (Group J) June 25 Japan 1, Sweden 1 (Group F) June 27 Argentina 3, Jordan 1 (Group J) Knockout round June 30 Norway 2, Ivory Coast 1 (round of 32) July 3 Egypt 1, Australia 1 (Egypt wins 4-2 on PKs) (round of 32) July 6 Round of 16: Spain vs. Portugal, 2 p.m., Fox July 14 Semifinal: Teams TBD, 2 p.m., Fox May 2 FC Dallas 2, NY Red Bulls 0 May 9 FC Dallas 3, Salt Lake 1 May 13 Vancouver 3, FC Dallas 2 May 16 FC Dallas 3, San Jose 2 May 23 FC Dallas 2, Colorado 1 World Cup break July 22 at Portland, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV July 25 at San Diego, 8:30 p.m., FS1, Apple TV July 11 NASCAR Racing Experience July 11 Hearts in High Gear July 25 Drift n Drag Aug. 1 NASCAR Racing Experience Aug. 29 Team Texas: David Starr's Racing School Sept. 5 NASCAR Racing Experience
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