Big 12 Award Predictions: Trio of Longhorns Listed as Candidates

The Texas Longhorns will need to live up to their expectations as a team if they want to give any of their three projected award candidates a shot at taking home some individual hardware.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns are once again shouldering some high expectations headed into the upcoming season. Unsurprising, this annual hype tends to find its way to both the team and its individual players, especially for a roster as talented as Texas has.

247Sports recently revealed its predictions for 10 total candidates that could potentially win either the Big 12 Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Five players were listed under both offense and defense.

A trio of Longhorns made their way onto the predictions list, as quarterback Quinn Ewers and receiver Xavier Worthy are projected candidates for OPOY, while linebacker Jaylan Ford is one of five projected candidates for DPOY.

Worthy and Ewers were joined by Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels, Baylor Bears running back Richard Reese and Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Will Howard as candidates on the offensive side of the ball.

On defense, Ford was listed as a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year candidate with Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Kendal Daniels, Iowa State Cyclones defensive back T.J. Tampa and TCU Horned Frogs cornerback Josh Newton.

The Longhorns will need to live up to their expectations as a team if they want to give any of their three projected candidates a shot at taking home some individual hardware. But though Texas' record remains a mystery as of now, Ford, Worthy and Ewers are certainly capable of reaching that award-winning billing.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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