Brian Iwuh had a motivating message for Abraham Wright last season.

Iwuh earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last season for Colorado. His teammate Abraham Wright didn't get a sniff. He wasn't second team or honorable mention. Iwuh wasn't going to let that slide.

"Last year he said, 'You didn't get anything. They didn't even give you honorable mention.' And he was just somewhat having fun with me," Wright said Tuesday. "That motivated me through the offseason. It wasn't always on my mind, but I definitely wanted to get more than that this year."

Wright did better than honorable mention this season, and even better than Iwuh. The senior defensive end from Oklahoma City was named first-team All-Big 12 by the conference coaches on Tuesday. He was joined on the first team by CU kicker Mason Crosby and cornerback Terrence Wheatley.

The first-team selection was the third for Crosby, who lost out on conference special teams player of the year to Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda. Crosby finished his career as

Colorado's leading all-time scorer and is the NCAA active leader in field goals made and field goal attempts.

"It's a huge honor with the way this season played out," Crosby said. "I'm blessed and honored to be a part of this group for the last three years."

Wheatley didn't even play last season because of a wrist injury that eventually led to a metal plate being inserted in his arm. He came back this year to record five interceptions, which was second-best in the conference.

The junior from Richardon, Texas, regularly went up against the opponents' best receivers and had a team-high 11 pass breakups.

Wright was a virtual lock for the first-team after the season he had. He recorded 12 sacks to lead the conference. He was the national leader in sacks for part of the season and finished fourth in the nation.

The Buffs finished 2-10 this season and the individual award helped take the sting out of his last year at CU.

"Football is a team sport, but it's also an individual sport. That's why they keep stats. That's why there's the Heisman Trophy and the Butkus Award, and etcetera," Wright said. "I'm always trying to do everything to help the team, but at the same time I wouldn't want the individual accolades to be taken away. It's honor and a blessing to get something like this."

No Buffs were on the second team. Senior guard Brian Daniels, senior linebacker Thaddaeus Washington, junior linebacker Jordon Dizon and sophomore defensive tackle George Hypolite were all named honorable mention.

Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor was named offensive player of the year and Oklahoma linebacker Rufus Alexander was named defensive player of the year. The coach of the year was Bob Stoops, who also earned the honor from the Associated Press on Tuesday. The AP will announce conference player of the year awards today and its all-conference team Thursday.

After that the Buffs will await the announcement of All-American teams. Crosby was a consensus All-American last season and Wright was named midseason All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com this season. Then it's on to the NFL draft, where both are hoping to be picked.

"Getting it at midseason was kind of like dangling a carrot in front of your face. I've already tasted it. I've already took a bite and I'm already full. And I haven't even got it yet," said Wright, who is scheduled to graduate next month with a sociology degree. "Obviously that would be icing on the cake. First team All-Big 12 is good to go out with and I'm very excited."

Coaches' All-Big 12

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB Zac Taylor, Nebraska, Sr.

RB Jon Cornish, Kansas, Sr.

RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, Jr.

FB Dane Todd, Nebraska, Sr.

WR Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma State, Jr.

WR Joel Filani, Texas, Tech Sr.

WR Limas Sweed, Texas, Jr.

TE Martin Rucker, Missouri, Jr.

OL Justin Blalock, Texas, Sr.

OL Kasey Studdard, Texas, Sr.

OL Corey Hilliard, Oklahoma, State Sr.

OL Joel Clinger, Missouri, Sr.

OL Chris Messner, Oklahoma, Sr.

PK Mason Crosby, Colorado, Sr.

KR/PR Yamon Figurs, Kansas State, Sr.

DEFENSE

DL C.J. Ah You, Oklahoma, Sr.

DL Adam Carriker, Nebraska, Sr.

DL Ian Campbell, Kansas, State So.

DL Abraham Wright, Colorado, Sr.

DL Larry Birdine, Oklahoma, Sr.

LB Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma, Sr.

LB Marcus Bacon, Missouri, Sr.

LB Bo Ruud, Nebraska, Jr.

DB Michael Griffin, Texas, Sr.

DB Aaron Ross, Texas, Sr.

DB Aqib Talib, Kansas, So.

DB Melvin Bullitt, Texas A&M, Sr.

DB Terrence Wheatley, Colorado, Jr.

P Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE — QB Chase Daniel, Missouri, So.; RB Jorvorskie Lane, Texas A&M, So.; RB Brandon Jackson, Nebraska, Jr.; FB Brandon McAnderson, Kansas, Jr.; FB Chris Alexander, Texas A&M, Jr.; WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma, So.; WR Maurice Purify, Nebraska, Jr.; WR Dominique Zeigler, Baylor, Sr.; TE Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M, So.; TE Chase Coffman, Missouri, So.; OL Scott Stephenson, Iowa State, Sr.; OL David Ochoa, Kansas, Sr.; OL Cody Wallace, Texas A&M, Jr.; OL Lyle Sendlein, Texas, Sr.; OL Glenn January, Texas Tech, Sr.; PK Garrett Hartley, Oklahoma, Jr.; KR/PR, Aaron, Ross Texas Sr.

DEFENSE — DL Keyunta Dawson, Texas Tech, Sr.; DL Brian Smith, Missouri, Sr.; DL Tim Crowder, Texas, Sr.; DL Victor DeGrate, Oklahoma State, Sr.; DL Jay Moore, Nebraska, Sr.; LB Brandon Archer, Kansas, State Sr.; LB Alvin Bowen, Iowa State, Jr.; LB Joe Pawelek, Baylor, Fr.; DB Marcus Watts, Kansas State, Jr.; DB Marcus Walker, Oklahoma, Jr.; DB David Overstreet, Missouri, Sr.; DB Nic Harris, Oklahoma, So.; DB Reggie Smith, Oklahoma, So.; P Matt Fodge, Oklahoma State, So.

HONORABLE MENTION

Baylor: DB Anthony Arline; QB Shawn Bell; DB Dwain Crawford; PK Ryan Havens; DB Maurice Linguist; WR Trent Shelton; DB C.J. Wilson.

Colorado: OL Brian Daniels; LB Jordon Dizon; DL George Hypolite; LB Thaddaeus Washington.

Iowa State: PR/KR Ryan Baum; WR Todd Blythe; OL Aaron Brant; DL Curvey Brent; DL Shawn Moorehead.

Kansas: DB Jerome Kemp; DL James McClinton; LB Mike Rivera; OL Bob Whitaker.

Kansas State: LB Zach Diles; WR Yamon Figurs; DL Rob Jackson; WR Jermaine Moreira; KR/PR Leon Patton; PK Jeff Snodgrass; OL Greg Wafford; DB Kyle Williams.

Missouri: WR Will Franklin; DL Xzavie Jackson; DB Darnell Terrell; RB Tony Temple; DL Lorenzo Williams; LB Dedrick Harrington; PK Jeff Wolfert.

Nebraska: LB Stewart Bradley; OL Brett Byford; DB Cortney Grixby; RB Marlon Lucky; LB Corey McKeon; DB Andrew Shanle; OL Matt Slauson.

Oklahoma: DL Steven Coleman; FB Brody Eldridge; TE Joe Jon Finley; DB Lendy Holmes; LB Zach Latimer; RB Allen Patrick; OL George Robinson; PR/KR Reggie Smith; QB Paul Thompson; OL Brandon Walker; DB Darien Williams.

Oklahoma State: KR/PR Perrish Cox; DL Nathan Peterson; TE Brandon Pettigrew; DB Andre Sexton; WR D'Juan Woods.

Texas: WR Billy Pittman; OL Tony Hills; QB Colt McCoy; DL Brian Robison.

Texas A&M: P Justin Brantly; RB Mike Goodson; OL Kirk Elder; DL Chris Harrington; QB Stephen McGee; WR Chad Schroeder; LB Misi Tupe; LB Justin Warren.

Texas Tech: DB Joe Garcia; QB Graham Harrell; DL Chris Hudler; OL Manuel Ramirez; DL Jake Ratliff; P Alex Reyes; LB Brock Stratton; OL Louis Vasquez; RB Shannon Woods.

PLAYER AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year — QB Zac Taylor, Nebraska, Sr.

Defensive Player of the Year — LB Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma, Sr.

Special Teams Player of the Year — P Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor, Sr.

Offensive Freshman of the Year — QB Colt McCoy, Texas, R-Fr.

Defensive Freshman of the Year — S Andre Sexton, Oklahoma State, R-Fr.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year — WR Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma State, Jr.

Defensive Newcomer of the Year — LB Misi Tupe, Texas A&M, Jr.

Offensive Lineman of the Year — OT Justin Blalock, Texas, Sr.

Defensive Lineman of the Year — DE Adam Carriker, Nebraska, Sr.

Coach of the Year — Bob Stoops, Oklahoma