WACO, Texas – Baylor senior defensive end K.J. Smith was honored as a member of the 2017 preseason All-Big 12 team, as voted by the league’s media the Big 12 Conference announced Wednesday.
 
Smith starred for Baylor in 2016 en route to being an All-Big 12 first team selection by the league's coaches following his junior season. He tallied 11.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks while starting all 13 games for the Bears. His seven sacks in 2016 tied for the fifth-most in Baylor program history.
 
A native of Frisco, Texas, Smith has recorded 12.0 sacks in his career with 26.0 tackles for loss and 135 total tackles in 39 games (24 starts). He ranks ninth in Baylor history with 12.0 career sacks.
 
He was announced as a member of the 2017 Bednarik Award watch list on Monday.
 
The Big 12 media preseason poll will be released on Thursday, followed by the annual Big 12 Football Media Days to be conducted in Frisco, Texas on July 17-18. Both days will be televised live from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT on FS2 and other FOX Sports affiliates.