White, Strait Honored As Big 12's Top Players

It's easy to forget that quarterback Jason White was one of the few question marks for the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners coming into this season.

His two previous seasons ended with knee injuries, robbing him of the speed that was considered his best asset. Forced to be more of a pocket passer, White became the nation's most efficient thrower and the undisputed leader of a team headed for the national championship game.

White's next challenge will be leading the No. 1 Sooners in the Big 12 title game against Kansas State on Saturday. He'll go in carrying the title of the conference's offensive player of the year, an honor he overwhelmingly received Wednesday in a vote of reporters who regularly cover the league for newspapers from the league's seven states.

"I was simply told to just do my job and not make mistakes," White said. "It's a great honor, but I'm just doing what any quarterback would do in this situation. I wouldn't be anywhere without my teammates."

Oklahoma swept the major individual honors as cornerback Derrick Strait was named the league's top defensive player. OU's Bob Stoops was named coach of the year on Tuesday.

The all-conference team will be released Thursday.

For the offensive honor, White earned 17 of the 19 votes. The only others to get a vote were White's top target, receiver Mark Clayton, and Kansas State running back Darren Sproles.

Strait received 14 votes. Teammate Tommie Harris had three and linebackers Demorrio Williams of Nebraska and Derrick Johnson of Texas each got one.

The league's newcomers of the year were both freshmen from Houston: Texas quarterback Vincent Young and Iowa State defensive end Jason Berryman.

White's season-ending injuries the last two years both came without being hit. His ability and durability were questioned even after he beat out three others for the starting job. To many, he was seen as a wild card coming into the season.

White shined from the start. He indeed ended up not playing every down, but that was usually because the Sooners were so far ahead that the second stringers took over.

White has completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,466 yards and a school-record 40 touchdowns against only six interceptions. Those numbers give him a pass-efficiency rating of 177.87, which far surpasses any of the past 10 quarterbacks to win the Heisman.

The only Heisman winner that's close is Florida's Danny Wuerffel in 1996, who had a rating of 170.61. White is among the finalists invited to the Heisman ceremony.

"You can't help but look at his production," Stoops said.

With White at the helm, the Sooners easily overcame the loss of 1,800-yard rusher Quentin Griffin and their top four receivers from last season. Oklahoma finished the regular season with the nation's highest-scoring offense and ranked 10th in total offense.

"We thought we'd be good. Now it's turned out to be," said offensive coordinator Chuck Long, pausing to smile, "well, you know the story."

Strait, who has started a school-record 50 games, is recognized as a standout on the nation's top-ranked defense.

In 11 games this season, he has 61 tackles, three interceptions, 11 pass breakups and four fumble recoveries.

He was at his best in matchups against two of the Big 12's most-heralded receivers -- Texas' Roy Williams and Oklahoma State's Rashaun Woods. Those two were held to 11 catches for 114 yards and, most importantly, no touchdowns.

"He's been our backbone for four straight years," co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. "He's a great player everytime he steps on the field. The thing you love about him is that you know he's going to be there in the big games."

Young, a redshirt freshman, moved into the starting lineup in Texas' final seven games and helped spark a six-game winning streak.

He finished seventh in the Big 12 in total offense with 1,140 yards passing and 948 yards rushing. He also rushed for 11 TDs and threw for six more.

"Every time he goes out there, he shows us something new," Texas coach MackBrown said.

Berryman, a true freshman, had 110 tackles, nine for a loss, three sacks and an interception for the rebuilding Cyclones.

"He's one of the most athletic, most relentless freshmen I've ever been around," Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. "I've never been around that many freshmen that played that hard every snap. That's usually something you've got to teach them at this level."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

White, Strait Honored As Big 12's Top Players

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