McKivitz Named Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year, Others Named to All-Big 12 Teams

Five Mountaineers were named to All-Big 12 Conference football teams this year, including senior Colton McKivitz who was also named the co-offensive lineman of the year.

The team and individial awards were announced Wednesday afternoon by the Big 12 Conference. Selections were made by the league’s 10 head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.

McKivitz was the only WVU player to receive an individual award this year, but he had to share that award with Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey. This is the second-straight Offensive Lineman of the Year award for McKivitz and the second-consecutive season that the award was shared.

Senior Offensive lineman Colton McKivitz, 53, reads the Texas Tech defense Nov. 9 game at Milan Puskar Stadium. (Photo by Kelsie LeRose)

The Jacobsburg, Ohio, native played a total of 49 games in the Mountaineer uniform from 2016 to this year making him the longest-tenured Mountaineer on this year’s roster. Since a game on Oct. 15, 2016 against Texas Tech, Mickivitz has not missed a single start, starting 42 games in a row.

Last month, McKivitz accepted an invitation to play in the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl on Jan. 25 in Mobile, Alabama. He will use this opportunity to impress NFL Scouts.

Junior Defensive Lineman Darius Stills was named to the defense All-Big 12 First Team.

Junior defensive lineman Darius Stills looks to rush the quarterback against Oklahoma State on senior night at Milan Puskar Stadium. (Photo by Kelsie LeRose)

The Fairmont Senior graduate has played in 32 games at WVU, totaling 36 solo tackles and 19 assisted tackles. He has also tallied 8 sacks for 48-yards.

He has also gained the attention of ESPN draft expert Todd McShay to be a player to watch when coming to the NFL Draft. According to his Twitter page, Stills said he has not yet entered his name into the 2020 draft as a junior.

Darius Stills is joined by his brother Dante Stills who was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team Defense. As a sophomore, Dante Stills has played in 23 games in the old gold and blue, tallying 26 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles. He also has 10 sacks for 73 yards lost on his resume.

On the second team, Dante Stills is joined by teammates Josh Norwood and Keith Washington.

Norwood’s career as a Mountaineer came to an unfortunate end when in the second quarter against Kansas State, Norwood extended and made an outstanding incerception near the 45-yard line, but fell awkwardly — breaking his collarbone. West Virginia would go on to defeat the Wildcats.

At WVU, Norwood played in 22 games and totaled 86 solo tackles and 42 assisted tackles.

Redshirt senior Keith Washington enrolled at WVU in January 2018. That season, he finished with 40 tackles, including 33 solo stops, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He also collected two interceptions and nine pass breakups.

This season, plagued by injury, Washington still made a huge impact on the field for the Mountaineers. In his nine games played, he made three interceptions for the WVU defense. He also had 16 solo tackles and five assisted tackles.

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention awards given to West Virginia Unveristy players include: West Virginia: Josh Chandler (LB), Josh Growden (STPoY), Sam James (WR & OFoY), Tykee Smith (DFoY) and Darius Stills (DLoY).

A full list of Big 12 winners can be found at www.big12sports.com.