University of Houston Athletics
Four Cougars Recognized on AP All-Big 12 Team
12/11/2025 3:30:00 PM | Football
Thomas named to AP All-Big 12 First Team, trio land on Second Team
HOUSTON – Four Houston Football players earned Associated Press All-Big 12 Conference Honors on Thursday headlined by First-Team selection wide receiver Amare Thomas.
Joining First-Team honoree Thomas on the All-Big 12 Team as Second-Team selections were tight end Tanner Koziol, defensive lineman Carlos Allen Jr., and defensive back Latrell McCutchin Sr.
Thomas earned All-Big 12 First-Team honors by the Big 12 Coaches and the Associated Press media members after finishing second in the Big 12 with 10 receiving touchdowns and 906 receiving yards while notching six touchdowns of 20+ yards, including three 50+ yard scores. The Birmingham, Ala., native set single-season highs in yards (906), touchdowns (10) and yards per catch (15.4). A 96-yard receiving game in the Kinder's Texas Bowl would make Thomas the first Cougar 1,000-yard receiver since Tank Dell in 2022.
Koziol earned Second-Team honors from the AP after earning an All-Big 12 First-Team nod from the league coaches. The Bloomingdale, Ill., native led all FBS tight ends with 65 receptions in 2025 while his 651 receiving yards ranked third among FBS tight ends and second among Big 12 tight ends. The Illinois native's five TDs was fourth-most by FBS tight ends. Koziol recorded multiple receptions in 23 consecutive games and his 65 catches is 23rd nationally among all pass catchers.
Allen Jr., an All-Big 12 Second-Team honoree by the league coaches and Associated Press, led FBS interior linemen with 75 tackles this season and tied for the team lead in tackles – the 75 tackles are the most by a Cougar interior lineman since at least 2005. The run-stopping machine posted a run-stop of 8.4%, the second-best percentage by Big 12 interior linemen with at least 200 run plays defended while his 26 stops leads all Big 12 interior linemen.
McCutchin Sr., also a Second-Team pick by both the AP and league coaches posted the second-most pass breakups in the league with nine pass breakups while adding two TFLs on the season. His 47 tackles marked a new single-season high and his forced fumble at Arizona State continued his streak of having one forced fumble in every collegiate season played.
UP NEXT
Houston enters the Texas Bowl with a 9-3 record and as the #21 team in the country. The Cougars will face LSU (7-5) in their second Texas Bowl appearance and first since 2007.
Kick-off is set for 8:15 p.m. on Dec. 27 from NRG Stadium. The game will air on ESPN and KPRC950.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by providing NIL opportunities and by joining The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.
Joining First-Team honoree Thomas on the All-Big 12 Team as Second-Team selections were tight end Tanner Koziol, defensive lineman Carlos Allen Jr., and defensive back Latrell McCutchin Sr.
Thomas earned All-Big 12 First-Team honors by the Big 12 Coaches and the Associated Press media members after finishing second in the Big 12 with 10 receiving touchdowns and 906 receiving yards while notching six touchdowns of 20+ yards, including three 50+ yard scores. The Birmingham, Ala., native set single-season highs in yards (906), touchdowns (10) and yards per catch (15.4). A 96-yard receiving game in the Kinder's Texas Bowl would make Thomas the first Cougar 1,000-yard receiver since Tank Dell in 2022.
Koziol earned Second-Team honors from the AP after earning an All-Big 12 First-Team nod from the league coaches. The Bloomingdale, Ill., native led all FBS tight ends with 65 receptions in 2025 while his 651 receiving yards ranked third among FBS tight ends and second among Big 12 tight ends. The Illinois native's five TDs was fourth-most by FBS tight ends. Koziol recorded multiple receptions in 23 consecutive games and his 65 catches is 23rd nationally among all pass catchers.
Allen Jr., an All-Big 12 Second-Team honoree by the league coaches and Associated Press, led FBS interior linemen with 75 tackles this season and tied for the team lead in tackles – the 75 tackles are the most by a Cougar interior lineman since at least 2005. The run-stopping machine posted a run-stop of 8.4%, the second-best percentage by Big 12 interior linemen with at least 200 run plays defended while his 26 stops leads all Big 12 interior linemen.
McCutchin Sr., also a Second-Team pick by both the AP and league coaches posted the second-most pass breakups in the league with nine pass breakups while adding two TFLs on the season. His 47 tackles marked a new single-season high and his forced fumble at Arizona State continued his streak of having one forced fumble in every collegiate season played.
UP NEXT
Houston enters the Texas Bowl with a 9-3 record and as the #21 team in the country. The Cougars will face LSU (7-5) in their second Texas Bowl appearance and first since 2007.
Kick-off is set for 8:15 p.m. on Dec. 27 from NRG Stadium. The game will air on ESPN and KPRC950.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by providing NIL opportunities and by joining The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.
–– UHCougars.com ––
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