Austin, Bailey, and Madsen Receiving Honors but Smith Does Not

September 17, 2011; College Park, MD, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers center Joe Madsen (74) against the Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. West Virginia beat Maryland 37-31. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

While it is just one of many media sources, CBSSports.com has released their 2012 All-America teams and their 2012 All-Big 12 teams. Three Mountaineers gridiron stars have been honored on the two lists: senior IR Tavon Austin, senior C Joey Madsen, and junior WR Stedman Bailey.

Austin accumulated 2,760 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns. Bailey led the Mountaineers receivers with 1,501 yards and 23 touchdowns. Madsen anchored a WVU offense that averaged 518.5 yards per game and 41.6 points per game. All three had huge seasons for the Mountaineers and they are all deserving of the honors they have received.

On the CBSSports 2012 All-Big 12 team, all three Mountaineer stars were recognized.

• Stedman Bailey – WR
• Joey Madsen – C
• Tavon Austin – KR

Gut reaction is that Geno Smith got somewhat of a raw deal on this one. Colin Klein took the QB slot away from Geno Smith. Smith is clearly the top professional quarterback prospect in the league with 4,004 yards passing, 155 yards rushing, and 42 total touchdowns. That is 624 total yards more than Colin Klein (3,380 combined yards) and 12 more touchdowns than Klein (30).

Klein gets a lot of love from the media for his great dual threat nature and for the monster season Kansas State has had. But let’s be honest, Klein is just the next Tebow: good against weak college defenses but will get a reality check in the NFL, especially with his absurd passing “mechanics.”

Austin and Bailey were both honored on the CBSSports 2012 All-America teams as well.

• Stedman Bailey – 1st team WR
• Tavon Austin – 1st team AP (all-purpose) and 2nd team WR

Smith has an even bigger gripe with CBSSports for not making any of their three All-America teams. He was passed up for the honor by Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Kansas State’s Colin Klein, and Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch.

Yes, you read that right. Geno Smith lost 3rd team QB honors to NIU’s Jordan Lynch. Until this past week’s MAC title game, no one had ever heard of Lynch. He, just like the other two QBs honored by CBSSports is a dual threat player. Apparently being a glorified running back will get you All-America honors for a position that should go to the top passer in the nation.

Huge oversight by CBSSports. Hopefully Geno will get his due from one of the major media outlets this season. Even if he doesn’t get the attention now, he will get plenty of attention on draft day as the odds on favorite 1st overall draft pick in the NFL draft.

For Austin, Bailey, and Madsen, the accolades are well deserved if not understated. These three players were key in the success of the West Virginia Mountaineers in 2012.