Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein has become the first male at K-State to be named Big 12 athlete of the year, announced on Thursday by the league office. Klein led the Cats to a Big 12 title, 11 wins, and a Fiesta Bowl berth this past season. 
He won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, was tabbed a second team all-American by the Associated Press and Walter Camp, and was the Big 12 offensive player of the year. The Loveland, CO native also registered a perfect 4.0 GPA during the 2012 football season, and earned 2nd team academic all-Big 12 honors.
Klein ended his career as the only quarterback from a Bowl Championship Series automatic qualifier school in the BCS era to rush for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 10 in multiple seasons. He also set the FBS record for rushing touchdowns by a signal-caller in consecutive seasons, a mark that now stands at 50, and had a nation’s-best 18-game streak with at least one passing and rushing touchdown since the beginning of the 2011 campaign.
Former K-State women’s basketball standout Nicole Ohlde was the only other Wildcat to be named Big 12 athlete of the year, claiming the award following the 2003-04 school year.
Senior tennis player Petra Niedermayerova was K-State’s female nominee for the Big 12 athlete of the year this year.
Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts was named Big 12 female athlete of the year after leading the Sooners to the Women’s College World Series title.
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