Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008: Part IV -- Monte Cozzens Award (6 of 6)

Jake Sharp vs KSU / photo: annependleton.comJake Sharp

• 186 rushes
• 866 yards
• 4.6 ypc
• 12 rushing TDs
• 25 receptions
• 283 yards
• 1 TD reception

Okay, so I went a little overboard with six Cozzens Award winners for 2008. I guess that just shows how many players we have on this squad that are out there playing tough football. Mark Mangino is gettting through to these guys.

In the case of Jake Sharp, I still think he can be a better running back, but 866 yards in his first season as the feature back isn't too bad considering that we were training two new tackles. For me though, Jake Sharp sealed up a spot on this list based on the fact that he geared up and gave his best against Mizzou despite bruised ribs. We've all watched the game over and over and you can see that he is really hurting in the fourth quarter. Hardcore.

The Mizzou game might be the example, but really his toughness has been on display his entire career and I really liked the way he kept fighting this season despite some real struggles with the running game in the first half of the year. With maybe a few more guys helping out in and solid tackle play, I'd say that relentless attittude should mean Sharp will put up big numbers in 2009.

Cozzen's Award Winners--The Complete List:
1997 Ron Warner
1998 Patrick Brown
1999 Carl Nesmith, Chad Coellner
2001 Algie Atkinson
2002 Marcus Rodgers
2003 Bill Whittemore, Gabe Toomey
2004 Charles Gordon, Nick Reid, John Randle
2005 Charlton Keith, Jon Cornish, Banks Floodman, Mark Simmons
2006 Jon Cornish
2007 Todd Reesing, Anthony Collins, James McClinton, Brandon McAnderson, Aqib Talib
2008 Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, Darrell Stuckey, James Holt, Jake Sharp

Awards Schedule
Tuesday -- Part I: Play of the Year
Wednesday -- Part II: Wes Welker Award
Thursday -- Part III: Blog Awards
Friday -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Photo Credit: annependleton.com

Comments

[moyae84]

Most memorable Jake Sharp moment of the year: Reesing hitting a wide wide wide open Sharp at the beginning of the third quarter of the ISU game that we were down by multiple scores and watching him blaze down the sidelines. At that moment we all knew KU was going to come back.

[DJ]

Good call on that one ... there's nothing I enjoy more than seeing Jake Sharp out in the wide open with the ball.