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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014
Football awards continued from page 10
Rookie of the Year
Avery was thrown into the spotlight early when senior running back Brandon Bourbon and Taylor Cox were injured before the season. He never showed freshman jitters and instead became a consistent option. Despite having to play through multiple changes around him (coach, quarterback and running mates in the backfield), he never seemed rattled. He ended the season with five rushing touchdowns and added a receiving touchdown.
Stella Liang
Corey Avery
This freshman running back out of Dallas, Texas had a lot of expectations after choosing Kansas over powerhouses such as Baylor, Texas, and LSU. Avery was ranked the 35th best running back recruit according to ESPN.com and handled his sudden role change with ease. He led the backfield with 631 yards on 151 carries for 5 touchdowns. After an impressive rookie year, Avery will be the starting running back for the next few years.
Shane Jackson
Corey Avery
The freshman running back took the reins in the backfield to start the season—the first time Kansas started a freshman running back in the season opener since 2010 when James Sims started as a freshman. Avery averaged 12 rushes for 52 yards per game and five touchdowns on the season, which were both team highs. Avery’s 103 rushing yards against Iowa State was the most rushing yards in a game for any Jayhawk this season.
Blair Sheade
Winner: COREY AVERY
Jimmay Mundine
The John Mackey Award semifinalist got off to a slow start, but quickly became Kansas’ go-to receiving target, especially down the middle of the field. He was one of eight semifinalists to win the award, which goes to the best tight end in the country, before failing to make the final cut. Mundine led the team with 584 receiving yards and caught three touchdowns. His best game came against TCU where had seven catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. He finished that game with the most yards by a Kansas tight end since 1974.
Stella Liang
Michael Cummings
One of Clint Bowen’s first changes as interim head coach was putting Cummings at quarterback over sophomore Montell Cozart, who was struggling. Cummings failed to throw for more than 200 yards in just two of his starts, while Cozart only had one game this year with over 200 yards through the air. Cummings had a personal best 332 yards and two touchdowns against TCU.
Shane Jackson
Tony Pierson
Senior Tony Pierson only scored three total touchdowns this season, but he was successful lining up as a wide receiver and a running back. Offensive coordinator John Reagan used Pierson as a dual threat option by rushing for 324 yards and catching 22 passes for 203 yards. His five plays over 20 yards was the most on the team, and Pierson had the longest rush (74 yards) from scrimmage this season.
Blair Sheade
Winner: TIE
Ben Heeney
The bearded face of the team anchored and led the defense this season. Senior linebacker Ben Heeney’s 127 tackles are good for most in the Big 12. Against Texas Tech, he recorded 21 tackles, which is the most at Kansas in a single game since 1979. Just as important as his on-field play was his leadership on and off the field. Heeney, a second-time team captain, finished his career with 335 total tackles, which puts him eighth on the school list.
Stella Liang
JaCorey Shepherd
Shepherd ended his senior campaign on a low note after being torched by the conference’s best receiver Tyler Lockett. But prior to the Kansas State game, Shepherd led the Big 12 in pass defense with 19 passes defended. Of his 19, 16 of those were pass breakups and three were interceptions. Aside from the first and last game of the year, Shepherd did not surrender a single touchdown.
Shane Jackson
JaCorey Shepherd
Every Big 12 team picked on senior cornerback JaCorey Shepherd, who often guarded the opposing team’s best wide receiver. But Shepherd responded by leading the Big 12 in pass deflections. Shepherd also led Kansas with three interceptions. Bowen often kept Shepherd on an island with the opposing wide receivers, especially against TCU, where Shepherd intercepted TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin and broke up a pass.
Blair Sheade
Winner: JACOREY SHEPHARD
Defensive Player of the Year
The bearded face of the team anchored and led the defense this season. Senior linebacker Ben Heeney’s 127 tackles are good for most in the Big 12. Against Texas Tech, he recorded 21 tackles, which is the most at Kansas in a single game since 1979. Just as important as his on-field play was his leadership on and off the field. Heeney, a second-time team captain, finished his career with 335 total tackles, which puts him eighth on the school list.
Stella Liang
Nigel King’s catch
There was not a more bizarre or fantastic play this season than junior wide receiver Nigel King’s circus reception. King was running down the sideline when the pass was thrown his way. It was batted into the air by him and the defender at least three times. Using extreme concentration, he finally ended up with the ball, evaded his defender and ran 78 yards into the end zone.
Stella Liang
Nigel King’s catch
“I don’t believe what I just saw” would suffice when describing this play against TCU. In a game in which everything seemed to be going Kansas’ way, even this play was almost hard to imagine. Many were calling it the best catch of the college football season. After being tipped up by a TCU defensive back, King bobbled it with his right hand three times down the visiting sideline, and proceeded to sprint down the sideline for the touchdown.
Shane Jackson
Nigel King’s catch
The Nigel King 78-yard catch against TCU was the play of the year and a top play on SportsCenter’s top 10 plays. King’s play was the longest reception from scrimmage and the most eye-popping play of the season. A pass thrown by Michael Cummings was tipped by TCU corner back Kevin White then, before the ball went out of bounds, King tipped the ball to himself and ran 78 yards for a score.
Blair Sheade
Winner: NIGEL KING’S CATCH
TCU
Even though the Jayhawks ended up with the loss, this game provided the most hope and excitement for both the team and the faithful Jayhawk fans. They gave the then-No. 4 team in the country a huge scare, and the Jayhawks led that game until late in the third quarter. The offense was crisp and the defense disrupted proficient passer Trevone Boykin. King and Mundine both had over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Stella Liang
TCU
It is hard to imagine a loss as the game of the year, but if there was one game where Kansas played it’s best it would be the game against TCU. Kansas took a then-No. 4 ranked TCU team to the wire in the final game in Memorial Stadium, losing 34-30. Not only did Kansas look its best in those 60 minutes than it did the entire year, but that game alone may have torched TCU’s College Football Playoff hopes. It made Kansas football seem fun once again.
Shane Jackson
TCU
A Kansas loss doesn’t mean it can’t be the game of the year because Kansas played its best three quarters of the season against TCU. Cummings threw for a career high 332 yards, and senior tight end Jimmy Mundine had a career high 137 receiving yards. The Jayhawks led No. 4 TCU 13-10 at halftime, and Kansas held a 27-17 lead in the third quarter before the Horned Frogs scored 17 unanswered points and won 34-30.
Blair Sheade
Winner: TCU GAME
The no-brainer award: TREVOR PARDULA. Pardula was the obvious choice for special teams player of the year.
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