Oklahoma State University Athletics
Five Cowboys Are Performance Award Favorites
July 16, 2012 | Cowboy Football
July 16, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle, Jeremy Smith, Brodrick Brown, Justin Gilbert, and Quinn Sharp were listed on the 2012 College Football Performance Awards Watch List at their respective positions, it was announced today.
Sharp won the 2009 kickoff specialist performance award as a freshman after leading the nation in kickoffs that resulted in touchbacks with 35. Sharp won the same award in 2011 with a nation-leading 61 kickoffs that resulted in touchbacks. According to the College Football Performance Awards criteria, Sharp's kickoff performance is the strongest since the kickoff was moved back to the 30 yard line, surpassing the 2008 performance of Dallas Cowboys kicker David Buehler. He is a candidate for the placekicker award, punter award, and specialist award, which honors the top overall kicking performance. "Sharp finished the 2011 season with the strongest combined kicking performance in the FBS. He returns for the 2012 season as the only two-time recipient in CFPA history," stated CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith.
Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith are candidates for the running back award, while Brodrick Brown and Justin Gilbert are candidates for the defensive back award. In addition, Gilbert is on the kickoff returner award watch list as the nation's career leader with four kickoff returns for touchdowns.
No other school has received more Performance Award trophies than Oklahoma State the last four years. Perrish Cox (2008 kickoff returner), Dez Bryant (2008 wide receiver), Justin Blackmon (2010 wide receiver), and Sharp (2009 and 2011 kickoff specialist) have all finished seasons with the strongest performances at their respective positions.
The purpose of the College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Since its inception, nineteen CFPA recipients have been first round NFL Draft selections.
