A week after his father was fired as head coach, Colorado senior quarterback Cody Hawkins was named Big 12 offensive player of the week by a panel of media members that cover the conference.
Hawkins threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns in last weekend’s 34-14 victory over Iowa State. He was not intercepted or sacked in the game and posted a career-best passer rating of 201.02.
Hawkins accounted for 11 first downs against the Cyclones, including one on a quarterback sneak.
“He went through a lot more than anybody would ever know,” interim coach Brian Cabral said on the Big 12 coaches teleconference. “No one can appreciate the adversity, the emotions he went through. And how he handled that was just unbelievable.
“I couldn’t be prouder. I couldn’t be happier for his family. That was befitting.”
This was Hawkins’ first career Big 12 player of the week award. He enters Saturday’s home game against Kansas State with 7,044 career passing yards, second all-time behind Joel Klatt’s 7,375. Hawkins already holds school records for pass attempts (1,163) and touchdown passes (55), and is 24 completions shy of surpassing Klatt in that category.
“You couldn’t say enough positive things about Cody,” said Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, whose team will play Saturday in Boulder. “I think he’s been that way all along, based on what I know about him. He’s a class young guy. It says all the right things. I’m sure he’s torn emotionally. It’s a tribute to his poise and his capacity to manage adversity and do it in a way that it does not disrupt his performance or his leadership with his football team.”
Oklahoma State linebacker Orie Lemon and Texas A&M defensive end Von Miller shared honors as Big 12 defensive player of the week. Texas A&M returner Coryell Judie was named the league’s special teams player of the week.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
