Davis High alum, SUU lineman James Cowser named FCS defensive player of the year
Editor’s Note: This article is a press release from Southern Utah University.
Davis High School alum and Southern Utah Thunderbirds defensive end James Cowser was named the Football Championship Subdivision Defensive Player of the Year by the FCS Athletic Directors Association.
During a break in the 2016 FCS Championship football game in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 9, the FCS ADA, in coordination with the 13 FCS conference offices, presented Cowser with the award.
“It is a great honor to receive the ADA Player of the Year award. I think it is just a reflection of the type of team we had, both on and off the field,” Cowser said.
Cowser had a great all-around season with 68 tackles (34 solo), 19 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown), three quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.
“To receive an award like this means that you are surrounded by great people, which I truly am,” Cowser said.
Cowser is one of many team leaders to help make 2015’s turnaround for the Thunderbirds, from the 2014 team that went 3-9 to the 2015 team that won the Big Sky Championship. The Thunderbirds finished with a 7-1 conference record and advanced to the FCS playoffs, finishing the year with an 8-4 record. Cowser helped his team set a new SUU record with seven consecutive wins in a season.
“James is an amazing competitor,” Ed Lamb said, Cowser’s head coach at SUU. “His value to our team has always been so much more than the sum of his statistics. His work ethic and positive attitude will be a lasting legacy at SUU for years to come.”
Cowser currently holds a 4.0 GPA in a master’s of professional communication program.
Cowser was recently named to All-America teams by STATS, Associated Press and the ADA. He has been invited to attend the NFL’s Scouting Combine in February and will be playing in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 23 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Fellow Big Sky Conference competitor, Eastern Washington’s wide receiver Cooper Kupp, Jr., was honored as the ADA’s National Offensive Player of the Year.