Former Kansas University running back Jon Cornish, the school’s single season rushing leader (1,457 yards in 2006), continues to add to his case as the most decorated professional football player.
Cornish, a native of Canada and standout running back with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders, on Thursday night won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian awards following yet another stellar season.
Cornish is the first Canadian to win the MOP award since Tony Gabriel in 1978. Russ Jackson, who earned the honor in 1963, 1966 and 1969, is the only other Canadian to be named the league’s top player.
Cornish won his second consecutive rushing title this past season as he ran for 1,813 yards, the fourth-highest total in CFL history. He also led the league and set a new franchise record with 2,157 yards from scrimmage. Cornish led all running backs with an average of 7.0 yards per carry and was tops in the CFL this season with 14 touchdowns.
His spectacular season featured nine 100-yard games — including five in a row to tie a franchise record — and a career-best 208-yard effort on Oct. 5 against Winnipeg. He won nine weekly CFL awards in 2013 as well as four monthly honors.
Before breaking his own CFL record this season, Cornish, who hails from Westminster, British Columbia and played at KU from 2002-06, set a CFL record by rushing for the exact totals — 1,457 yards on 258 carries – that he tallied to set the KU single season record.
Cornish ranks 10th on KU’s career rushing list with 2,245 yards and third on KU’s all-time yards-per carry list at 5.9, just 0.6 yards behind co-leaders Gale Sayers and Laverne Smith.
Cornish accepted the awards at a CFL banquet on Thursday night with his mother and girlfriend present.
This morning, he took to Twitter to reinforce his appreciation.
He wrote: “Took a bit of time to name every Stampeder offensive linemen but I wouldn’t be MOP+MOC without my favorite big men. Thank you, everyone!”
**Other recent Cornish updates from KUsports.com:**
Former KU RB Cornish rushes to top of CFL: (July 2012)
Former KU football star Jon Cornish sets CFL record: (November 2012)
