For the next couple weeks we will be counting down the top 15 Colorado football players since the 2005-2006 season. Of course, it’s not the most fun decade to be looking at, but I think the down period created an interesting challenge when creating this list.

As it always goes with these lists, there is not an exact formula to determine the top 15, I tried to weigh a player’s success at CU over all other factors, but of course things like NFL success and fan favorite status creeped into the decision making process.

I’m sure people will disagree with placement, or certain players being left off, but that’s part of the fun of these, so as we work down the list, let me know where you disagree!

#11 – Cody Hawkins

Man, in 2009 if I would have told you that Cody Hawkins would be anywhere near this list, you would have been outraged. Now that the dust has cleared, I think any reasonable fan can look back and admit that Cody was a damn good Colorado Buffalo. Did he have all the physical tools? No. Did he make his fair share of mistakes? Yes. Did he leaves his heart on the field every game, and truly care about the two interlocking letters on his helmet, absolutely. And in the process, he had himself a pretty impressive career.

Not quite a four-year starter, but a four-year contributor, Cody holds all of the major career passing records at CU. Most touchdown passes (60), most passing yards (7,409), and most completions (667). Now full disclosure he also holds the record for most attempts (1,214) and most interceptions (41). He is one of just two quarterbacks in CU history to start a game in 4 different seasons (Steve Vogel).

While, other than being named a freshman All-American at one point, Cody didn’t receive much national recognition, you can get a better idea of the type of player he was by looking at the team awards he received.

• The Derek Singleton Award, selected by his teammates, for spirit, dedication and enthusiasm (Freshman, Sophomore and Senior year.)
• The Gold Group Commitment Award, given by the coaches to those players committed to all-around excellence (Soph and Junior year.)
• The (QB) Iron Buffalo Award  for hard work, dedication, toughness and progress in the weight room (Soph.)
• The Tom McMahon Award for dedication and work ethic (Junior.)
• The Eddie Crowder Award for outstanding leadership.
• The inaugural Kordell Stewart Career Achievement Award, which he shared with Scotty McKnight, for outstanding career achievement (Senior).
• The Hang Tough Award, for overcoming the most adversity.
• The Buffalo Heart Award, selected by the fans, for who they believe has best exemplified heart, grit, determination and desire during their CU career.

You don’t get all that recognition from teammates, coaches and fans when you are a bum. Cody was a heck of a leader, and never (visibly) showed the effects of the harsh words being spewed about his family regularly. He simply strapped it up everyday and went about his business. If you can’t respect that, then that’s on you.

Since graduating from Colorado, Cody has played for the Stockholm Mean Machines in Sweeden, and also led the 2011 US National Team to the gold medal in the IFAF World Cup. Hawkins spent last year as a grad assistant at Ohio State, and recently accepted the offensive coordinator position at Oregon’s Westview High School. He also will coach quarterbacks for this years IFAF World Cup Team, alongside head coach Dan Hawkins.

Previous players:

#12 – Hugh Charles

#13 – George Hypolite

#14 – Greg Henderson

#15 – David Bakhtiari