OSU's Sharp Earns National Kicking Honor

Oklahoma State's Quinn Sharp received the nation's top kickoff specialist award Friday, being honored with a 2011 College Football Performance Award.

Sharp, a junior for the Cowboys, led the nation in kickoffs that resulted in touchbacks this season with 61.

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.

Sharp received the same award in 2009 as a freshman.

"On behalf of the College Football Performance Awards, I congratulate 2011 Kickoff Specialist Trophy recipient, Quinn Sharp, who is our first two-time recipient at the FBS level," said Brad Smith, executive director of the College Football Performance Awards. "Sharp finished the season not only with the strongest kickoff performance but the strongest combined placekicking, punting, and kickoff performance."

Sharp's kicking helped the Cowboys to victory in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl with an overtime field goal to give OSU the 41-38 win.

Related Story: Cowboys Win Fiesta Bowl On Overtime Field Goal

No other school has received more Performance Award trophies than Oklahoma State.

Perrish Cox received the award in 2008 for kickoff returns, Dez Bryant won in 2008 for wide receivers, Justin Blackmon in 2010 as a wide receiver and Sharps honors in both 2009 and this year.

Recipients of the College Football Performance Awards are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.