Kansas’ Montell Cozart charts a path to opening-night success

Here is the blueprint for a perfect Saturday. Montell Cozart will arrive at Memorial Stadium in the afternoon. He will cue up his iPod, pre-programmed with a special 10-song playlist. He will step onto the stadium turf for warmups.

The first song, Cozart says, is a rap song called “Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mill. It’s the kind of song, he says, that allows him to clear his head and visualize what will transpire over the next four hours.

Then, he will play — with the following goals in mind:

“Throw for about 350 (yards),” Cozart says, “Run for about 50-plus, and (we) beat them up.”

Yes, it’s fair to say that Cozart, Kansas’ sophomore quarterback, is not setting the bar low in the Jayhawks’ season opener against Southeast Missouri State at 6 p.m. Saturday. After seeing limited action as a true freshman, Cozart is now the leading man in the Jayhawks’ new spread offense. He is no longer the fidgety freshman that completed fewer than 40 percent of his passes. He is not established, either, but his coach sees a young signal-caller who is making consistent progress.

“I think that right now he’s confident bordering on cocky,” KU coach Charlie Weis said, “and that’s a good place to be. I never saw that at any time last year.”

Cozart, a graduate of Bishop Miege, objects to the word “cocky.” He prefers another word: swag. To be cocky is to be selfish, Cozart says. To have swag is a lifestyle.

“I wouldn’t use the word cocky, because I’ve never been that type of guy,” Cozart said. “So I’m going to use the word swag. That’s just how I am. That’s just what comes with being a quarterback.”

One year after taking his first snaps, Cozart has a new scheme and fresh weapons at his disposal. Senior receiver Nick Harwell, a transfer from Miami (Ohio), will make his KU debut, while freshman Corey Avery and juco transfer De’Andre Mann will split carries at running back. More than anything, though, Cozart now has experience. And for Weis, that could make all the difference.

“For us to win more football games, it starts with the guy with the ball in his hands on every play,” Weis said. “Our completion percentage was crummy. He was part of that, OK. And everyone else was part of that too — coaches, players, everyone.

“But I think you’re going to see a different kid.”

This story was originally published September 5, 2014 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Kansas’ Montell Cozart charts a path to opening-night success."