Charlie Weis: Montell Cozart is Kansas’ starting quarterback

Montell Cozart will be the man for Kansas.

Five days after Cozart earned offensive MVP honors in the annual spring game, KU coach Charlie Weis officially named him the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback.

Cozart, a sophomore from Bishop Miege, led the Blue team to a 20-10 victory while completing six of 10 passes for 58 yards. He also rushed for 70 yards and two touchdowns in seven carries.

Cozart beat out senior Jake Heaps and sophomore transfer T.J. Millweard for the starting job. Heaps had a solid spring, according to coaches, but he struggled to move the first-team offense during the spring game.

“After the completion of post spring ball evaluations and individual player meetings, I met with the offensive staff and we have decided to name Montell Cozart our starting quarterback,” Weis said in a statement released on Thursday morning.

Now it will be up to Cozart to run new offensive coordinator John Reagan’s no-huddle, spread scheme. Weis and Reagan previously said they hoped a starter would emerge by the end of spring ball, but they stayed mum on the quarterback spot after the spring game.

Heaps, a former transfer from BYU, completed 49 percent of his passes last season before being replaced by Cozart, then a true freshman. Cozart, also a threat in the running game, completed 36 percent of his passes while rushing for 214 yards on 66 carries during his freshman season.

Kansas will open the 2014 season on Sept. 6 against Southeast Missouri State at Memorial Stadium.

This story was originally published April 17, 2014 at 10:37 AM with the headline "Charlie Weis: Montell Cozart is Kansas’ starting quarterback."