KU quarterback Montell Cozart to have season-ending shoulder surgery

The season of quarterback attrition continues.

As the Kansas football program prepared for a trip to TCU this weekend, coach David Beaty announced Tuesday that junior quarterback Montell Cozart will undergo season-ending surgery on his injured shoulder. Cozart, who began the season as the Jayhawks’ starter, suffered the injury — termed a “shoulder sprain” — in a loss at Iowa State on Oct. 3. Cozart saw time in four games, and Beaty is hopeful that Cozart can receive a waiver for a medical redshirt and preserve a year of eligibility.

Cozart is the third Kansas quarterback to go down since April. Senior Michael Cummings tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the spring game, while reserve quarterback Deondre Ford suffered a season-ending thumb injury in a road loss at Rutgers.

The injuries opened the door for freshman Ryan Willis, who has shown flashes of promise in five starts while battling his own injury issues. Willis injured both groins in Saturday’s 59-20 loss at Texas but is expected to play this Saturday at TCU.

“I feel really good about Ryan playing,” offensive coordinator Rob Likens said Tuesday.

After Willis, the Jayhawks can go to redshirt freshman Keaton Perry, a transfer from TCU and the son of co-defensive coordinator Kenny Perry, or junior T.J. Millweard. Kansas also has true freshman quarterback Carter Stanley on the roster, but Beaty appears set on redshirting Stanley, a native of Vero Beach, Fla.

“After that I think it's probably Coach Likens,” Beaty joked Tuesday. “And I think I've still got a few throws left in me to be honest with you. We don't have a lot left.”

Perry made his first appearance on Saturday against Texas, relieving Willis after the game got out of hand and Willis’ injuries persisted. Perry completed two of six passes with a touchdown and an interception.

“We've got three guys,” Beaty emphasized. “We'll be fine. If something were to happen and we had to get to another guy, we've got plans for that. But we're not going to say anything about that right now.”

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 3:34 PM with the headline "KU quarterback Montell Cozart to have season-ending shoulder surgery."