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2007 PRESEASON HONORS• Academic All-America candidate• Lott Trophy candidate • 1st team all-MWC (USA Today) • 2nd team all-MWC (CollegeFootballNews.com) • MWC's 23rd-best player (CollegeFootballNews.com)
NEW MEXICO:Third-year starter who is one of the most active linebackers in the Mountain West Conference when healthy...made a seamless transition to middle linebacker during the spring and his production at the heart of the Lobo defense should make him a strong candidate for all-MWC honors in 2007...got his first opportunity to play full-time in 2005, starting at outside linebacker, and went on to earn honorable mention all-conference recognition...was a preseason all-MWC selection by Street & Smith's Magazine in 2006 before a hamstring injury sidelined him in the first half of the season...established himself as one of the team's top defensive playmakers and has shown a knack for making big plays when his team needs him most...has two career defensive touchdowns and has blocked a punt that was recovered for a TD...two-time team captain...tremendous performer in the classroom as well, who was named second team Academic All-American in `06...owns a 3.92 cumulative GPA (Business Administration major) and earned his first B grade last fall...is the sixth Academic All-American in program history and the first since 1998...also a three-time Academic All-MWC and two-time Academic All-District selection...a candidate for the 2007 Lott Trophy, which recognizes the top players in the nation with an emphasis on academics, community service and leadership...older brother, George, played nose tackle at UCLA in the mid-90s.2006 (JUNIOR): Played just 31 snaps between weeks 2 - 5 due to a lingering hamstring injury, but made a big impact for the ball-hawking Lobo defense once he got healthy and back on the field...made up for lost time in the final 8 games...recorded: 35 tackles, 5.5 TFLs (-30 yards), 3 sacks (-21 yards), 9 QB hurries and 2 INTs, including a 47-yard return for a TD, after returning to full duty on Oct. 7...was helped off the field after pulling the hamstring late in the season opener vs. Portland State...missed a game for the first time in his career when he had to sit out in week 2 against New Mexico State...started two games with the injury, but was unable to play beyond the first quarter...overall had 43 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and 2 INTs in 12 games...2nd on the team with 10 QB hurries. `06 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. San Diego State...Turned in his best game of the year en route to earning MWC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career...recorded a season-high 8 tackles (6 solo), tied his career-high with 2 sacks (-15 yards) and notched his 2nd INT of the season...set the early tone for defense when he picked off QB Kevin O'Connell across the middle on the 3rd offensive play of the game, setting up a Lobo FG...notched 2 hurries and dropped O'Connell for a 5-yard sack on a 3rd-and-1 play from the UNM 7 in the final seconds of the 1st half...SDSU had a 30-yard FG blocked on the next play...dumped Kevin Craft for a 10-yard loss on the Aztecs' first play of the 2nd half on a reverse pass play...vs. TCU...Part of a sensational defensive performance against one of the league's most balanced offenses...credited for just 1 tackle, but did a nice job pursuing the run and pressuring the pocket (1 QB hurry) to help the Lobos limit the Horned Frogs to a season-low 192 yards of total offense, nearly 200 under their season average...TCU had just 29 rushing yards (1.8 avg.) and 1 first down in the 2nd half...at Colorado State...Helped shut down the Rams' running game (37 yards on 26 carries - 1.4 avg.), recording 4 tackles...had a 4-yard TFL on a 3rd-and-8 play to force a CSU punt...also had a QB hurry and did not miss a tackle in 38 snaps...vs. Utah...Flew around the field, notching 7 tackles, including one in the backfield...at UNLV...Made one of the biggest plays of the game to open the 4th quarter when he intercepted a short pass to the flat and went 47 yards for a TD...jumped high to tip QB Shane Steichen's pass into the air, then gathered in the ball himself and broke a couple tackles to get into the end zone on his first career INT...his athletic play cut the Rebel advantage to 2 (28-26) after UNLV had taken a 28-14 halftime lead...he finished with 4 tackles and a QB hurry in 43 plays...vs. Wyoming...Was back in the starting lineup and played his first full game since the season-opener...made a big impact, getting in on 5 tackles, including 2 for loss and his first sack of the season...also notched 2 QB hurries in 32 active snaps - 1 more than he had played in the past 3 games combined. 2005 (SOPHOMORE): Made an immediate impact in his first year as a starter (all 11 games) and made a late season run to honorable mention all-MWC honors...led the team and was T5th in the MWC with a career-high 11.5 tackles for loss (10 solo, 3 assisted)...8.5 TFLs came in MWC games (T2nd)...team leader with 5.5 sacks (5 solo, 1 assisted), which were T8th in the MWC...5 sacks came against league opponents (T3rd)...62 total tackles (30 solo) were 4th on the Lobos' gang-tackling defense...made at least one stop in the backfield in 10 of 11 games, including 6 straight to close the year...also had 15 QB hurries off the blitz, along with a fumble recovery and a PBU...had 33 tackles, 8 TFLs (-37 yds.), 5 sacks (-34 yds.), and 11 QB hurries in the final 6 games. `05 HIGHLIGHTS: at Utah...Turned in the best game of his young career to lead the Lobos to a pivotal road win...matched his career-high with 9 tackles and established career-highs of 3 tackles for loss (-16 yards) and 2 sacks...also had a 2-yard fumble recovery for a TD in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winner...notched a pair of QB hurries and helped the Lobo defense hold Utah to just 60 net rushing yards, 124 under its season average and the team's lowest in over 2 years...vs. Colorado State...Another fine performance, recording 6 tackles in 47 snaps...recorded a tackle for loss and broke up a screen pass...helped the Lobo D limit the Rams to just 31 yards rushing...at San Diego State...Continued his strong play, recording 4 tackles, including a big 8-yard sack on a 3rd-and-15 play...applied relentless pressure on the pocket, recording a career-high 4 QB hurries...part of a fine defensive performance as UNM frustrated QB Kevin O'Connell and held star RB Lynell Hamilton to just 28 yards on 9 carries...at Wyoming...Got in on 5 tackles and a solo tackle for loss, helping the Lobos shut down the running game and hold the Cowboy offense to 50 yards below their season average...did a fine job of pressuring the passer, notching 3 QB hurries...was in the backfield to help force one of QB Corey Bramlet's 4th quarter interceptions...vs. BYU...Finished with 6 tackles and had a big 7-yard sack to force a BYU punt in the first quarter...also had a QB hurry...at UTEP...Established the defensive level of intensity by recording 7 of his career-high 9 tackles in the first half...finished with 7 solo stops, including a tackle for loss, and had a QB pressure...helped the Lobos shut down the explosive Miners in the final 3 quarters and limit RB Tyler Ebell to 42 yards...vs. New Mexico State...Aggressive defensive performance, making 2 of his 6 tackles in the backfield...did a nice job of pressuring the pocket, notching two QB hurries and assisting on a sack...vs. UNLV...Excellent performance in his first game as a starter...led the team with 7 tackles, including 5 solo stops...also got in on a TFL and had a QB hurry. 2004 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Spent the year as senior Fola Fashola's understudy at outside linebacker and played in all 12 games, primarily on special teams...finished with 5 tackles and blocked a punt at Air Force that was recovered for a TD by Tyson Ditmore. HIGH SCHOOL:A 2003 graduate of Valencia (Calif.) Hart HS...outside linebacker who was co-MVP of the Foothill League and All-CIF Division 2 as a senior...had 87 tackles, 6 interceptions and 5 sacks...also 55 receptions for 963 yards and 3 TDs as a receiver...led Hart to a 12-1-1 record and a spot in the division finals...a two-year starter for head coach Mike Herrington...excellent basketball player as well, earning Foothill League Player of the Year and second team All-CIF honors as a junior.PERSONAL:Born June 28, 1985, in Valencia...age is 22...full name is Cody James Kase...son of George and Judy...Business Administration major.CAREER HIGHS:Tackles: 9, at UTEP (9/24/05), at Utah (11/12/05). Tackles For Loss: 3, at Utah (11/12/05). Sacks: 2, twice. QB Hurries: 4, at San Diego State (10/22/05). |
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