WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2018

Written by Bryan Messerly

Collegiate: Considered one of the greatest running backs in West Virginia football history, Avon Cobourne finished his career as West Virginia and the Big East Conference’s rushing leader with 5,164 yards and 42 touchdowns … a four-year starter, he was voted team captain as a junior and senior … four-time All-Big East honoree … third-team Associated Press All-American as a senior in 2002 … set WVU records for rushing yards in a season (1,710) and career (5,164), most 100-yard games in a season (10) and career (28), most carries in a season (335) and career (1,023) and tied the record for most consecutive 100-yard games (6) and most touchdowns in a career (42) … holds the Big East record for most carries in a career, most 100-yard games in a career and rushing yards in a career … career high 260 yards against East Carolina in 2002 .. also had 210 yards against Pitt in 1999.

2002 honors: Finished with 1,710 yards and 17 touchdowns … earned Big East first-team honors … third-team Associated Press All-American … No. 7 nationally in rushing (131.5 ypg) …set the WVU season rushing record … career-high 260 yards against East Carolina … also had 193 yards against Cincinnati and 175 yards against Miami … Big East Player of the Week: East Carolina … WVU Offensive Champion: Wisconsin, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Rutgers, Miami … Hammer Award: Wisconsin.

2001 honors: Finished with 1,298 yards and nine touchdowns … earned Big East second-team honors … had eight 100-yard games … No. 2 among Big East rushers … CollegeFootballNews.com all-conference … set Mountaineer Field record with four touchdowns in just over two quarters against Rutgers … had 147 total yards against the Knights … Big East Player of the Week against Rutgers … WVU Offensive Champion against Ohio and Rutgers …

2000 honors: Finished with 1,018 yards rushing and six touchdowns … earned Big East second-team honors … posted five 100-yard rushing performances, despite injuries … ranked No. 3 in Big East in rushing (99.2) and No. 26 nationally … registered season-high 166 yards against Syracuse … finished with 132 yards against Boston College … had 125 yards against Ole Miss in Music City Bowl … earned USAToday.com Conference Player of the Week against Boston College … WVU Offensive Champion: Notre Dame … Offensive Hustler: Boston College and Syracuse … 2000 Iron Mountaineer.

1999 honors: Finished with 1,138 yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman … Sporting News first-team freshman All-American … first team All-Big East … led the Big East in rushing (113.9 ypg) … set the WVU and Big East freshman rushing records … ranked No. 16 in nation in rushing and No. 35 in all-purpose yards … two-time Big East player of the Week … three-time ECAC rookie of the week … four-time WVU offensive player of the week … three-time WVU rookie of the week.

Professional: Cobourne was signed by the Detroit Lions in 2003 after being undrafted … played in seven games, recording seven carries for 27 yards, returning seven kickoffs for 123 yards, and catching four passes for 30 yards … in 2004, moved to the Lions practice squad … during the 2004 season, played for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe … recorded 525 yards on 117 carries in Europe … signed with the Miami Dolphins for the 2005 NFL season, but never played … he opted to play in the CFL in 2006 with the Montreal Alouettes … in his second year, backup to Jarrett Payton, the son of NFL legend Walter Payton … while also playing linebacker, became one of the league's most feared returners … finished third on the team in special teams tackles and rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns on the season … Montreal Alouettes's starting running back in 2008, in which he finished the season with 1,557 all-purpose yards and was named a CFL East Division All-Star … followed this up with an outstanding 2009 season, where he rushed for 1,214 yards and 13 touchdowns, culminating in CFL All-Star recognition and being named the MVP of the 2009 Grey Cup … sat out the 2010 season and signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2011 … started 17 games and two playoff games at running back.

Personal: Cobourne has a degree in marketing from West Virginia University. In the off-season, he is a businessman, operating and acting as president of Pre-Game Enterprises, a sporting goods company based out of Charleston, West Virginia. For now, the company is selling T-shirts, caps, and mouthpieces with Cobourne's signature slogan, Chill Son, in the shape of a football. During the season, the company is run by his wife, Rebecca … born: March 6, 1979.