Yesterday's installment of our countdown series spotlighted Anthonie Cooper, an under-the-radar defensive end hoping to make a splash for Arizona State this season. Today, with 95 days until Sun Devil football returns, we take a look at an all-time under-the-radar defensive end in Sun Devil legend Bob Kohrs.
Born and raised in Phoenix, Kohrs was a standout pass rusher who also kicked field goals while playing for Brophy Colleg Prep High School. Kohrs was born the same year that Frank Kush started his first year as the Sun Devils head coach, so he grew up watching Kush turn the program into a winner.
When Kohrs committed to Arizona State, he spoke about how he knew he wanted to be a Sun Devil for quite some time. The allure of becoming a hometown hero and continuing the tradition of excellence that Kush had started was what ultimately made Kohrs' decision for him.
And he did exactly that.
Kohrs joined Arizona State at the same time that fellow edge rusher Al Harris was rising to superstardom. It didn't take long before the Sun Devils could say they had the best one-two punch rushing the quarterback between Harris and Kohrs.
The 1978 season marked the first time that the school began to track sacks, a statistic that had just started to gain popularity. That year, Harris went on to finish with a whopping 19 sacks, but Kohrs wasn't far behind with 14. To this day, only Harris and Terrell Suggs have topped Kohrs' 14 sacks in a single season.
Despite that, though, Kohrs remained firmly in the shadow of Harris. While his rushing mate was named to the First-Team All-Pac 10 that year, Kohrs didn't even receive an honorable mention. That's continued in the annals of history, too, with Kohrs often being forgotten when talking about the greatest to ever do it in the maroon and gold.
Kohrs did see more recognition his senior year, when Harris left for the NFL. His eight sacks earned him a First-Team All-Pac 10 nod this time around, and Kohrs was then drafted by the Steelers in the second round. He retired after five seasons in Pittsburgh, and never really had the success in the NFL that he did in Tempe.
Still, Kohrs stands today as a foundational piece of the early days of Sun Devil football dominance. He was credited with 22 sacks in his college career, which ranks sixth in program history; remember, those totals only reflect his final two years, when they were actually recorded. Kohrs also ranks second in program history in tackles for loss, making an equal contribution on run defense during his time in Tempe.
Bob Kohrs may not be the hallowed name that Terrell Suggs is these days, but he was every bit as crucial to the history of this program. And with 95 days left until kickoff, the Sun Devils would be extremely fortunate to find themselves another player like Kohrs.