National Awards

2015

Jeremy Faulk Frank Murphy

1997

NJCAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR • JEREMY FAULK

To say Jeremy Faulk came out of nowhere in 2015 may be the ultimate understatement. The Palatka, FL native was not heavily recruited out of Palatka High School. He had 71 tackles, three sacks and two fumbles his senior season, earning a spot in the Florida vs. Georgia All-Star Game. But it did little to attract Power-5 schools, so Faulk inked with Florida Atlantic, giving his commitment to then assistant coach Jeff Sims.

“If I told you that Jeremy Faulk would be as good as he was in 2015, I’d be lying to you,” Sims said. “At Florida Atlantic, he couldn’t even get on the field. He just needed a chance.”

He redshirted with the Owls in 2013; then was on the scout team a year later. That prompted a change in scenery for Faulk. And when Sims was let go after Carl Pelini was fired, the defensive lineman left the program.

Then came November, 2014. Following a 3-8 campaign, Matt Miller was fired as Head Coach. A few weeks later, Sims was hired, setting up a reunion between a journeyman coach and an upstart defensive tackle.

The marriage worked. And despite another 3-8 season, Faulk made the most of his opportunity. He recorded 10 or more tackles four times, including a season-high 13 vs. Air Force Prep and Iowa Western. In the Broncbusters week-nine upset of No. 1 Butler, Faulk registered eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup, closing the year with 87 stops, 17 for loss and three sacks.

Once the season ended, Faulk signed with Baylor. But off-the-field issues that got Art Briles axed, had Faulk searching for another program. In August, 2016, Faulk returned to Garden City, spearheading one of the best defenses in Junior College history. He finished the year with 75 tackles and six sacks, pulverizing Hutchinson with 18 stops in week four, all while playing with a 102-degree fever.

CAREER STATISTICS

Year Tackles TFL Sacks Force fum Fum Rec Breakup

2015 87 18.5 3 2 2 3

2016 75 15 6 2 1 3

Totals 162 33.5 9 4 3 6 NJCAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR • FRANK MURPHY

Frank Murphy’s path to Garden City was indeed a bumpy one. Growing up in Florida, Murphy signed as a wide receiver with Itawamba Community College in 1995. The following year, he transferred to Garden City and redshirted during the 1996 season. But in 1997, Murphy made a name for himself, becoming the most lethal weapon in the NJCAA.

Murphy’s 15 carry, 212-yard performance during a 59-0 rout of Fort Scott in the season opener, definitely opened some eyes. A month later, his offensive antics were on full display, carrying 16 times for 225 yards and a touchdown in a 57-6 victory over rival Dodge City. It was all part of a resume that included six 100-yard rushing games.

Murphy guided Garden City to the Jayhawk Conference Championship, which included a victory over Coffeyville in the Region VI title game, the same Red-Raven squad that had squashed the Broncbusters 41-13 a month earlier. The win propelled Garden City into their first-ever National Championship Game, falling to Trinity Valley 48-13.

While the on-the-field accolades shined brightest, the final numbers are even more impressive considering what he was dealing with off-thefield. By season’s end, the sophomore tallied 1,370 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. He caught 17 balls for 266 yards and returned two kickoffs for scores; the most eye-popping of which came vs. Hutchinson, where he raced 88 yards to the end zone in a 26-2 humiliation of the Blue Dragons. His most impressive feat though came vs. Highland, scoring six touchdowns in the first half. As a side note, Murphy did all of that even though a hamstring injury sideline him for Garden City’s postseason opener vs. Dodge City.

Murphy eventually signed with Kansas State where he was a reserve running back, totaling 257 yards and five touchdowns in 1998. In 1999, he was second on the team with 541 yards on the ground and six scores. The following April, Murphy was taken in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Drafty by the Chicago Bears.

CAREER STATISTICS

Year Carries Yards TD’s Rec YDS Rec TD’s KO TD

1997 210 1,370 20 266 4 2 Totals 210 1,370 20 266 4 2

1994

Chris Windsor

NJCAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR • CHRIS WINDSOR

Prior to his arrival in Garden City, Chris Windsor had already made headlines. In 1993, he led Jones County to a 9-2-1 record and an appearance in the Texas Junior College Shrine Bowl. But following the season, the dual-threat quarterback wanted a change of scenery.

In February, 1994, Windsor transferred to Garden City, setting the stage for one of the greatest single-seasons in program history.

In week one vs. Dodge City, Windsor showed off his efficiency, finishing 10-of-12 for 142 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-0 shutout. A few weeks later vs. Independence, he did it again, going 9-of-12 for 237 yards and two touchdowns. From that point on, Windsor was nearly unstoppable.

He threw for 275 and three touchdowns in a win over powerhouse Coffeyville. He followed that up with a 17-of-28, 217-yard, four touchdown performance in a 38-7 victory over Dodge City and a 243-yard, five scoring toss game vs. Hutchinson. The five touchdowns still stands as the second most in a game in school history.

With their 49-26 rout of Hutchinson in the Jayhawk Conference Championship Game, Windsor had done something no other quarterback at Garden City had ever done to that point-lead the Broncbusters to an undefeated season. But he had paid a price. Windsor was knocked out of the contest with a fractured jaw. But after getting it wired shut, he returned to throw for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

Windsor’s only downfall during the 1994 season came in the Dixie Rotary Bowl vs. Dixie State, where he threw three interceptions in a 26-21 loss. It was only the second time all year he had tossed multiple picks in the same game (he threw two vs. Dodge City).

Still, what Windsor accomplished that year was incredible. He threw for 2,252 yards, the third highest single-season total in program history. He completed 63 percent of his passes, and threw 24 touchdowns to only six interceptions, while the offense ranked second in the nation in yards per game (489). He was named the conference offensive player of the year and a first-team, NJCAA All-American, earning a spot amongst 11 finalists for National Player of the Year. Windsor eventually beat out six other quarterbacks including Donald Sellers from the National Champion Trinity Valley Cardinals and Daren Wilkinson from Ricks, who led the country with 3,104 yards and 31 touchdowns. The Broncbusters fell short of winning a National Championship, but they were ranked in the top five for most of the season. Windsor became the first Garden City quarterback since Rallegh Kelly in 1977 to be named a firstteam All-American.

On New Year’s Eve, Windsor signed with Southern Mississippi over Kansas and Kansas State. In fact, he was close to signing with the Jayhawks before he left Lawrence to take one more official visit. When Windsor left the building, Kansas signed Northeastern Oklahoma quarterback Ben Rurtz.

CAREER STATISTICS

Year Comp Att Yards TDs INT PCT 1994 148 235 2,252 24 6 64 Totals 148 235 2,252 24 6 64