Steve Cockerham (1987) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Steve Cockerham

Induction:
1987
Class:
1981

1974-77
Football
Linebacker
‘81

Without a doubt one of the most outstanding defensive players to ever put on a University of Akron uniform. His destiny was set during his freshman season (1974) when he came off the bench in the second half of the Delaware game to make 14 solo and four assisted tackles. He was never out of the starting lineup the remainder of his career. The 5-11, 212-pound linebacker ended as the team’s leading tackler in 1974, ’75 and ’77. An Akron native, Cockerham established and still holds the all-time season high of 107 solo stops in 1975 and his career marks for solo tackles (373), assisted tackles (342) and total tackles (715). He paced UA’s defense to one of the greatest season’s ever un 1976 with 177 tackles and a team-leading six interceptions. That season UA compiled a 10-3 record and was the NCAA II National Runner-up. For his efforts, Cockerham was selected as UA’s Co-Athlete of the Year. A year later, he was again the recipient of the Athlete of the Year Award. Three times Cockerham was voted an All-American (1975, ’76, ’77), including first team berths in both 1976 and 1977. Now a resident of Barberton, Cockerham was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.