The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 6 Baseball’s Cozart named NCBWA Stopper of the Year
06.12.2026 | Baseball
Cozart becomes just second freshman to win prestigious honor in award’s 21-year history
OMAHA, Neb. — University of Texas student-athlete Sam Cozart has been tabbed the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year, recognizing the nation's top relief pitcher, the organization announced Friday morning.
Cozart becomes just the second freshman to be named Stopper of the Year, alongside former Longhorn Corey Knebel (2011).
He is also the fourth Texas player to earn the prestigious honor, joining J. Brent Cox (2005), Chance Ruffin (2010) and Knebel, giving the Longhorns the most recipients of any program in the award's 21-year history.
Entering the Men's College World Series, Cozart boasts a 6-0 ledger with nine saves and a 1.65 ERA in 22 appearances. Over 49 innings, the NCBWA National Freshman Pitcher of the Year has struck out 71 batters and issued 12 walks.
Cozart paces all Division I hurlers (min. 45 inn.) in both WHIP (0.69) and batting average against (.132), while ranking second in ERA behind only UC Santa Barbara's Jackson Flora (1.06).
Among rookies nationally, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound right-hander is tied for the most saves, matching Portland's Alex Via.
An NCBWA First Team All-American, Cozart has helped guide Texas to a 45-12 mark and its record 39th College World Series berth. The Longhorns open their run in Omaha against No. 3 Georgia at 7 p.m. Friday.
