PENSACOLA, Fla. – Delta State University Football's senior quarterback
Cole Kirk represented Delta State University this year at the GSC Commissioner's trophy ceremony at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front as a Gulf South Conference top ten recipient.
The award recognizes the top female and top male student-athletes for their athletic, academic, and extracurricular achievements, during the 2024-25 academic year. The one student-athlete from each group of honorees will be also be awarded the Commissioner's Trophy, which is the conference's most prestigious individual honor and will be announced in-person at the GSC Awards Ceremony.
The GSC Top Ten Award recipients are selected with the assistance of an advisory committee representing Athletics Directors, Senior Woman Administrators (SWA), Athletic Communication Directors, Faculty Athletic Representatives, and Presidents from randomly selected GSC schools, which makes a recommendation to the Commissioner, who has the final decision.
On the field, Kirk led the Statesmen football team, as the team's starting quarterback for three seasons where he has 5,498 total yards in his career and 48 touchdowns. Kirk placed himself in the record book for his six-touchdown performance against Missouri S&T in the 2024 season earning him the d2football.com national player of the week. Cole earned preseason All-GSC honors in the 2025 season.
Off the field, Kirk's academic accomplishments place him among the top student-athletes in the conference. He has maintained a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA while completing his undergraduate degree and progressing through graduate coursework in HPER and Sport & Human Performance. His selection to the Gulf South Conference All-Academic Team and consistent recognition on the GSC Academic Honor Roll further reflect a sustained commitment to excellence in the classroom.
Following graduation, Kirk has already transitioned seamlessly into his professional career as a teacher and coach while also beginning his family life. This immediate progression into service-oriented work speaks to his preparation, leadership, and the character he consistently demonstrates in all areas of his life.
