Overview

Cobb's a 'tweener lacking the size to be a full-time back or the ball skills and deep speed of a pure receiver. However, he could still make plays as a scat back, sub-package slot receiver and as a returner. Plays his best in the biggest moments. Possesses solid vision, enough quickness to get the corner and gain yards after short passes but isn't a true home run threat. Could be an effective third down back with his short area speed and route-running but hands need to be more consistent and he has a ways to go in pass protection. Cobb is a late Day 2 prospect.

Strengths
Cobb possesses rare competitiveness and great intangibles. Not afraid of contact, going over the middle, or pass blocking. Good short area speed, can press the line and get to the perimeter. Good route-runner and can get open against zone. Versatile - high school quarterback who played running back, receiver, returned kicks, and in the Wildcat in college.
Weaknesses
Lacks bulk for a running back. Does not possesses great top-end speed and not overly elusive in the open field. Does not have the strength and power to carry the load or push the pile. Only possesses adequate overall ball skills as a receiver. Struggles to sustain his blocks.
Grade
7.8

[align=center]Randall Cobb | Wide Receiver | Kentucky | 5'10" - 191 lbs.[/align] 

2009 (Sophomore): First-team All-SEC as an all-purpose player by The Associated Press and ESPN.com ... Won team awards as UK's Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Player and Most Inspirational Offensive Player ... Ranked second in the SEC in touchdowns, third in punt returns, fourth in all-purpose yardage and seventh in scoring ... Also would have ranked fifth in the league in kickoff returns, but did not have enough returns to qualify ... Led the team in receiving with 39 catches for 447 yards and four touchdowns ... Had seven catches for a career-best 96 yards in the opener vs. Miami (Ohio) ... Had three game-winning touchdowns in the fourth quarter -- a 12-yard TD catch with 4:28 remaining vs. Louisville; a four-yard run at Auburn with 3:17 left that was set up by his own career-long 61-yard run; and a one-yard run at Georgia with 9:55 to go in the game ... Scored 15 total touchdowns, second on the UK single-season list ... Second on the team in rushing with 573 yards and 10 TDs ... Reached the century mark with 109 rushing yards at Auburn and 101 vs. Tennessee ... Returned 24 punts for 308 yards, including a 73-yard TD jaunt against ULM ... Averaged 26.5 yards on kickoff returns ... Averaged 139.4 all-purpose yards per game, with a career-high 237 all-purpose vs. Mississippi State.

2008 (Freshman): Named to the SEC All-Freshman team at quarterback ... Played in 11 games, starting four games at wide receiver and then the last four games of the regular season at quarterback ... Won his first QB start at Mississippi State and is believed to be the first UK true freshman QB to start and and win an SEC road game since freshmen became eligible in the early 1970s ... Rushed for a season-high 82 yards and three touchdowns vs. Georgia ... Threw for a career-best 144 yards vs. Vanderbilt ... Playing in the Arkansas game as a wide receiver, he caught two touchdown passes in the final 4:15 to give the Wildcats a dramatic 21-20 come-from-behind victory over the Razorbacks ... Wore uniform No. 12 in the Arkansas game as a tribute to Dicky Lyons, who had suffered a season-ending injury the previous week ... Was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his effort vs. Arkansas ... By the end of the season, was the only player in the nation who was the team's starting quarterback and punt returner ... Missed all of one game and most of two others because of a high ankle sprain sustained vs. Middle Tennessee.

High School: Named "Mr. Football" for Class AA in Tennessee ... Dual-threat quarterback from perennial power Alcoa HS ... Alcoa won four-consecutive state championships, the last two with Cobb at the offensive controls as the starting QB ... Team posted a 27-3 mark during his two campaigns as a starter ... As a senior, completed 89 of 139 passes (64.0 percent) for 1,765 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only two interceptions ... Rushed for 793 yards, a 9.0-yard average per carry, and 13 touchdowns ... During his junior season, threw for 1,893 yards, 25 TDs, and just four interceptions ... All-state as a junior and senior ... Coached by Gary Rankin ... One of the top-11 prospects in Tennessee by the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel ... One of the top-20 prospects in Tennessee, according to Rivals.com ... Four-year member of the track team, competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, along with the 4x100- and 4x200-meter relays ... Finished third in the state in the 100 his senior year, with a best time of 10.75 seconds ... Clocked a personal-best 21.89 in the 200 ... His 4x100 relay unit was second in the state his junior year ... An all-district basketball player as a junior ... Honor-roll student ... Named to Who's Who Among American High School Students.

Personal: Born in Maryville, Tenn. ... Son of Randall Sr. and Tina Cobb ... A cousin, Shannon Mitchell, played football for Georgia and the NFL's San Diego Chargers ... Another cousin, Billy Williams, played football at Tennessee and the NFL's St. Louis Rams ... Major is community communications and leadership development.

Community Cats: Participated in events at Leestown Middle School (2008), Pine Meadows Healthcare (2008), Shriner's Hospital (2009, 2010), Cardinal Hill Hospital (2009), a youth football league (2009), Read Across America (2010), Relay for Life (2010) and the UK Hospital Dance Blue fundraiser (2010).

Overview

One of the most celebrated recent high school football players from Tennessee shocked everyone in 2008 by deciding to attend Kentucky, offering up one more nail in the coffin of Phil Fulmer's tenure as head coach at Tennessee.

Cobb immediately made the All-SEC Freshman team as a quarterback in 2008 despite starting only four games at the position, making the switch late in the season following four starts at receiver. It was immediately clear that Cobb was a triple threat to pass, run and catch on any play. Highlights of his true freshman year included catching two touchdowns late to rally the Wildcats against Arkansas,21-20, and 100 yards both passing and rushing against Georgia,

Too short to project to the NFL as a quarterback, Cobb found a home at receiver as a sophomore, where he was All-SEC as an "all purpose performer," averaging almost 140 yards per game in offense and kick/punt returns. He finished with 447 yards receiving, first on a team with inconsistent quarterback play. While Cobb was green at receiver, his natural athletic talent was obvious.

Cobb was ready for primetime in 2010, breaking out with 84 catches for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns, not to mention an additional 424 yards rushing with five touchdowns and 955 combined yards returning punts and kicks. Game highlights included 12 catches for 171 yards against Mississippi State, 226 yards rushing and receiving with two touchdowns against Vanderbilt and 13 catches for 116 yards against Tennessee.

Cobb is an excellent slot or No. 2 receiver prospect running primarily short and intermediate routes at the NFL level, but lacks the elite straight-line speed and size the NFL usually demands for consideration as a No. 1 receiver. He should fit well in a quick throw, West Coast type of offense, and offers great versatility as a runner, kick returner and Wildcat quarterback, not to mention a dependable holder for field goals.

Bright, hard working, dedicated and athletic, Randall Cobb has a lot of talent and very little risk.
Analysis

Release: Extremely quick first step off the snap. Strong and physical enough to beat the press, but more likely to use quickness and elusiveness to escape coverage. Played in the slot and/or was in motion a lot. Very good at getting open quickly with cuts and burst.

Hands: Soft, natural hands are used to snatch the ball away from the body. Very few drops, even counting the two short ones over the middle vs. Pitt in the Compass Bowl from the backup quarterback. Adjusts well to the ball. Caught the ball in traffic a lot and almost always held on. Will hold onto the ball while taking a big hit. Secures the ball well and rarely puts it on the ground. Can be counted on to field punts and kickoffs cleanly. Holds for field-goal attempts.

Route running: Excellent, disciplined route running originates from being a former quarterback, knowing what happens when the route is not run correctly. Crisp, sharp cuts and turns. Breaks tackles and gets YAC consistently. Student of the game prides himself on not making mental errors. Not a true blazer, but fast enough, very shifty and tends to get separation consistently.

Blocking: Small frame limits the benefits of quality technique and effort. Will sacrifice body against larger defenders. Good knee bend, extension of arms and hand placement. True team player gives all in every assignment.

Intangibles: Dedicated to football. Puts in outstanding effort, leads by example and never takes a play off. Leader off the field, participating in a wide variety of community and charity causes. Honor Roll student in high school. Does the small things well, such as being a reliable holder for field goals. Received high praise from coaches. While Cobb missed a couple of games early in his career with minor injuries, he produced consistently during a healthy 2010 season.

--Brad Noel

Sounds like a classic Ted Thompson pick. Probable replacement for James Jones if he goes in FA and can return kicks to boot.

"RainX" wrote: