108 yards. An NFL record. That’s what Randall Cobb’s third quarter kick return touchdown Thursday was. To say the rookie made an instant impression on the NFL would be an understatement. The thing is, we Kentucky fans already knew the secret. Randall Cobb was a stud here for 3 years. The question is, is he the best to ever play at UK?
Before I answer this, let’s set some boundaries. What are we considering best ever? Is it team success? Is it individual accolades, regardless of record? Is it the quality of an NFL career? How about all three?
[I][SIZE=1]Pictured: the less manly Randall Cobb[/SIZE][/I]
As far as team success goes, Cobb has seen his share of it. Three bowl seasons, two bowl wins, upsets of Georgia and Auburn on the road, the first school win over Steve Spurrier. There’s a lot to choose from. But if we go back to the 40’s and 50’s, Bear Bryant’s heyday at UK, there are some other guys who experienced team success as well, guys such as George Blanda, Bob Gain, Lou Michaels, and Babe Parilli. With the exception of Blanda, all of those former players are in the College Football Hall of Fame, with a total of 6 All-American selections between them. Gain and Parilli were also members of the only Kentucky team to win the SEC, in 1950. Gain made 5 Pro Bowls and played on three NFL champions. Michaels played in two Pro Bowls as well. Parilli played in three Pro Bowls and won a ring with the Jets in Super Bowl III.
[I][SIZE=1]Pictured: George Blanda. Probably. Or not.[/SIZE][/I]
Even though Blanda didn’t make the college HOF, he did play 26 years in the NFL & AFL, getting enshrined in Canton, so I doubt he’s complaining. Some other notable accomplishments for “The Grand Old Man”: most passing TDs in a game (7), most seasons played (26), most PATs made (943) and attempted (959), most INTs thrown in a season (42!), most INTs in a career (277), most pass attempts in a game (68, until Drew Bledsoe had 70 in 1994), most seasons scoring a point (26), oldest to play in NFL game (48 years, 109 days), oldest QB to start a title game, and one of only two players to play in four different decades. Not too shabby. But for all of that, his QB stats for two seasons as starter at UK were 120-242 passes, for a 49.6 completion percentage, getting him 1451 yards and 12 TDs in the process. By comparison, Tim Couch had 363-547 (66.4%) for 3,884 yards and 37 TDs…as a sophomore. His junior year was even better.
Speaking of Couch, we saw him get an All-American nod of his own, becoming a top overall NFL draft pick in the process. Unfortunately, that is pretty much where the good news ends. He ended up on a crappy Cleveland team, got beat to death, and broke his leg getting the Browns to the playoffs in 2002. He had respectable numbers in the NFL, and I’ll always say the worst decision he ever made was coming out his junior year, when Cleveland had the number one pick as an expansion team. Had he waited a season, he could’ve ended up elsewhere in a draft that had Chad Pennington as the first QB drafted, 18th overall. But there is no denying his impact on the college game for 2 seasons as a starter. The problem is, he didn’t really play on good teams, save for the Outback Bowl appearance against Penn State his junior year.
[I][SIZE=1]Joe Paterno’s high school yearbook. He took Bathsheba to prom that year.[/SIZE][/I]
So what about Randall Cobb? He made All-Freshman SEC in 2008, All-SEC first team in 2009 & 2010, and three different All-American lists in 2010. He holds the SEC record for single season all-purpose yardage, and is the all-time touchdowns leader at UK. But more than anything, fans will remember his knack for the ball. He almost always found a way to make a play, or extend a play, or just blow your mind from seemingly out of nowhere. “The Legend of Cobb” is not one to be taken lightly, and it will only grow as time goes by.
[I][SIZE=1]Much like the legends of the fall.[/SIZE][/I]
But what about his pro potential? We saw flashes of it Thursday, and I for one was certainly not expecting it. His 32-yard TD reception in the second quarter surprised everyone, and the fact that it came on a busted route makes it even better. As long as both Cobb and Aaron Rodgers are in Green Bay, I expect more of the same. I can see him being a number three, if not number two, receiver by the end of the season. As for the kick return, the rule change makes it improbable that we will see many of those this year, but punt return may be a different story. There are at least one or two Pro Bowls in his future, if not more.
[I][SIZE=1]If this didn’t make you feel bad for him, you have no soul.[/SIZE][/I]
So, what’s the verdict? Is Cobb the best to play at UK? Honestly, it’s really hard for me to make the call. I think he gets it over everyone but maybe Couch, just for the sheer gaudiness of Couch’s stats. If Hal Mumme believed in defense, Couch would have captained some legendary teams. But there is no doubt in my mind he will have a better NFL career than Couch, because the Packers aren’t a crap franchise. Still, it will be hard to beat George Blanda, even if the NFL was an entirely different animal 50 years ago. Also, I’d have to listen to an old-timer’s point of view on the guys from the Bear Bryant years to get the stories that stats and accolades don’t tell. If nothing else, the fact Randall Cobb’s name is even in the discussion shows how much he meant to this team, and I swell up with pride every time I see him play. We love you, Randall. Thanks for a great three years.
Now go make us proud.
[B][I]Follow @chris_minton on Twitter for a little UK talk, and lots of random thoughts and crude words.[/I][/B]
