Jan. 17, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former University of Kentucky do-it-all player Randall Cobb made the transition from the Southeastern Conference to the National Football League very well as he has been named to the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America’s 2011 All-Rookie Team as the kickoff returner.
Cobb, who handled kickoff and punt return duties for the Green Bay Packers, finished the season with one punt return for a touchdown and one kickoff return for a touchdown. The native of Alcoa, Tenn., averaged 27.7 yards per kickoff return, fifth-best in the NFL (min. one return per game), and tied the league record for longest return with a 108-yard touchdown in the season opener. Cobb also averaged 11.3 yards per punt return, third in the league (min. one return per game), with one touchdown. Offensively, Cobb caught 25 passes for 375 yards, 15.0-yard average per reception, with one touchdown.
Cobb, who gave up his senior season of eligibility to enter the draft, played wide receiver, quarterback, punt returner, kickoff returner and placekick holder during his three seasons with the Wildcats. He earned first-team All-America honors in 2010 from The Associated Press, ESPN.com and SportsIllustrated.com. In his final season with UK, Cobb caught 84 passes for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 424 yards and five touchdowns, throwing three touchdown passes and returning a punt for a TD. He broke the SEC single-season record for all-purpose yardage by totaling 2,396 rushing, receiving and kick return yards.
Despite playing only three seasons, Cobb set the UK career touchdown record with 37, including 22 rushing, 13 receiving and two on punt returns. Cobb also exited Kentucky ranked fourth all-time in all-purpose yardage with 4,674 yards, fourth in career scoring with 226 points, fifth in career pass receptions with 144 and sixth in receiving yardage with 1,661.
During his time at Kentucky, Cobb was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference performer in 2009 and 2010, while also earning SEC All-Freshman team honors in 2008. Cobb has a history of making clutch plays after securing five game-winning, fourth-quarter touchdowns during his career at UK — vs. Arkansas in 2008; vs. Louisville, Auburn and Georgia in 2009; and vs. South Carolina in 2010. Cobb also helped lead Kentucky to three consecutive bowl games.
