Junior Randall Cobb, who is already starting to emerge as one of the most talented players to ever put on a Kentucky uniform, may deserve consideration for another lofty title – Heisman Trophy candidate. Crazy, huh?But after returning a punt for a touchdown, catching a touchdown and throwing one for a touchdown, all while solidifying his role as Kentucky’s “jack of all trades,” Cobb has put up numbers in the first two games to warrant a serious consideration for at least some Heisman consideration.Cobb has totaled 342 all-purpose yards in two wins, scoring touchdowns through the air (one passing, one receiving), on the ground (one) and on special teams (one punt return). Total, he has four touchdowns in two games. With stats like that, WLEX reporter Alan Cutler posed an interesting question to head coach Joker Phillips after Tuesday’s practe. Cutler asked Phillips if a player like Cobb played for a program like Florida and had a game like Cobb’s on Saturday, would there be more talk surrounding him for the Heisman Trophy at this point in the year.”I don’t know about that,” Phillips said. “We are who we are. Really, when people say that, that’s a slap in the face to me and our program. I don’t like to think anything like that. We’re trying to get to where we want to get to.”Asked if it was a fair question, Phillips said, “It’s not fair for me to say. It might be fair for you to say. … The Heisman, to me, is the best football player in the country. You make the decision whether he’s the best. He’s the best football player I’ve been around.”With that said, let’s take a look at where Cobb stands in comparison to the Heisman leaders on ESPN.com:Quarterback Denard Robinson (Michigan) – 138.3 passer rating, 430 passing yards, two touchdowns, 69.4 completion percentage; 455 rushing yards, three touchdowns, 8.0 yards per carryQuarterback Kellen Moore (Boise State) – 134.1 passer rating, 215 passing yards, three touchdowns, 60.5 completion percentageQuarterback Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State) – 158.7 passer rating, 480 yards, four touchdowns, 55.8 completion percentage; 130 rushing yards, one touchdown, 4.6 yards per carryQuarterback Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) – 184.6 passer rating, 701 passing yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions, 73.1 completion percentageWide receiver Randall Cobb (Kentucky) – 106 rushing yards, one touchdown, 13.2 yards per carry; 34 passing yards, one touchdown; seven catches, 117 yards, one touchdown, 16.7 yards per catch; 44 punt-return yards, one touchdown; 75 kick-return yardsCobb’s statistics stack up pretty favorably with the country’s best players with the exception of two things. For one, you’ll notice every leading candidate ESPN.com lists is a quarterback. Tradition indicates a QB has the best shot of winning it. Secondly, UK doesn’t have the tradition or big-name appeal in football as most of those other programs have.What would Cobb have to do to get himself into consideration?”As we continue to win and he continues to play the way he’s played, maybe he’ll get some consideration,” Phillips said.Cobb has some support from within his team. Senior quarterback Mike Hartline, who was once Cobb’s competition for the starting quarterback position two years ago, believes Cobb deserves some recognition.”When he can score three different touchdowns in a game, it’s an incredible thing to do, not just for him but for anybody in the country,” Hartline said.Hartline spoke for Cobb, though, in saying that the Heisman Trophy is the least of Cobb’s concern right now.”If he keeps doing what he’s doing, I’m sure there’s no question he’ll get some attention,” Hartline said. “Everybody’s running the hype for Mark Ingram, who won it last year. He’s still a great player. There are still great players out there. It’s all about where our Kentucky program is right now. We still have to prove ourselves, and I think Randall believes he still has to prove himself.”Check out the video above to see Phillips talk about Cobb’s early Heisman chances.

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