How long will it take until ESPN and every sports fan across the country knows who Randall Cobb is?  No, not the actor who played the big, manhunting hellrider from Raising Arizona, but the University of Kentucky’s quarterback/running back/reciever/punt returner/kickoff returner/fieldgoal/PAT holder super sophomore.  And they called Kordell Stewart “Slash”.

Slowly but surely.  Just like the Kentucky Football program, slowly but surely, media and fans across the nation will begin to take notice.  In fact, if Randall Cobb continues to turn in stellar performances like he has the last several games, and his team continues to find ways to win, Cobb surely will garner some national attention.

At Auburn, Cobb took the first snap from the line of scrimmage for Kentucky, lining up in the Wildcat package and springing right through the middle of the Auburn defense for a gain of 8.  By the final horn, he had racked up a career-high 109 rushing yards including a 61-Yard gash to the Auburn 3 in the final minutes of the game which set up the winning touchdown.

Cobb was named National Punt Returner of the Week the following week after a 73-yard return for a touchdown against Louisiana-Monroe in a 36-13 Kentucky victory.  In a disappointing home loss to Mississippi State on Halloween, Cobb’s performance was one bright spot, as he turned in 188 return yards and a rushing touchdown.

Coaches elected to sit him out the following week against outmatched Eastern Kentucky in order to allow a sprained thumb to heal, but Cobb returned in a pivotal game November 14 at Vanderbilt.  He and teammate Derrick Locke, who also sat out the EKU game to heal up, led the Cats over Vandy in attaining bowl eligibility for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year.  Cobb ran for two Touchdowns, and, after injuring a shoulder late in the game, waved off his coaches despite his obvious pain, refusing to leave the field until Kentucky had secured the victory in its final drive, a scene reminiscent of a cheesy, feel-good, Disney movie.

Although Cobb was a gametime decision for UK’s trip to Georgia, once again the sophomore propelled the Cats to victory (their first in Athens since 1977) with two rushing touchdowns, a crucial nineteen yard reception, and 100 all-purpose yards.

Kentucky faces Tennessee at Commonwealth Stadium this week on Senior Day.  Tennessee’s 24 straight victories over the Cats is the longest such streak in the nation and Kentucky’s Alcoa, Tennessee product could not wrap up an All-Conference regular season in a better way than to lead his team to another historic victory, this time against his hometown school.  But a win over the Vols Saturday would be much more than another feather in Cobb’s big blue cap.  It would provide Kentucky with an eighth win in the regular season, a fourth conference win on the season, a 3-2 record against division opponents, a more prestigious bowl appearance, an unprecedented second place finish in the SEC East, and, perhaps more importantly, an end to a losing streak which now stretches longer than a generation. 

Cobb has scored 14 touchdowns so far in his true sophomore season which ties George Adams (1984) for fourth place on Kentucky’s all-time record books for touchdowns scored in a season.  With 23 touchdowns scored for his UK career, Cobb is rapidly approaching the career touchdowns leaders.  Craig Yeast leads that category with 32 scores during his college career and three players are next on the list tied with 27 each.  It appears safe to say that Cobb will crash that party no later than the first weeks of his junior year.

Despite Kentucky’s success in recent years, no one outside of the SEC has seemed to take notice.  There is little doubt that this is a factor in Cobb’s lack of recognition on a national level.  Ask anyone who plays or coaches in the conference and they know all too well who 18 is.  Cobb was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2008 by coaches who must game plan against him when they face the Big Blue.  Before his time in Lexington is over, there is little doubt that college football fans from coast to coast will be quite familiar with the name “Cobb.”