The real story on Randall Cobb, straight from the horses mouth

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

no pun intended since he went to Lexington. Great job Fulmer, same story on Patrick Willis as I have heard.

Randall Cobb Finally Reveals Why He Never Played for Tennessee Vols | Fanrecap.com

Randall Cobb was Tennessee through and through. Born and raised in the Volunteer State, he grew up in the thick of SEC football culture-and even had an early front-row seat to...

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Doubt Cobb is too upset about it, he still went on to have a good career in the NFL.

 

[#1fulmerite]

We know there was more to the story than that. He wanted to be a QB. KY told him he could and UT was honest with him. He didn’t slip through UT’s fingers, he made a choice.

I remember it well. It gave the appearance UT had bigger fish to fry, and then near the end, tried to come on with a blitz. I think it really offended Cobb and his family. I wish he had come here---a great kid and a real pro.

This is 100 % accurate.

Randall Cobb did great at Kentucky, probably would never have had that chance had signed h with UT. He made the right choice, I cheered him in every game he played, except vs Tennessee.

I’m sorry but his version of how it happened is BS…he wanted to be a QB…we were honest and said “we’re recruiting you as a WR”…UK lied and said “sure, you can be a QB”…shortly after arriving he ended up at WR…and lost to UT every year he played us…end of story

He continues to tell a version that is not entirely correct, there was a whole ESPN E 60 about him a few years ago where he did the same thing.

Reality is, Phillip Fulmer told him he would be a millionaire playing wide receiver or safety. He wanted to be a quarterback, Kentucky was willing to tell him they wanted him as a quarterback. Then Kentucky moved him to wide receiver after his first week of summer workouts. He did later get to play QB when they had several injuries. And, as Coach Fulmer predicted, he became a multimillionaire playing wide receiver in the NFL.

All of the above are correct. Just to reiterate, Fulmer told him he would play WR here. Kentucky straight lied to him and told him he would play QB.

However, the question now becomes had he came here as WR, would he have had the same success both in college and NFL?

 

[DonDiego]

All of the above are correct. Just to reiterate, Fulmer told him he would play WR here. Kentucky straight lied to him and told him he would play QB.

However, the question now becomes had he came here as WR, would he have had the same success both in college and NFL?

Orson Wells, where are you ? spinning, spinning, spnni..., spi

 

[CDB]

I can’t believe that Randall “Tex” Cobb was almost a Vol.

It’s funny, that was the first “Randall Cobb“ that came to my mind. I had completely forgotten and could care less about the other Randall Cobb. VFL.

(OK, that may be a little harsh. He was a good pro and seems like a decent person. I just can’t stand anything from UK.)

 

[LittleVol]

All of the above are correct. Just to reiterate, Fulmer told him he would play WR here. Kentucky straight lied to him and told him he would play QB.

However, the question now becomes had he came here as WR, would he have had the same success both in college and NFL?

Kentucky did not lie to him.
They just used him everywhere including QB.

They had a decent QB but wanted Randall on the field.

No he would have been underutilized at Tennessee had her went there.

 

[DeerPark12]

All of the above are correct. Just to reiterate, Fulmer told him he would play WR here. Kentucky straight lied to him and told him he would play QB.

However, the question now becomes had he came here as WR, would he have had the same success both in college and NFL?

Not a chance, he would’ve been the fifth or sixth most talented wide receiver on the roster. They probably would have put him at safety, to be honest. I think everything ended up best for all parties from that perspective. I just wish he would have been honest about it, since there’s nothing to be gained or lost from it anymore. I know Coach Fulmer sleeps just fine at night over it, regardless.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

I remember Randall Cobb. Good player for Green Bay.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I remember Randall Cobb. Good player for Green Bay.

Did a pretty good job cohosting “Out of Pocket” with Alyssa Lang for a spell last fall.

 

[CAVPUT]

I can’t believe that Randall “Tex” Cobb was almost a Vol.

Beat me to it. Well played.

 

[njvols]

very old news

Yeah, about time to roll out an article on all Trevor and talent pool of Vol "leans" that went to Clemson. Off season...ugh.

 

[77' Vol]

Vols didn't recruit him hard. I remember the game where Randall Cobb almost single handedly beat the VOLS too. You could tell he was playing with a vengeance.

 

[Oldvoldad]

I think Fulmer hit on enough players to overcome a few misses. He was an excellent recruiter.

Exactly. He was probably the best recruiting head coach in the game until Saban showed up at Bubba.

 

[feathersax]

I remember Randall Cobb. Good player for Green Bay.

I recall a couple of other things about Randall Cobb: he was a cousin of the great Lynn Swann & had worked as a vendor at Tennessee games in Neyland Stadium. He was indeed a special player for KY & went on to a phenomenal career with the Packers. Alcoa TN boy made the most of his talents.

 

[hbvol1982]

Omg what a funny dude, that Carson interview is GOLD.
He will always be the lone biker of the apocalypse to me….

 

[WillisWG]

Vols didn't recruit him hard. I remember the game where Randall Cobb almost single handedly beat the VOLS too. You could tell he was playing with a vengeance.

Key word "almost". 0-3. Talented guy. Ran UK's wildcat well. Still old news. In hindsight maybe a miss. But losing guys like Barrett Jones and Donta Hightower in 08 to Saban were the ones that I lost sleep over.

 

[wmcovol]

Randall Cobb did great at Kentucky, probably would never have had that chance had signed h with UT. He made the right choice, I cheered him in every game he played, except vs Tennessee.

Randall Cobb would have been a stud here. He made a bad decision & is trying to justify it 20 years later.

Barrett Jones was a bama legacy. He wasn’t going anywhere else. Fulmer & Chavis did slow play Hightower.

 

[Vawlz]

no pun intended since he went to Lexington. Great job Fulmer, same story on Patrick Willis as I have heard.

Randall Cobb Finally Reveals Why He Never Played for Tennessee Vols | Fanrecap.com

Randall Cobb was Tennessee through and through. Born and raised in the Volunteer State, he grew up in the thick of SEC football culture-and even had an early front-row seat to...

v2.fanrecap.com

What a freakin' nothingburger. Cobb wanted to play QB, but UT wanted him at WR/S. UK promised him that he would play QB. End of story.

Interesting that Fulmer and staff thought Cobb's potential was at WR, and Cobb had a long, successful career at WR in the NFL. I'm not a Fulmer apologist, but he was right in the end.

 

[KoachKrab127]

I think Fulmer hit on enough players to overcome a few misses. He was an excellent recruiter.

He was a great recruiter in the 90s. He wasn’t that great in the 2000s. So many of the 5 stars he got in the 2000s turned out to be complete busts. I mean a HUGE number of them.

 

[zjcvols]

Let’s take a look at the offensive lineman who left when Kiffin took over:

Darris Sawtelle who couldn’t crack the starting lineup at Grand Valley State because his shoulders were in such bad shape.

Ramone Johnson who did nothing after leaving UT.

Preston Bailey who got busted starting a drug ring with his scholly money while at MTSU.

Two of Fulmer’s last three recruiting classes were ranked outside the top 25. He left the program in terrible shape.

It was so top heavy. Fulmer defenders will say "Kiffin had 6 players drafted in 2009!" but the depth was so terrible. Poor Dan Williams was a 320 DT playing every snap. The OL was in shambles. The LB's were a disaster. CB was a major problem.

 

[05_never_again]

Let’s take a look at the offensive lineman who left when Kiffin took over:

Darris Sawtelle who couldn’t crack the starting lineup at Grand Valley State because his shoulders were in such bad shape.

Ramone Johnson who did nothing after leaving UT.

Preston Bailey who got busted starting a drug ring with his scholly money while at MTSU.

Two of Fulmer’s last three recruiting classes were ranked outside the top 25. He left the program in terrible shape.

Fulmer's last class wasn't even in the top 30 (33rd). Can you imagine the reaction here if Heupel pulled a class that was that low?

 

[chuckiepoo]

Fulmer's last class wasn't even in the top 30 (33rd). Can you imagine the reaction here if Heupel pulled a class that was that low?

Search all the big box hardware stores, there’d be nary a pitchfork available…

 

[05_never_again]

He was a great recruiter in the 90s. He wasn’t that great in the 2000s. So many of the 5 stars he got in the 2000s turned out to be complete busts. I mean a HUGE number of them.

Richt, Urban, and Saban all entering the conference in the early-to-mid 2000s doomed him.

Nobody likes admitting it, but a huge part of Phil's success in the 90s was because he got to recruit against guys like Ray Goff, Gerry DiNardo, Mike DuBose, and Brad Scott. Even Spurrier, who had his number on the field, was never known as a relentless recruiter. He was able to go all over the southeast (and California too - Southern Cal was bad in the 90s) ex-Florida and get whoever he wanted. Once the conference's roster of coaches got deeper, combined with the fact that I think he took his foot off the gas after 1998, guys started running circles around him.

 

[WillisWG]

It was so top heavy. Fulmer defenders will say "Kiffin had 6 players drafted in 2009!" but the depth was so terrible. Poor Dan Williams was a 320 DT playing every snap. The OL was in shambles. The LB's were a disaster. CB was a major problem.

6 round 1 guys, 5 round 2/3 guys from 07-10 all recruited by that staff and just couldn't get it done. Plus we had Rod Wilks . Yep depth just wasn't there. Couple of 5* in Crompton &Vinson that did not pan out.

 

[zjcvols]

Richt, Urban, and Saban all entering the conference in the early-to-mid 2000s doomed him.

Nobody likes admitting it, but a huge part of Phil's success in the 90s was because he got to recruit against guys like Ray Goff, Gerry DiNardo, Mike DuBose, and Brad Scott. Even Spurrier, who had his number on the field, was never known as a relentless recruiter. He was able to go all over the southeast (and California too - Southern Cal was bad in the 90s) ex-Florida and get whoever he wanted. Once the conference's roster of coaches got deeper, combined with the fact that I think he took his foot off the gas after 1998, guys started running circles around him.

The 2008 SEC coaching class is kind of insane

Saban (GOAT)
Meyer (2 NC)
Miles (1 NC, another NC appearances, 2 SEC titles)
Richt (2 SEC titles, ten 10-win seasons, maybe the best coach to never a title)
Fulmer (1 NC, 2 SEC titles, 152 career wins)
Petrino (four 10-win seasons at non-traditional powers)
Tuberville (undefeated season, SEC title, 159 career wins)
Spurrier (1 NC, 6 SEC titles)
Rich Brooks (Built Oregon with his bare hands, made Kentucy respectable, NFL HC, 130 wins)
Bobby Johnson (led Vandy to first bowl in 26 years)
Houston Nutt (over 100 career wins)
Slyvester Croom (uh....)

Like holy hell, talk about a deep coaching circle.

 

[WillisWG]

The 2008 SEC coaching class is kind of insane

Saban (GOAT)
Meyer (2 NC)
Miles (1 NC, another NC appearances, 2 SEC titles)
Richt (maybe the best coach to never a title)
Fulmer (1 NC, 150 career wins)
Petrino (4 ten win seasons at non-traditional powers)
Tuberville (undefeated season)
Spurrier (1 NC, 6 SEC titles)
Rich Brooks (Built Oregon with his bare hands, made Kentucy respectable)
Bobby Johnson (led Vandy to first bowl in 26 years)
Houston Nutt (over 100 career wins)
Slyvester Croom (uh....)

Like holy hell, talk about a deep coaching circle.

SEC always brutal