Cosby Show

The Cosby show is coming to Knoxville.

Quan Cosby, a 2001 Texas signee, confirmed he will take a mid-week official visit to UT. Cosby told UT officials late Monday evening that he would, indeed, take the trip. He will arrive on Tuesday afternoon and depart Thursday.

Cosby has played the last four years in the Anaheim Angels minor league system after being drafted in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft 2001. Before that, Cosby signed with Texas in February.

"I haven’t totally decided yet," Cosby said when asked why he was giving up baseball. "My contract is up in June. That’s when I would be done with it. My window of opportunity for being in the big leagues is still open. At the same time, my window for football is closing a lot faster."

Cosby’s window was wide open in 2001. He was named USA Today second team All-USA in as a quarterback. The Longhorns, like UT, recruited Cosby as a defensive back. He was also projected to return punts.

Like many minor leaguers baseball players, Cosby said he wasn’t particularly fond of the rigors of a 140-game regular season.

"I’ve always had a passion for football," Cosby said. "That came from living in the state of Texas. We probably average 5000 fans in the regular season. Baseball, we probably average five. In the playoffs, you might average 20."

Cosby said his mentality was always a better fit on the gridiron as opposed to the diamond.

"I like contact instead of sitting in centerfield and hoping somebody hits you a fly ball," Cosby said. "That’s the type of player I am."

The Cosby connection to UT comes from Trooper Taylor, a Texas native who played at Baylor then coached at Tulane. Taylor is UT’s running backs coach.

"It’s strange," Cosby said. "The last time Coach Trooper was at Tulane. Now, he’s at Tennessee. We first met at Baylor. I went to a lot of games. He recruited me at Tulane. We kept in touch throughout."

Cosby, who is from Mart, Texas, said he is equally considering the Vols, Texas, Oklahoma, and Baylor. He insists that UT fans shouldn’t be concerned that Knoxville is the only site on his list outside of Big 12 country. His baseball career has shown him most of the U.S.

"I lived in Utah, Iowa, Arizona, and all over the country. It’s (Knoxville’s) a little further but that’s not a big deal. I think highly of the university," Cosby said of UT. "I always have. That’s the main reason I’m coming on the visit and checking it out."

Physically, Cosby said he is not the same man he was three years ago. Cosby said he was weighed 185 pounds when he was 18 years old. Now, Cosby said he’s stronger and weighs 200 pounds. He also said his psychological maturity will benefit him as he returns to school.

"I think that’s a definite advantage," Cosby said of his personal growth. "Even more mentally as opposed to physically. I’m in a little bit different shape, baseball shape. But I’ll be in football shape by that time. I’m bigger and stronger, especially in the leg area."

The soft-spoken Cosby isn’t familiar with former Vol wide receiver Kelley Washington but he wouldn’t mind following his career path. Washington spent two years at UT after a short minor league career. Then, Washington was chosen in the third round of the NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

"That would be the route I would take if possible but the education is important too," Cosby said. "I would like to come in and make an impact as soon as possible."

"The opportunity is there (at UT) to play as soon as possible. That has some significance. That is a big aspect to it."

Cosby said he doesn’t feel any loyalty towards Texas, the school he originally signed with.

"Everything that happened then was a whole different situation," Cosby said. "If I was to go back there, it wouldn’t have anything to do with my original signing"

Cosby said he will visit Oklahoma this weekend and plans to make a decision on Monday. He has already taken official visits to Baylor and Texas.

Cosby was one of Texas’ top high school players in 1999 and 2000 leading Mart High School to two 2A state championship games and winning the title in 1999.

Cosby racked up 6,177 yards of total offense with 85 touchdowns (55 rushing and 30 passing) during his junior and senior seasons. Cosby also recorded 480 tackles and 21 interceptions during that time.

In track, Cosby won the 100- and 200-meter dash at the Texas state track meet.