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Alcoa High School senior quarterback Randall Cobb was offered a scholarship by Tennessee Monday, ironically the week of the Vols' game with Kentucky.
Cobb, who committed to the Wildcats over the summer, said he visited with the Tennessee coaching staff Monday and told them he wanted to wait until his season was over before he gave them a "yes" or "no."
The Tornadoes (11-1) are the three-time defending Class 2A state champions and play Gatlinburg-Pittman (11-1) Friday at 7 p.m. in the state quarterfinals.
Cobb said this past summer that Kentucky would give him a look at quarterback but most likely at defensive back or receiver. Cobb said Monday that the Vols wanted him solely as a signal caller.
"Tennessee is actually looking at me as a quarterback and only at quarterback," said Cobb. "That’s pretty big, because in my heart I feel like I’m a quarterback. I’m willing to play to any position, but that’s one of the key things that has me interested in them right now. But, I’m going to wait until after the season to look into that."
Cobb also said Tennessee's track record has his eye.
"They have one of the best programs in the nation – over the years," said Cobb. "When you look at Coach (Phillip) Fulmer’s record over the years, he has one of the top records of any coach. That’s pretty big. I feel honored to even be looked at by a man of his status."
Cobb's good friend and former teammate Kyrus Lanxter is a freshman wide receiver at Kentucky. Lanxter was committed to West Virginia throughout his senior season but was swayed.
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Comments » 43
Oenoboy writes:
I don't know this kid. Has anyone seen him play?
Oenoboy writes:
I wish they would offer Andre Sterling of Farragut High a scholarship! Local coaches are saying he is as talented if not more so than Rogan.
Come on Trooper! Don't forget your back yard!
BigManVolFan writes:
Oenoboy-
Andre Sterling will never have the talent Rogan has....This by far Sterlings best year of high school football...Rogan was making plays and making highlights when he was a sophomore.....The reason Sterling hasnt been offered is he has only had one good year of high school football....
I have watched Sterling and Rogan play...Rogan has more talent in one leg than Sterling has in his entire body...If Sterling comes to UT, it will be on an invited walk-on basis.
Randall Cobb is a playmaker...I have gotten the chance to watch him play a few times and he was phenominal...If he was about 5 inches taller, he is atleast a 4 star recruit with top programs beating down his front door...Look what Cobb has done this year without top name recruits...His only loss is to Maryville...Cobb reminds me of Gerald Jones...He is quick and elusive....
Mr. Cobb, come to UT and have a reunion with all your other Alcoa teammates...Dustin Lindsey will be here next year with Brandon Warren and Rae Sykes will be here in another year!
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
Who do you want when the game is on the line? A kid from Fulton or Bearden, or some kid from California? I'll take the heart and the pride over the talent any day.
mtnsvol44 writes:
Well, after tomorrow, congrats to Ga for winning SEC East :
Congrats Dawgs: Kentucky will beat Tennessee
By Tony Barnhart | Friday, November 23, 2007, 07:10 AM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After a 4-6 disaster two weeks ago, we bounced back with a record of 7-3 last week. The three losses came because:
**—I thought Michigan’s Lloyd Carr had one great game left in him against Ohio State. Nope. Now he’s retired.
**—I didn’t know that Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford would get hurt and the Sooners would lose a gold-plated opportunity to play for the national championship.
**—I finally thought Clemson was ready to win a big game at home and play for the ACC championship. Boston College and Matty (Ice) Ryan had other plans.
That puts is at 79-41 with two weeks left in the regular season. So in the spirit of Thanksgiving we present another Fearless Friday Forecast:
1. Tennessee at Kentucky: You know it’s been a crazy season because this is the third big national game to be played at Commonwealth Stadium this season. If Tennessee (8-3) wins the Vols go to the SEC championship game. If Kentucky wins, the Wildcats (7-4) break a 22-game losing streak to the Vols, give their seniors a day to remember, and send Georgia to the SEC championship. Tennessee has been good at home, not so good on the road. We like Andre Woodson against that Tennessee secondary. Kentucky 31, Tennessee 24
Oenoboy writes:
Thanks BigMan, I hope you are right about Sterling if he does not end up wearing orange. The fact he is in strong contention to be Mr. Tennessee football worries me a bit. Different sport I know but Kentucky and Louisville overlooked a player a few years back and look at Mr. Lofton now. How about Chad Pennington?
mj54 writes:
BigManVolFan,
A little strong in our condemnation of Sterling don't you think? I saw him play last Friday for the first time and he was every bit as impressive as Rogan was. So what if he hadn't put up good numbers before? He's putting them up now and making awesome moves and runs to do it.
I hope they offer Sterling and I wish they had offered Curt Phillips. We are missing the boat big time on him.
publius11 writes:
Why did UT not offer Pennington???
One name MANNING.
Funny that no other D-1 team offered him as well. He is that 1 in 1,000 player that started at a 1-AA program and developed the ability to move all the way to the NFL.
After the arm injuries it is time for him to go be a backup or hang it up.
thevol writes:
Bigmanvol- Andre Sterling actually ran for 2500 yards and 30 touchdowns his first 2 years and has over 2000 yards his Senior year. That's more than one good year.
DaveVol writes:
I saw Sterling play against McMinn County. He was fast, but McMinn stopped him. That is my concern.
james#216392 writes:
jwraymond- Don't even think that way. The way N.D. has played, little Jimmy might transfer.
DSaVol writes:
LMAO!!! No disrespect to this young man but are you serious? A class 2A QB is the best that FOOLmore can chase down now????? And for you kool aid drinkers, passion and understanding of TN traditions will get our ass kicked by athletes that don't give a damn how many years ago that national title was! Nobody wants to admit it but this whole thing started south when Saban took LA away from us, Brown/Leech/Stoops locked up TX, Carroll/Tedford/Bellotti took CA out of play, and Tressell basically closed the north central. All of a sudden FOOLmore and company were having to scramble for a few good men and unfortunately aren't good enough coaches to make em better when we get the second and third level guys. Those are facts my friends.
AlpharettaVol writes:
Anyone know what size this kid is? What his stats are? The KNS apparently does not think that's pertinent.
orvol writes:
DSaVol: Funny how some people sound exactly alike and continuously use the same sophomoric slurs. Can your mind not even remember to back less than one year ago when he had by all accounts a top 5 recruiting class? I think all of the coaches mentioned in your less than brilliant "analysis" were in the same positions then. Your single-track agenda to post only negative comments about the coaching staff grows tiresome. Why don't you try to enjoy the game tomorrow? I hope that if the VOLS prove to be victorious, you are not too upset.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
What about Jimmy Clausen? He's good enuf to play for Notre Dame! Whats that you say, he couldn't throw it in the ocean! Well hell, got to be another prospect besides those on Rivals top 250 that'll visit! We've probably got one stashed in intramurals! Thats it! Go Vols!
wisonsinvol writes:
Squirrel, sometimes it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth... Ah, you know the rest. BUt, let me give you the benefit of the doubt, please tell me which local kid who played for UT is the one with the biggest heart and played the hardest. Personally, I've seen a few really tough kids don the Orange and White who put it on the line every play. I can't say for sure if they put their heart all the way in it, but Al Wilson comes to mind - is there someone who played harder than Al? Was Al from Knox county? John Henderson is another that comes to mind. Was Big John from Knox county? How about a couple that didn't make it in the NFL. Let's go back a few more years. We had a middle linebacker that was undersized and slow. But he made up for his lack of ability with sheer determination every single play. His name - Dale Jones, a kid from McMinnville I believe - not Knox county. Personally, I think he is the epitome of heart and pride for UT. I really get tired of this local, myopic BS about we need to recruit kids locally. We need to recruit the best, regardless of where they are from. With a limited number of scholarships, we cannot afford to take every homestate kid that simply has good HS numbers.
volgrog#210164 writes:
Good point, Plasticman. I love it when TN gets local (TN) kids because you generally know they will give their all for TN; however, TN has to get talent as well. Austin Rogers is a good example. He's a TN kid who plays his heart out, but if he was a little bigger and a little faster, he would not just be a solid player, but a 1st round prospect and a real difference maker on the field. He would be someone who other teams have to scheme against. It is not that you don't want Rogers, you also need the other guys as well.
That is why it hurts the program when you don't get a guy like Patrick Turner. I can't help but believe that Turner would have done better at TN than he has done at USC.
TN needs to keep the top guys in the state. John Henderson, Al Wilson, and Reggie White were all the #1 prospect in TN when they came out and clearly made a difference with the program. TN has been at it's best when we get the top in-state talent who then lead by example.
Your best teams are those who have the best player who is also the leader of the team. The best leaders are great TN players who set the tone for the kids from out-of-state to follow.
While Eric Berry is not from TN, I think he kind of fits that mold. Because his dad played for TN, he's been to the games and bleeds orange, probably had TN posters in his room growing up, maybe had a man-cave with orange and white checkerboard.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
DSAvol, If Brown has locked up talent, then he can have it!!! because outside of Vince Young winning him a championship, he hasn't done phooey with his talent!!! He plays a little girl schedule and the only tough game every year is Oklahoma. He got his butt handed to him yesterday by a dead man walking coach in Fran. So could you learn about football before you run your PIE HOLE!!! You truly are an idiot!!!!!!!!!!! and obviously not a TRUE VOL FAN.
TXVOLSFAN
LET'S ALL SUPPORT THE TEAM TODAY AGAINST UK!!!
AND STOP THE SYNICAL APPROACH!!!
IF WE ALL ARE TRUE FANS, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THE EAST AND PLAY AN LSU TEAM WITH NOTHING TO PLAY FOR AND A COACH THINKING ABOUT TAKING ANOTHER JOB!!!
volball4 writes:
YES,We are gonna need a QB and it would be nice to see jimmy clausen come on down and run through the "T".Cause crompton is not gonna do it.
volball4 writes:
It be nice to see BJ Coleman get a shot at QB and maybe we will next year since he'll beat out crompton for the starting spot......
murrayvol writes:
How many levels of "verbal" exist in recruiting?
Unbelievably strong verbal
Strong verbal
Medium verbal
Weak (soft) verbal
Silent verbal
Bar-b-que verbal
Verbal etouffee
And what the hell does it matter until signing day? If the Vols rack up 2 more wins, we'll have verbals running all over the place. They just may not all be the ones we want.
Ironcity writes:
I saw the Barnhart pick. If he was right all the time this year UT would be 4-8. He hates Fulmer and he hates UT. Has picked against them every possible opportunity for the last 5 years. Just another sports writer that knows nothing about football.
wisonsinvol writes:
I hear you Plasticman, but when the "local" comment comes up it is usually about people within the shadow of Neyland stadium that folks have a real bias about because they saw them play a good game or two. I think any of us suggesting Fulmer and his coaches do anything different than they are a little too presumptious. Fulmer is one of the best recruiters in the land and probably that is the number one reason why he will not lose his job. As for heart and dedication, you can't tell me a Peyton Manning, Kevin Burnett, Kevin Simon, Raynoch Thompson, Jamaal Lewis, Reggie Cobb and even the short career of Chuck Webb didn't have as much heart and dedication than anyone who has played for the big orange.
newtonrail writes:
DSa vol, half truths again. Ok-wanted G. JOnes badley. Texas wanted Creer and Moore. Paige hasn't got on field yet, but I know LSU wanted him. We had a bumper crop of in state talent last year, but still picked up some guy named Berry out of Georgia. We have always Cherry Picked Calf. and it's rare to seriously try Ohio since Peerless Price. I could go on but you continue to push your anti-Fulmer half truths from your mommy's closet, then go ahead.
shaymous writes:
ilove
you are right, i didn't know rankin was the coach for alcoa, he is one hell of a coach, i saw many of his teams play at riverdale.
eefor10c writes:
DSaloser, Where are you? Can't think of any bashes for the SEC East champion vols who won with second and third tier players. MUST BE THE COACHING!!!!!!!! We are the SEC-East CHAMPIONS, my friend. That is the fact.
dhollland writes:
I have saw Cobb a couple of times, he is a stud. Very nice arm on the kid. Not sure what position UT wants him for.
He is at one the best programs in the state. IMO, the #2 program behind Maryville. I enjoy seeing the local kids and I try and follow them once they go to college.
Cobb...good luck and hope to see you in Knoxville next year!
BigOrangeJeff writes:
I heard that Pennington wasn't offered because he was only about 5' 10" at the time. He grew 5 or 6 inches his freshman year. I also heard that Coach Fulmer met with the Pennington family, and that they understood the situation. No hard feelings.
I'll take my chances with Fulmer's assessment of the team's needs and the talent/character of these young men. Obviously, no one bats 1.000, but he's gotta great track record.
BOJ
inquiry writes:
Cobb doesn't throw as well as he runs, thus I don't see him being a very good fit in Tennessee's pro style offense.. More sensible what Kentucky is suggesting to him, to get an "athlete" on the field earlier vs sitting and waiting 3 years to play football again.
I'm a former Alcoa HS Football player btw
mgraham65 writes:
AlpherettaVol -
Passing:
`07 - 56/87 64%; 1146; 13TD; 2INT
`06 - 64/100 64%; 1179; 17TD; 3INT
Rushing:
`07 - 47 carries; 555 yds; 8TD
`06 - 20 carries; 83 yds; 0TD
- plays defense on occasion and has 13 tackles
- *stats are only through the 10 regular season games and do not include those from last weeks demolishing of Sweetwater 49-0.
- 6`1", 195 lbs, lefty, wears #7
- These stats came even without him having his top receiver, Brian Sommer, available, due to a year-long suspension. Hopefully, he can continue to play like his idol, Michael Vick, without having the same legal issues.
These stats came from the Koxville News Sentinel Prep Extra link. KNS actually has very good coverage of high school sports, for the most part.
Basketball_Jones writes:
First of all UT doesn't run a pro-style offense! I watched the PAtriots/Eagles game last night and none of those plays looked like the ones Tennessee runs....Secondly, I am baffled that UT would offer Cobb and not Burnett from Maryville. He's big, has thrown for over 3,000 yards this year and 30 TD's and hasn't lost a game as a starter in 2 years, (2-0 vs Cobb and Alcoa). Also is Cobb academically eligible? I know Sykes and Lindsay both had grade issues so maybe thats a trend at Alcoa. Just an idea, either way there both good players who could fit in nicely at UT
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Right on Ironcity - Barnhardt is a Georgia homer of the lst magnitude. Lived down there 14 yrs or so and man, does he cater to the Dawgs. Larry Munson is the standard by which all "homers" are measured. Know he'll pick LSU, he's the master of the obvious.
Stumps writes:
not sure what all the fuss is about... I'm sure many of you realize that TN recruits several QBs, many of them just end up on the practice squad...
that happens for two reasons:
1) we need good QBs for our first team defense to practice against
2) we keep good QBs out of the hands of our SEC competitors.
This kid may not play a down in a game for UT, but if we sign him, the Kentucky never gets a good DB. That's the way it goes.
indianacurly writes:
I saw an earlier poster say that McMinn stopped Sterling and that worries him. Here's stats that I could find. I'm not sure 217 yards and 2 TD's is stopping him ....
West W 41-24 33 202 6.1 2
Central W 45-7 19 185 9.7 4
Heritage W 38-6 10 165 16.5 3
Bearden W 35-28 33 265 8.0 3
McMinn County L 21-24 31 217 7 2
William Blount W 36-35 35 306 8.7 3
Bradley Central W 49-7 9 108 12 2
Ooltewah W 44-41 31 203 6.5 1
Soddy-Daisy W 17-7 34 183 5.4 1
Oak Ridge W 42-7 29 291 10.0 3
Jeff Co W 44-13 -- 257 --- 2
Kingsport W 28-6 30 252 8.4 2
inquiry writes:
heels_fan.. I think that's an offensive racial comment re: to Cobb at Alcoa.. I know what Maryville puts on the field vs Alcoa.. he'll pass fan, I doubt you did
Basketball_Jones writes:
Racial????? Its an observed fact that both Sykes and Lindsey were academically ineligible, both are from Alcoa, has nothing to do with black or white. As far as my academic record goes, graduated both high school and college. Read my last line in my initial statement "Just an idea, either way there both good players who could fit in nicely at UT"
dfreeman writes:
inquiry - I would have to agree with heels_fan_23, in that his statement had nothing to do with race and everything to do with academics! Is he not right about Sykes and Lindsey qualifying?? Why does everything have to revolve around race?? If anything his comments kinda questioned Alcoa's teaching qualities! By assuming that he has a racial bias aren't you showing yours as well assuming that his comments were racially motivated?? It's a good question to ask since Tennessee has had it's share of academic non-qualifiers!! Two of which came from Alcoa!!
kjackson96#412997 writes:
heels fan and dfreeman you can't judge every student/athlete on a couple of people who didn't do so well in school. Cobb happens to have a 3.7 gpa. whether it was racial or not you can't judge a person or a school because of anothers performance.
Basketball_Jones writes:
It wasn't racial and it was a legit question....I'm glad he has a 3.7 and I hope he scores a 1600 on his SAT. Damn you people are so quick to play the race card, are you sure your not Rev Al or Jesse?
cnalumni writes:
Where excatly do all of the qbs from Maryville go anyway? No Where!!!!!
kjackson96#412997 writes:
NO I AM NOT REV. AL NOR JESSE BUT WITH A COMMENT LIKE YOU PEOPLE ONE WOULD WONDER;I AGREE IT IS NOT ABOUT RACE; IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LEGIT QUESTION IF IT HAD NOT ALREADY BEEN ASSUMED THAT HE WASN'T ACADEMICALLY ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF PRIOR ATHLETES INELIGIBILITY; WE ALL KNOW WHAT ASSUMING DOES!!!
inquiry writes:
Heels fan.. it's called stereo-typing and that's a form of racial discrimination.. that's all.. Alcoa has had it's busts, starting with our only All American half back, Albert Davis, who would have been the very first black player signed at UT if it had not been for grades.. he want on to Tennessee A&M (now Tennessee State) and then the pros, including Green Bay later on, and is an assistant principal now in Knoxville teaching others. Albert is a success anyway you count it, even though he first struggled in school, he's probably the most famous player out of Blount County in this century.. Go Tornados
Maryville's last QB, Cade Thompson, is doing well mopping up teams in the UT Martin League, had a fantastic ending win against Tennessee State in Nashville for UTM. He wasn't big enough for South Carolina's program and Steve Spurrier, but is a great athlete no matter what.
Peace all and Happy Holidays from Orlando.. See you at the Outback Bowl.. Go Vols..
orangesox writes:
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...
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