Alcoa's Cobb Gets First Start At QB

Former Alcoa star Randall Cobb will be the starting quarterback when the Kentucky Wildcats travel to Starkville to play Mississippi State at 2:30 EDT on Saturday.

Last year at this time, Cobb was directing the Alcoa Tornadoes to the school’s fourth consecutive state championship in 2A.

The true freshman sensation recently made the news when he decided to wear jersey No. 12 during the Arkansas game to honor wide receiver Dicky Lyons, whose University of Kentucky career ended with a knee injury in the South Carolina game.

“Dicky was my role model even before I got here,” Cobb said. “There are a lot of things that he taught me and all the wide receivers. He’s a person we look up to and can talk to about anything, not just football.”The versatile Cobb made five catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns receiving to go along with 45 yards passing wearing Lyons’ No. 12.

Nevertheless, it’s back to No. 18 and quarterback where he will start in place of Mike Hartline.
Wildcats Coach Rich Brooks decided to make changes following a 63-5 loss to Florida last week in the “Swamp.”

“Going into this game, after looking at the film, we’re going to make a few changes in the starting lineup,” Brooks said. “E.J. Adams and Gene McCaskill will start at the wide receiver. Randall Cobb will start at quarterback.”Brooks said he’ll probably reverse the action and bring Hartline in at some point in the second or third quarter.

The veteran coach said Hartline has done a lot of good things, but the offense has been getting off to a slow start. “When Randall (Cobb) is inserted, we seem at least to be able to move the ball,” Brooks said. “I think (Cobb) gives the defense a little more problem with his feet and his ability to improvise than Mike does. He (Cobb) is starting to understand the offense a lot better.”
The Kentucky fans have been cheering for Cobb to take over as the Wilcats No. 1 field general.

“Mike Hartline has been doing a good job of leadership,” Brooks said. “ He is a positive guy. Randall, as I’ve said many times, is mature beyond his years. The best way for somebody to show leadership is to go out and play well and then act like a leader after they’ve done it. I think both Mike and Randall have done that at different times. We just think Randall could give us a little spark and a little diversity in what we’re able to do on offense.”

Cobb has completed 18 of 33 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown.

He has ran for 129 yards on 23 attempts and scored two TDs.