Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 1 Day (Simmie Cobbs)

Written By Alex Compton (@Alexncompton)

#1

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kick-off is complete! Kickoff against the Ohio State Buckeyes is tomorrow at8:00 on ESPN, but I would encourage you to buy tickets if you haven’t already. The final installation of our countdown series looks at redshirt Junior Simmie Cobbs, who should be one of Indiana’s best players coming off of an injury. We would like to thank you for following along with our countdown since day 100, and hope you’ll be back next year!

Simmie Cobbs (Redshirt Junior)

-Height: 6'4”
-Weight: 220 pounds
-Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
-Position: Wide Receiver

Last year was one that fans and Simmie would both like to just put completely in the rearview mirror. After missing the opener against FIU due to suspension, Cobbs returned for the home opener against Ball State. On the first drive of the game, he got rolled up on while blocking, broke his ankle, and was done for the year. For a first year quarterback in Richard Lagow, this was a huge blow and one that took him some time to get used to. Nick Westbrook stepped up and had a monster year, but there’s no doubt that not having Simmie hurt this offense greatly. 

I feel like people are forgetting just how good Simmie Cobbs is when he is out there. He has the talent to start for every team in the Big Ten, and just about every team in the country. He’s that good. After allegedly calming some of his drop concerns during camp last year (couldn’t see in games due to injury), there really isn’t a weak spot in his game. A solid season from Cobbs should send him off to the NFL, so using him to his full potential this year will likely be part of the game plan week in and week out. Cobbs will be the best player on offense if he stays healthy and catches his targets, and will be heavily in the mix for First Team All Big Ten if he puts up the type of numbers that everyone in the league is expecting him to. I think he will have a huge year and help out Lagow, but only time will tell. Here’s his bio from his sophomore year on IUHoosiers.com: 

"Made 60 receptions (8th in the Big Ten) for 1,035 yards (3rd) and four touchdowns ... became the sixth Hoosier with a 1,000-yard season and ranks sixth all-time ... averaged 79.6 yards (3rd in the Big Ten), 4.6 receptions per game (9th) and 17.2 yards per catch (3rd) ... led the Hoosiers in receptions, yards, yards per game, catches per game and yards per grab... posted four 100-yard games, which shared third in the conference ... in league games only, he finished first with 18.1 yards per catch, second with 670 yards and 83.8 per game, and tied for ninth with 37 receptions and 4.6 per game ... started all 13 games ... led the team in catches five times (twice with game-high honors) and yardage six times (thrice) ... recorded six games with five-or-more receptions, six games with 80-or-more yards and 10 games with 50-or-more yards ... posted 20 20-yard grabs, 11 30-yarders, four 40-yarders and a career-long 55-yarder ... set career-highs with nine catches for 192 yards in the win at Maryland ... the 192 yards were the second-most in the Big Ten and are the ninth-most in IU history ... added 121 yards with six receptions and the 55-yarder in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. Duke ... caught five balls for 107 yards and a 37-yard TD at No. 7 Michigan State ... pulled in seven passes for 107 yards the previous weekend against Rutgers ... added five catches for 84 yards and one score in the Old Oaken Bucket victory at Purdue ... hauled in four grabs for 86 yards against No. 15 Michigan ... in the win at Wake Forest, corralled seven receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown ... three-time IU offensive player of the week (Rutgers, Michigan and Maryland)."