Reggie Cobb was a dynamic running back whose powerful style and playmaking made him a standout in Tennessee football history. A Knoxville native, Cobb starred at Central High School before continuing at the University of Tennessee, where he helped lead the Volunteers back to national prominence.
Cobb played for Tennessee from 1987 to 1989 and became one of the most productive running backs in the Southeastern Conference. As a redshirt freshman in 1987, he rushed for 1,197 yards and led the SEC with 20 touchdowns. His speed, strength, and vision made him the offensive focal point, and his 1,721 all-purpose yards that year set a school record that stood for 25 years.
During his career at Tennessee, Cobb rushed for 2,360 yards and scored 29 touchdowns. He was a vital part of the 1989 team that captured the SEC Championship, but his collegiate career ended midseason that year after he was dismissed from the program. Despite this, he remained a beloved “VFL” (Vol for Life) and is credited with helping usher in the program’s dominant decade of the 1990s.
Selected in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cobb had a seven-year professional career. His breakout season was 1992, when he rushed for 1,171 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Buccaneers. He also played for the Green Bay Packers, scoring a postseason touchdown, and was an inaugural member of the Jacksonville Jaguars before finishing his career with the New York Jets in 1996.
After retiring, Cobb became one of the most respected talent evaluators in the NFL. He spent most of his scouting career with the San Francisco 49ers, serving as their Western regional scout for 10 years and earning the NFC Scout of the Year award in 2011.
Reggie Cobb passed away in 2019 at the age of 50. His legacy as a local Knoxville hero and a dedicated football professional continues to be honored by both the University of Tennessee and the NFL community.