Randall Cobb

LEXINGTON - If you ever wondered just how humble Kentucky football star Randall Cobb could be, just consider his reaction to being allowed to do the “Y” during a second-half cheer at the Kentucky-LSU basketball game Saturday. Cobb drew a standing ovation from UK fans two days after he tearfully announced he would bypass his senior season at Kentucky to make himself eligible for the NFL draft where he’s expected to be a third-round choice. “If you would have told me three years ago I would have a chance to be the ‘Y’ I would not have believed you,” said Cobb.

LEXINGTON — Randall Cobb discussed a variety of things during his press conference Thursday to announce he was putting his name into the NFL draft after his All-America season where he set a Southeastern Conference record for all-purpose yardage and led the SEC in receptions per game. Here are some of the insights he provided: Question: Did the fact cornerback Trevard Lindley came back for his senior season in 2009 and had his draft status drop impact your decision? Cobb: “I really didn’t think about his situation.

He's done everything a player could possibly do for a team on the football field. Now it's time for Randall Cobb to finally be a little selfish and think more about his career than the University of Kentucky football program. That’s why the versatile, talented Cobb confirmed Thursday that he will forego his senior season at Kentucky to put his name into the NFL draft. “I have been wrestling for a while with this decision,” said Cobb, who had to stop several times to wipe away tears and compose himself during his announcement.

LEXINGTON — Kentucky receivers coach Tee Martin, a starting quarterback on a national championship team at Tennessee, says Randall Cobb could have played for any school and been successful. “He is the most natural football player I have been around. He would easily be in the top five of the all-time best I have been with,” Martin said. “I do not remember a guy who does as much as he does so well. He returns punts, plays quarterback, blocks, returns kicks, catches passes, gets in the wildcat (formation)

LEXINGTON — With the numbers Randall Cobb accumulated, it’s no wonder the Kentucky junior was a little tired in the second half. “There was a point at the beginning of the fourth quarter that I was ready to lay down on the sidelines and take a nap,” joked Cobb after Kentucky’s 38-20 win over Vanderbilt here Saturday.  “I was just so tired and gassed.” He says the training he has done with strength coach Ray “Rock” Oliver helped rejuvenate him. “I was able to catch my breath and get  my legs back under me,” Cobb said.

LEXINGTON — Not long after Kentucky beat South Carolina last Saturday for its first Southeastern Conference win, UK coach Joker Phillips noted that his team could win out to finish 5-3 in SEC play and probably win the SEC Eastern Division title. While some coaches might not want their players distracted by title talk, Phillips thinks the Wildcats can use the possibility as motivation. “I want our guys to hear it. Usually you have coaches who say we don't talk about it. Here in Kentucky, we need to hear it. I think we need to hear it,” said Phillips.

LEXINGTON — Randall Cobb is not afraid to make big plays, and he’s not afraid to say when he’s wrong. The University of Kentucky junior stepped into a circle of media members Tuesday after practice and apologized for using Twitter to criticize fans following the upset win over South Carolina Saturday. Cobb posted a series of tweets following the game criticizing fans for coming late, not staying and being more concerned about the school’s basketball team.

University of Kentucky junior Randall Cobb was one of four players named Monday as “Paul Hornung’s Most Valuable Performers of the Week” by the Louisville Sports Commission for his play in UK’s 37-34 loss to Auburn last week. The LSC is sponsoring the inaugural Paul Hornung Award for the most versatile player in college football. Cobb had two short scoring runs, threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Aumiller and caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mike Hartline.

LEXINGTON — The so-called exhibition games are over. Now Kentucky gets ready for big boy football when it opens Southeastern Conference play at No. 6 Florida, a spot where UK has not won since 1979. The Wildcats (3-0) overcame a sluggish start that resulted in a fiery “do-better talk” from head coach Joker Phillips at the 50-yard line in the first half to batter hapless Akron 47-10. The game was actually tied 3-3 early in period two before the Wildcats eventually scored touchdowns on six straight possessions to win the way everyone thought they would.