Cobb reflects on Senior Bowl, stays focused on boosting draft stock

David Cobb was right back to spending long days in the gym this week after returning to California from the Senior Bowl, where the former Gophers running back continued opening eyes among NFL scouts.

Cobb had 11 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, and added two receptions for 16 yards, helping the North to a 34-13 win. His first carry was a highlight, as he took a handoff, made a nice cut toward the sideline and sprinted for a 25-yard gain.

I caught up with Cobb on the phone late Tuesday night, after his latest workout. He said his goals at the Senior Bowl were "to play fast, play confident and really come out there and compete and show a lot of the fans what I can do. And show some people who doubted what I can do."

From all accounts, Cobb had an impressive week of practice leading up to the game, which could help his draft stock as much as anything. Standing 5-11, he weighed in at 229 pounds. As a rusher, he showed off his vision, balance and ability to make tackler's miss. Beyond that, he proved adept at pass blocking and pass catching, looking like the total package.

"I felt like it was a pretty good week, a successful week," Cobb said. "I felt like I was able to go down there and stand out a little bit, and at least compete against some of the other guys, some of the bigger names."

SI.com tabbed Cobb and Northern Iowa's David Johnson as its two running backs on its All-Senior Bowl team. ESPN's Mel Kiper has moved David Cobb to No. 8 among running backs in his latest Top 10 NFL Prospects by Position list. (Subscription required. Maxx Williams is listed as the No. 1 tight end, to no one's surprise.)

Cobb said one highlight from Senior Bowl week was getting a visit from Jerry and Rebecca Kill, along with Gophers defensive backs coach Jay Sawvel. They were down there recruiting in Alabama and stopped by to see him.

"I was definitely surprised. I didn't expect to see them," Cobb said.

Cobb returned to Manhattan Beach, Calif., where he and cousin Damien Wilson are sharing an apartment, training for the NFL. The draft is April 30-May 2. Cobb has a chance to be drafted on Day 2 (Rounds 2-3), or he and Wilson could both hear their names called on Day 3 (Rounds 4-7).

"I think everybody who's gone through this process, they're anxious, they want to know where they're going to get drafted," Cobb said. "We talk about it, but we don't spend too much time thinking about it. We know what has to be done and how far away we are from that."

The family's dream scenario, of course, is to see both cousins drafted by the same NFL team.

"Of course, that's the dream, to be on the same NFL team," Cobb said. "But just playing in the NFL – first through seventh round – that's our dream and that's our goal. Just to make it there first."