Hugh Freeze praises Auburn RB Jeremiah Cobb: 'He's got a good football IQ'
This year's back group could be the deepest it has been in a few years, due to the many ways each player can attack opposing defenses. One of those players is junior Jeremiah Cobb, who received quite a bit of praise from his head coach this week.
During his weekly press conference, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze spoke on the versatility that Cobb brings to the offense and how it could lead to a monster season.
'I think he's going to have a breakout year," Freeze said of Cobb this week. "We went through three or four days last week when all our slot guys were down so we threw him back out there like we did last year some. He's got a good football IQ and has that capacity for us to use him in a lot of different ways, whether that's in the pass game. Now he's struggling a little in the pass game because he still has that brace on his thumb, and catching is not real natural, but I think he gets out of that first of next week. He's very versatile, we can use him in a lot of ways. I expect him to have a breakout year. He probably has the best burst in the open field of any that we have.'
Cobb has shown flashes of versatility during his two previous seasons on the Plains in the run game, pass game, and return game. In two years, Cobb has built a stat line of 314 rushing yards and 92 receiving yards in a situational role, and 444 return yards, a skill he added to his belt last season. Freeze calls Cobb the "most experienced" back in Auburn's stable and says that he, as well as Damari Alston, has the best understanding of the offense, especially in the RPO game.
How does Freeze view the other available backs? True freshman Omar Mabson and UConn transfer Durell Robinson are both climbing the ranks as well.
"I'm excited about Omar (Mabson II), also, and Durell (Robinson)," Freeze said. "Alvin (Henderson) is going to be fine. He's been dinged up and hasn't been able to get many reps the last four or five practices, so hard to say much about that. But I think Damari and Cobb and Omar and Durell are all getting better every practice.'
Depsite having great variety, Auburn's running back group will enter the season as the greatest question mark on offense. However, it appears that the mystery surrounding the group will disappear quickly. Auburn faces Baylor on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. CT in Waco, Texas.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
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