HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
No Result
View All Result

Home Features

Is North Carolina A&T’s Tarik Cohen the next Darren Sproles or nah?

Nick Birdsong by Nick Birdsong
March 6, 2017
0
1.1k
VIEWS

You might also like

Towson ends North Carolina A&T 3-game conference winning streak

N.C. A&T track and field confident it can ‘make some noise’ with new-look program

Former North Carolina A&T RB Bhayshul Tuten commits another ACC school

Numbers never lie, but they seldom tell the whole story.

Some would lead you to believe former North Carolina A&T running back Tarik Cohen has no chance in the NFL.

At 5-foot-6, and weighing in at just 179 pounds, he was the smallest player invited to the annual NFL Scouting Combine, which concluded Monday in Indianapolis.

Of the 165 running backs across the league’s 32 teams at the end of the 2016 season, a mere 16 stood 5-8 or shorter. Just two, the Eagles’ Darren Sproles and the Buccaneers’ Jacquizz Rodgers were 5-6. Only one, the Chargers’ Dexter McCluster, weighed less than Cohen.

Both Sproles, a 12-year veteran and one of the most unique offensive weapons in the history of the league, and Rodgers are thick, at 190 and 205 pounds, respectively. McCluster, despite his diminutive build, did 20 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press at the Combine. Cohen mustered just 11 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

But there are other figures that strongly Cohen could beat the odds.

Start with the stats.

In 2016, Cohen rushed for a career-high 1,588 yards on 212 carries, good enough fourth in FCS, and 18 touchdowns. He also added 37 catches and 339 yards another score. He became the first three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He was one of only three players, along with South Carolina State offensive lineman Javarius Leamon and Tennessee State defensive back Ezra Robinson, from historically black colleges or universities to receive a Combine invite. Cohen was the inaugural recipient of the Black College Football Player of the Year award.

Cohen turned heads Saturday with a 4.42 40-yard dash, the third-fastest time among running backs behind North Carolina’s T.J Logan (4.37) and Utah’s Joe Williams (4.41). For comparison’s sake, Sproles ran a 4.47. McCluster ran a 4.58 and Rodgers ran a 4.64.

Tarik Cohen gets raves reviews from NFL observers pic.twitter.com/QefQjChHVe

— HBCU Sports (@RealHBCUSports) March 3, 2017

Cohen’s exhibited his explosiveness with a more than respectable 31.5-inch vertical leap, besting probably first-round picks such as LSU’s Leonard Fournette (28.5) and Florida State’s Dalvin Cook (30.5). He looked fluid in pass-catching drills, showing he’s capable of being a reliable third-down back, likely his roll at the next level.

#NCA&T RB Tarik Cohen displays GD Hands, extending away from his body while maintaining speed. #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/fY1utJiVCf

— Matt Caraccio (@Matty_OS) March 4, 2017

At best, Cohen will wind up being a third-day selection. If he’s not chosen, after a standout career in blue and gold and an even more impressive Combine, he’ll have his pick of rookie free-agent opportunities to mull.

Either way, he’s got to like his chances.



Tags: NFLNorth Carolina A&T
Nick Birdsong

Nick Birdsong

Nick Birdsong is a Special Contributor to HBCU Sports and a graduate of Florida A&M University.

Next Post
Norfolk State women advance over Delaware State in MEAC Tournament

Norfolk State women advance over Delaware State in MEAC Tournament

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

  • HBCU Sports exclusive: Terry Sims says he’s disheartened by turmoil at Bethune-Cookman
  • Jackson State beats out SEC, Big Ten schools for 3-star recruit on National Signing Day
  • Jackson State releases first schedule of new-look T.C. Taylor era
  • Albany State coach Quinn Gray apologizes for offering recruit who used N-word
  • Ex-Alabama A&M wide receiver Brian Jenkins Jr. transfers to SWAC school
  • These former HBCU football players are Super Bowl LVII bound
  • These are the HBCU football players to watch ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
  • Reggie Theus says Ed Reed has ‘no shot’ to be retained as Bethune-Cookman coach
  • HBCU Sports National Signing Day blog: See how your favorite football team fared
  • Bethune-Cookman football team, administrators hold meeting to reconcile issues with program

RSS HBCU Sports Forums

  • What's the update with the New JSU Stadium??
  • Is TSU-Prairie View the best hbcu rivalry across all swac sports?
  • 2023 Football Schedules
  • National Signing Day Thread 2023
  • Shannon Sharpe
  • S.U. Weeks & Cador to College Baseball HOF
  • Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South (2023-2024)
  • Boris Johnson Reveals What ‘Horrified’ Him After Meeting Republicans In DC
  • Racial Bias in housing appraisals.
  • Forget the per capita, Mississippi will have most Super Bowl players
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COMMENT POLICY
  • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
 CONTACT US

© 2022 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • PODCASTS
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE

© 2022 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

X