The 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl featured three running backs from the Big Ten. The list included Nebraska Cornhuskers Ameer Abdullah (game MVP), Michigan State Spartans Jeremy Langford and Minnesota Gophers David Cobb.

In the Big Ten, both Nebraska and Michigan State are pretty heavy hitters drawing most of the national attention, leaving both the Gophers and Cobb with little fan fare. Cobb has been playing second fiddle to the more predominant schools running backs his entire collegiate career. Under the microscope of the NFL watching him in Mobile, Alabama Cobb knew this was his chance to make himself stand out.

“Definitely goes by fast,” David Cobb said when looking back at his career at Minnesota. “You come in as an 18-year old freshman. Then you step on the field as a senior. It is like a blink of the eye.”

Cobb stepped on the field as a true freshman in 2011 and appeared three games rushing the football 10 times for 57 yards.

He gradually improved each season and his junior year Cobb burst onto the scene leading the Gophers with 1,202 yards (12^th all-time in program history) on 237 carries. He became the first Gophers running back since Amir Pinnix (2006) to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. His success carrying the football also translated to wins for Minnesota. The team was 5-1 when he rushed for over 100-yards.

“A lot of people won’t admit it,” said Cobb. “But going into your senior year you want to have your best year.”

That is exactly what Cobb did for his farewell tour of the Big Ten. He set the single season school record for carries (314) and rushing yards (1,626). In any other conference that may get you first team honors but in the talented Big Ten he misses the cut behind Abdullah and Wisconsin Badgers’ Heisman contender Melvin Gordon. Cobb was named All-Big Ten second team and received the team’s Bronko Nagurski Award (team’s most valuable player) and the Bruce Smith Award (outstanding offensive player).

“So much pressure is on you (as a senior) and your team is looking towards you so much. You put so much work into it so it is so refreshing and rewarding to lay back and know you had a good season.”

Cobb helped Minnesota go 8-5 in back-to-back seasons in 2013 and 2014. It marked the first time since 2003-04 the Gophers finished with back-to-back winning seasons and the first time since 2003 that they won at least eight games.

Cobb should become the first Gophers running back drafted since 2006, when Laurence Maroney was taken in the first round by the New England Patriots. Cobb is a real workhorse type running back at 5-foot-11, 226 pounds.

“I’m a three-down back,” said Cobb referring to his abilities as a running back.

Cobb arrived at the Senior Bowl with the intent to prove to NFL teams that he has all the traits of an every down running back.

“I’m a physical tough guy,” said Cobb. “Smart and pick up things quick. I definitely have good hands in pass protection. Good out of the back field running routes.”

He jokingly compares his style to the Seattle Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch and laughs out loud when he mentions himself in the same breath as ‘Beast Mode’ in comparisons.

One of the most impressive abilities is his answering the bell game after game. Cobb had a stretch this season in which he carried the football 30 or more times in four straight games. That is a workhorse at any level of football.  The downhill runner is competitive, tough and highly productive. He has good run vision and finishes his runs hard.

Cobb mentions Houston Texans running back Arian Foster as another player in the NFL that his game may resemble. He stops and to think and suggests that, “hopefully my name gets big enough” so the next generation of running backs possibly compare themselves to Cobb.

At the Senior Bowl, Cobb didn’t disappoint. He showed great hips and quickness during drills. He constantly displayed soft hands and a burst after the catch. When the whistle sounded and the game began Cobb ended the day leading both the North and South teams in rushing yards. He finished the game with 11 carries for 78 yards and one score. He added two catches for 16 yards.

Cobb now sets his sights on Indianapolis, the host city of the NFL Scouting Combine. It’s just one more step toward his goal of playing in the NFL.