Auburn man: Jeremiah Cobb delivers for Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. – When Auburn needed 3 yards on fourth down, the Tigers trusted Cobb to do the job.

Trailing 14-0 on the road against No. 1 Georgia, senior running back Jeremiah Cobb caught a shovel pass on fourth-and-3, muscling his way past the line to gain to keep Auburn’s drive alive.

The Tigers scored their first touchdown two plays later, the beginning of an epic comeback and the second victory in program history on the road against a top-ranked opponent.

“We kept practicing that,” Cobb said. “I messed up on it before in practice, but they still trusted me. It was awesome to go out there and complete that.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s fourth-and-1, first-and-10, every time I touch the ball it’s my job. That’s what we’re trying to do as a running backs group. I had to do that.”

On Auburn’s call sheet, the shovel pass to Cobb was the go-to play on fourth-and-3, head coach Alex Golesh said. 

“(Left guard) Wilson (Zierer) did a really good job pulling up and through, got just enough,” Golesh said. “The last yard Cobb went and got on his own. There were a handful of runs where Cobb got a couple yards on his own. I’m proud of him.”

All in a day’s work, says Jeremiah.

“Staying together as a group,” Cobb said of Auburn’s emphases during its open date. “Being more detailed and making something out of nothing sometimes which running backs have to do most of the time, so that’s what we did.”

When Alex McPherson kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired to give Auburn a 27-24 victory, the Tigers celebrated first at midfield, then in the corner of Sanford Stadium that held the marching band and visiting fans, then in the locker room, where the music, like the mood, was elevated. 

“That was fun. I had nothing like that before. That was awesome to be a part of that,” said Cobb, who rushed for 61 yards on 13 carries at Georgia, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. “I’ve been working for that. My whole point in coming to Auburn was to change the whole script like that, so that was awesome, especially for the guys who stayed around, but we don’t want to do that just one time. Everybody’s on the same train, they want to keep doing that.”

For Cobb, the rivalry victory validated his decision to remain on the Plains through two coaching changes. 

“We trust the coaches and what they have for us,” Cobb said. “I love that because those younger guys get to see that, those big wins and finishing in the fourth quarter.”

The epitome of commitment, Cobb chose to continue his college career where it began, his loyalty to Auburn unwavering.

“I always knew I wanted to play in the SEC,” Cobb said. “I always told myself I’m not going to leave anywhere I go. I’m going to work hard to achieve my dreams at the place I committed to. That’s how I went about it.”

Not that Cobb lacked opportunities had he been inclined to leave after last season. When you rush for 969 yards and average 5.5 yards per carry as a junior in the SEC, destination options would have been practically endless. Jeremiah refused to shop around. 

“When you’re at a place like this, it makes it easy to keep choosing here,” Cobb said. “To see that the Auburn family is still here rocking with all the players and everything about Auburn, it’s awesome to see that. I love to be a part of it.”

In three decades coaching college football, running backs coach Larry Porter has developed all-conference standouts and future NFL players.

“Cobb’s an experienced guy which is what you need because there’s no substitute for experience,” Porter said. “He brings some confidence that we enjoy, appreciate and need as coaches.”

Studying in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, Cobb balances the demands of SEC football with his rigorous academics. 

“That’s definitely been fun,” he said. “Those instructors are really helpful. They support you and it’s awesome to see.” 

To position himself to pick up first downs between the tackles, Cobb added size in the offseason.

“I’m 10 pounds heavier than last year,” said Cobb, listed at 5-11, 205 pounds. “I can definitely tell. Moving faster, stronger and absorbing more hits. The nutrition team did a great job of making sure it’s good weight. I’m excited about that.”

“He’s become more physical,” Golesh said. “He’s grown tremendously.” 

Growing up in Montgomery, Cobb played baseball first. Once he put on football pads, there was no going back.

“This is awesome,” Cobb remembered saying to himself. “The hitting part of it, the aggressive part of it, I loved it. I started playing those two sports together, then it became just football after that.”

Cobb’s coaches quickly realized their team was better with the ball in Jeremiah’s hands.

“I was always a running back,” he said. “If I was at quarterback getting direct snaps running the ball, I was always at running back.”

At Montgomery Catholic, Cobb amassed 6,567 rushing yards and 75 touchdowns in 50 games over four seasons, including 2,016 yards as a senior, continuing a family tradition in the Capital City.

“Most of my family went there,” said Cobb, whose great-uncle Joe Fields once held the school’s rushing record and for whom the school named its student-athlete leadership award.

As the seasoned veteran at his position, Cobb embraces the responsibility that comes with leadership.

“Being a great teammate,” he said. “Somebody that everybody can lean on during hard times of the game.”

Auburn leaned on Jeremiah Cobb at Georgia, and No 23 delivered once more. This Saturday against No. 18 LSU, he hopes to do so again in the 26th consecutive sellout at Jordan-Hare Stadium. 

“I see a great team,” Cobb said of the Bengal Tigers. “They fly around. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do: be detailed and enjoy being at home.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer