Cobb signs as free agent with the Bears

Travis Cobb

The Chicago Bears, coming off the Lockout, came to terms with 26 free agents Tuesday. One of them was former Gryphon Travis Cobb.

Cobb, who played baseball and football for RMHS, spent the last two seasons as a wide receiver and kick returner for the University of Arizona. The 6-foot, 180-pounder helped the Wildcats reach the Alamo Bowl to end his career.

Cobb, who turns 24 next Friday, is coming off a senior season where he led the Wildcats in kick returning with 34 attempts for 887 yards, including a 100-yard kickoff for a score against Iowa. He caught 26 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown.

The 2005 Rocky Mount graduate went undrafted in the NFL Draft last spring and didn't go the NFL Combines. But his Pro Day numbers were good (4.37 in the 40, 37-inch vertical jump, 4.14 in the 20-yd. shuttle). He joins a team that has the most prolific kick returner in the NFL in Devin Hester. And he can't wait to learn a thing or two from the six-year veteran and two-time All-Pro.

"I'm really blessed to have signed with the Bears," Cobb told me in a Facebook message Thursday evening. "This has been a dream of mine to play in the NFL since I was in high school and it really was a hard road for me. But I never gave up and with parents like mine, they wouldn't let me and I didn't want to let them down. 

Hester is on the verge of becoming the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff returns for touchdowns. He couldn't have a better mentor.

"Playing with Hester is something I always wanted to do as he was my favorite player growing up watching him at Miami," Cobb said. "Now I get to learn from him on kick return this is going to be exciting."