Former Rice running back and College Football Hall of Famer Trevor Cobb will join five others in the 2023 Gridiron Legends class, which was announced by the TaxAct Texas Bowl committee Oct. 9.
Cobb, who ran for 4,948 yards in his four years at Rice from 1989-92, will be inducted along with Bruce Matthews, Murry Bowden, Gary Joseph, Mark Berman and the late Jamey Rootes during pregame ceremonies prior to the TaxAct Texas Bowl game at NRG Stadium Dec. 27 in Houston.
The Gridiron Legends were created as part of the bowl festivities in 2006 and have included 94 individuals in the past 17 years. Rice standouts Chase Clement and Jarett Dillard, who were inducted respectively in 2017 and 2019 for their performances in the Owls’ 2008 Texas Bowl victory, joined Cobb in a recognition ceremony at Rice Stadium during the Owls’ game against UConn Oct. 7.
Cobb finished with the second most rushing yardage in Southwestern Conference history and the 28th most in the history of college football. He holds SWC career records in all-purpose yards (6,512), rushing attempts (1,091) and 200-yard games in a season (six). He became the second winner of the Doak Walker Award in 1991 after a spectacular junior season that saw him rush for 1,692 yards, including nine 100-yard games (both school records).
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Following his storied college career, Cobb went on to the NFL, where he played for the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs, and later spent time with the Amsterdam Admirals of the NFL Europe League.
After his football career, Cobb has concentrated on supporting underprivileged communities in the Houston area through his nonprofit organization, Trevor Cobb Helping Hands, which focuses on helping individuals who have experienced medical setbacks along with financial hardship.