Demopolis senior defensive back and wide receiver Larry Cobb verbally committed Wednesday to spend his collegiate playing career at NCAA Division II Tuskegee University.

“It felt great,” Cobb said of receiving the offer. “I didn’t think it was going to happen, not from Tuskegee. I thought it was going to come from UWA or somewhere like that.”

Cobb, who caught a 48-yard touchdown pass in last week’s Class 5A state title game against Russellville, said the offer will allow him to choose on which side of the ball he will play.

Cobb decided as a junior that he wanted to play college football, citing at that time his desire to get an education at no cost to his family. Cobb readily admits that as his senior season wore on and no offers came in, he began to doubt his chances. Tuesday, those doubts were squelched and Cobb’s worries were alleviated.

“A lot of weight taken off my shoulders,” he said. “Now all I have to do is go in and get this true freshman thing going, have a good work ethic.”

“That’s what you preach all the time is how hard work pays off,” Demopolis High head coach Tom Causey said. “(As a coach) you’re extremely excited for him.”

Cobb said Tuskegee coaches first learned of him during the Tigers’ second round playoff game at Greenville. In that contest, Cobb had a pair of interceptions in Demopolis’ 26-18 victory.

“(The Tuskegee recruiter) said he came to our Greenville game. And he said he saw right off the bat who he wanted,” Cobb said. “Then he and the head coach came to the Russellville game.”

Cobb showed himself worthy again in that contest with two important catches, including hauling in a third down pass while falling to the ground, which moved the sticks and sustained a DHS drive.

“They’re getting a winner,” Causey said. “They’re getting a guy who is going to work everyday. They’re getting a high character individual who is going to do whatever it takes to make his team good. He’s such a competitor. He’s a team guy. He blocked his tail off (on offense). He runs good routes. He’s got good hands. He’s got some work he’s got to do. But he will. He’s physical on both sides of the ball.”

After receiving the offer Tuesday, Cobb went home to talk it over with his mother.

“She was kind of tired. When I told her, she woke up and said, ‘Are you for real,’” the 6-foot-2, 170-pound Cobb explained. “I said, ‘Yes ma’am. You ain’t gonna have to pay for nothing.’”

In addition to getting the opportunity to continue his playing career at the collegiate level, Cobb expressed his excitement about joining fellow Demopolis native Dontrell Miller at Tuskegee. Miller sat out this season after transferring from UT-Martin during the offseason.

“That’ll be great,” he said.

Cobb will officially sign with Tuskegee during National Signing Day on Feb. 3.