Bemidji State offensive lineman Ty Cobb nominated for Gene Upshaw Award
Nov. 16—MANHEIM, Pa. — Bemidji State football senior offensive tackle Ty Cobb is one of 29 nominees for the 2023 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club.
The award is nominated and voted on by the nation's NCAA Division II sports information directors. Two finalists will advance from each of the four super regions to a national ballot, with national finalists announced Nov. 27.
The winner will be announced Dec. 4. All nominees must be seniors or graduate players/transfers and are linemen on either side of the ball at either offensive tackle, guard, or center or defensive tackle, guard, or end.
The list includes eight nominees each from Super Regions One, Two, and Three and five from Super Region Four. Fifteen of the nominees are still playing, as they will showcase their talents in either the NCAA Division II Championship, which begins this weekend, or one of several D-II postseason bowl games in December.
The award is named in honor of the late Gene Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders but later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years.
Upshaw, a former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. The award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.
Cobb has only given up four sacks in over 1,300 pass protection snaps in his career. He has started 36 straight games for the Beavers since becoming a regular at tackle since the start of the 2021 season.
Overall, he has suited up for 41 games. Cobb has helped Bemidji State to two NSIC titles and five NCAA playoff games. He helped the Beavers win their first NCAA playoff game in 2021 and their first home NCAA playoff game in 2022.
Cobb has been named an All-American by the AP, D2CCA, Don Hansen and Lindy's and was recently named to the All-NSIC First Team for a third straight season.
