The Carolina Panthers had a local boy in the building on Tuesday. Oh, and he’s also a former First-team All-Pro.
Per the league transaction wire, the Panthers worked out former Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen. The 5-foot-6, 191-pounder was joined in his visit by cornerback Lamar Jackson, who signed with the team’s practice squad this afternoon.
A Bunn, N.C. native, Cohen attended North Carolina A&T State University from 2013 to 2016. He’d prove to be one of college football’s most electric players during that span—collecting a myriad of honors including three First-team All-MEAC selections, three MEAC Offensive Player of the Year nods, the 2016 Deacon Jones Trophy and the spot atop the MEAC all-time leading rushers list.
Cohen would then be taken by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. His 2018 All-Pro campaign also saw him notch a trip to the Pro Bowl after leading the league in punt returns (33) and punt return yards (411).
Over his four years in Chicago, three of which came alongside current Panthers special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, Cohen fielded 96 punts and 30 kickoffs. He also recorded 1,101 rushing yards, 1,575 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns.
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