Road to the Draft: Tarik Cohen

The NFL Draft marks another exciting opportunity for us to welcome members into the NFLPA family. Leading up to this year’s draft in Philadelphia on April 27-29, we chopped it up with a handful of the prospects. Today, we get to know North Carolina A&T running back Tarik Cohen.

Only in the world of video games and YouTube does it seem possible for Tarik Cohen to make the moves that he does, at the size that he is (5-foot-6), while catching the attention of NFL teams. After juking and rushing his way into the MEAC record books and holding his own at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Cohen’s electrifying play and personality have positioned him to realize his dream of playing in the NFL

THE FILE
Height: 5-6
Weight: 179
Broke the school record for career touchdowns (59) and set the all-time MEAC career rushing record with 5,619 yards.

Let’s start with what everyone’s been talking about – you catching footballs while doing backflips. How did that all come about?

It’s just something I was messing around with over the summer. Then I brought it to my teammates and they said, let’s do it. So after conditioning, I did the regular trick catching one ball with two hands while doing a backflip. Then, they wanted me to try catching one ball with one hand. Then, once social media really got a hold it, I sort of got challenged to catch two balls while doing a backflip, and fortunately, I was able to do it pretty quickly.

What was the reaction like and how did things change for you once that video got out?
It really took off on social media, and then it got me on ESPN, which really made my follows on Instagram go way up. People came to know me as the backflip guy. Me? I just felt regular about it. It’s not like I was getting any type of money for it. But it was kind of cool.

What have you been doing to prepare for the NFL?
I’ve been training right outside of Greensboro, in High Point, with Jimmy Lamour of Black Dog Athletics. Just working out with him for the combine, and doing agility work, shuttles and 40(-yard dash) prep.

What do you think separates you from other NFL prospects?
I want it more than the average player coming into the league. Seeing my circumstances in being a small guy and coming from a HBCU, I’ve always had a lot of doubters. The odds are stacked against me, but I thrive off of that.

What’s your typical response to people who say you are too small for the NFL?
If you can ball, you can ball. Honestly, sometimes I feel like I have an advantage because, since the offensive linemen are so much bigger than me, I can easily hide behind him and just run.

You’re obviously a guy who likes to celebrate whereas the NFL doesn’t seem too keen on end zone celebrations. So how would you celebrate your first NFL touchdown?
On the first one, I’d do what my college coach always told me to do and that’s hand the ball to the ref. As I start making more touchdowns, though, then I might start acting a fool out there (laughs).

What’s your typical pregame meal?
I like eating some pasta, something like chicken alfredo.

What’s on your gameday playlist?
The first artist I always listen to is Lil Boosie. That always gets me in my mode

Which team do you think is going to win the NBA Finals?
I feel like the Cavs are going to win. They are really looking like the underdog, but that’s OK. I want them to play the Warriors and beat them again.

If you could go back and be a fly on the wall to find out the truth about any moment in history, what would it be?
I would want to know who shot Tupac.

When you see a yellow light while driving, what does that mean to you?
Keep going. Hurry up. Get across that intersection.

If you could send one last message to NFL scouts before the draft, what would it be?
There’s nobody that can make people miss the way I do and or that has as much playmaking ability as I do.