SPRINGFIELD — Station Camp began its game against Springfield on Sept. 12 with a squib kick.
Like the Yellow Jackets’ three previous opponents this TSSAA football season, the Bison had every intention of avoiding Jermaine Cobbins. Cobbins, who the 247Sports Composite ranks as the No. 4 cornerback in the country in the Class of 2028, hasn’t returned a kickoff or punt this season. There’s too much to risk in kicking to the 4-star sophomore with 17 FBS offers, including Tennessee, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Nebraska and Ole Miss.
But opponents have far less control of how often Cobbins gets the ball on offense.
Just a few plays into Springfield’s first drive, he caught a slant from Kason Woodson and flew away from Station Camp’s secondary, making a 41-yard touchdown catch-and-run look as easy as a layup. It was the first of his six receptions for 125 yards, with another long TD included, as Springfield beat Station Camp 55-35.
“The team, they’re gonna do what they do,” Cobbins said. “Number 5 (Jeremiah Beard) can take it to the house any time. (Jaidon Hurst), (Lamarious Dowlen). Everybody that’s a skill player on our team can score.”
Jermaine is the younger brother of former Springfield stars CJ Cobbins, a redshirt freshman at UT-Martin, and Cameron, who led the team in receiving last season. Yellow Jackets coach Dustin Wilson doesn’t like to compare the trio, but Jeremiah’s happy to talk about his siblings’ influence.
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“Cam, he’s a receiver, so I really know what receivers like and don’t like,” Jermaine said. “CJ, he’s an excellent coverage DB, and I’m more of a tackling DB, so I’ve learned a lot of coverage skills from him. A lot of drills with both of them. Growing up, we always played outside in the backyard.”
Jermaine was at Ohio State for a gameday visit when the Buckeyes beat Texas on Aug. 30.
He’ll be in Knoxville to watch the Vols host Georgia on Sept. 13.
As far as Tennessee football, he’s excited to talk to coaches, players and take in the atmosphere at Neyland Stadium, but recruiting is otherwise far from his mind. As far as which schools are pursuing him most intently, he’d rather not say.
“I’m more focused on the season right now,” he said. “Trying to get to the playoffs, build from the playoffs, keep it going from the semifinals and try to get to state.”
Springfield (4-0) came within one game of that goal in 2024 when Cobbins racked up 48 tackles, four interceptions and five pass breakups. The Yellow Jackets, now in Class 4A, might be even better this season — the latest TSWA/USA Today Network statewide poll had them No. 2.
Dowlen ran for over 100 yards and three TDs, and quarterback Kason Woodson threw for three TDs of his own. While the Bison mostly shied away from throwing to Cobbins’ side of the field, he still had one of the game’s biggest plays on defense, a forced fumble with Station Camp threatening to tie just before halftime.
“He doesn’t change,” Wilson said. “He’s a good kid, he practices, he loves football, he talks football. … Everybody talking about him, obviously he deserves it, but they’re doing well picking up each other.”
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at js*****@*****tt.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee football target Jermaine Cobbins becoming Springfield star
