Split End, Detroit
Lions
Age: 23
College: Washington
State
Height: 6’2” Weight: 195
Prelude:
Cogdill
received All-American recognition following his last two college seasons and
overall compiled 64 pass receptions for 1256 yards and 13 touchdowns, including
a 7-catch, 252-yard performance against Northwestern during his junior year. He
was chosen by the Lions in the sixth round of the 1960 NFL draft and, spurning
an offer from the Dallas Texans of the new AFL, moved directly into the starting
lineup.
1960 Season Summary
Appeared in all
12 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 43
[8, tied with Willard Dewveall]
Most
receptions, game – 8 (for 115 yds.) vs. San Francisco 10/9
Yards – 642 [11]
Most yards,
game – 115 (on 8 catches) vs. San Francisco 10/9
Average gain
– 14.9
TDs – 1
100-yard
receiving games - 1
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Awards & Honors:
NFL Rookie of
the Year: UPI, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Lions went 7-5
to finish second in the NFL Western Conference (along with the 49ers).
Aftermath:
Cogdill
followed up in 1961 with 45 catches for 956 yards (21.2 avg.) and six
touchdowns. He achieved career highs with 53 receptions and 991 yards in 1962
and 10 TD catches in ’63, garnering Pro Bowl honors both years. Fast and prone
to making big plays, Cogdill was a solid deep receiver for a team that relied
more on ball control and strong defense. Injuries became a factor later in his
career. A dislocated shoulder ended his 1964 season in the 11th game
and a fractured kneecap during the ’65 preseason cost him five games and
severely limited his performance when he did play. He came back to catch 47
passes in 1966, but for just 411 yards, and following a down year in ’67 he was
waived during the 1968 season and picked up by the Colts, where he sat on the
bench as leg problems continued to be an issue. Cogdill finished up with two
years in Atlanta, catching a total of 31 passes and retiring after the ’70
season. Overall, he caught 356 passes for 5696 yards (16.0 avg.) and 34
touchdowns – of those totals, 325 receptions, 5221 yards, and 28 TDs came with
Detroit. He was named to the Pro Bowl three
times.and received second-team All-NFL honors following the 1962, ’63, and ’64
seasons.
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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
