Palm Bay star has his picking

Junior to Watch: Joe Cohen

School: Palm Bay, Fla.

Position: Defensive end and fullback

Size and Speed: Cohen is 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds. He was recently timed at the Miami Nike camp at 4.47 and he has a 2.7 grade point average.

Honors: In his junior season, Cohen wasn’t selected for any football related honors due to a knee injury that sidelined him for two months. However, this spring he was selected the Miami Nike camp MVP.

Statistics: As a Sophomore, Cohen averaged 11-yards a carry.

Favorites: Cohen’s is open among Miami, Florida State, Florida, Louisiana and Penn State.

Skinny: Palm Bay, Florida is the home of one of the physically gifted athletes in the country. Joe Cohen, who is 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds runs an amazing 4.47 40-yard dash, has been getting a ton of attention. Athletes like this don’t come along very often and that’s why college coaches from all around the country have been standing in line to offer him.

“I’ve been offered by a lot of schools; the main ones are Florida, Miami, Florida State , Auburn, Georgia, LSU, and Penn State,” Cohen said. “I’m looking for a school that will give me the best offer for the right situation.”

What is the right situation for Cohen and are there any conditions?

“As a freshman I plan on taking a redshirt,” Cohen said. After I redshirt, the right situation will have playing time in first year or two. My teammate Reggie Nelson and I are package deal. Wherever he goes, I go. Wherever I go, he goes.”

Cohen, who describes himself as being humble, is keeping his options open. He‘s observing the Florida’s schools very closely.

“Last year when I attended the Miami Nike camp, it opened up my eyes and I was kind of favoring the Canes but I’m open now,” Cohen said. The Florida coaches are telling me that they need fullbacks and defensive ends. Reggie likes Florida State but they have a very young team. I’m also open to some of the out of state schools.”

Cohen, who as a sophomore averaged 11-yards a carry, has plans this summer to attend a couple of football camps that are north of his home in Palm Bay. Florida State and Louisiana State are two of his possibilities.