Cobie Durant Bio
Cobie Durant (born February 9, 1998) is an American professional football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was born and raised in Lamar, South Carolina, and attended Lamar High School where he was a multi-sport athlete. Durant played college football for the South Carolina State Bulldogs from 2018 to 2021 before being selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In his first seasons in the league, Durant established himself as a reliable defensive back and earned recognition as the 2025 Black College Football Pro Player of the Year. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys in March 2026.
Early Life and Background
Cobie Durant was born on February 9, 1998, in Lamar, South Carolina. He attended Lamar High School, where he excelled in multiple sports including football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. As a senior quarterback for the Silver Foxes, Durant accumulated 1,224 yards in total offense with 621 rushing yards and 603 passing yards. On defense, he recorded 50 tackles and four interceptions as a safety. His outstanding performance helped lead Lamar to an 11-3 record and the Class A Division II State football championship. Despite his individual accomplishments, Durant did not receive any scholarship offers out of high school.
Following high school graduation, Durant worked at FedEx and spent a year at Palmetto Prep Academy in Columbia, South Carolina, before pursuing his college football career as a walk-on at South Carolina State University in 2018.
Path to Professional Football
Durant began his college career as a walk-on at South Carolina State in 2018. He worked his way into the starting lineup by his second year and earned second-team All-MEAC honors in 2019. His senior season in 2021 proved to be his breakout year, as he was named a first-team Associated Press FCS All-American, first-team All-MEAC, and the Defensive MVP of the Cricket Celebration Bowl. In that championship game, Durant helped lead the Bulldogs to a 31-10 upset victory over Jackson State. He finished his college career with 12 interceptions.
To improve his draft stock, Durant participated in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl and was one of only four historically Black college and university (HBCU) players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, which ranked as the fifth-best time among all defensive backs at the combine. NFL scouts projected him as a fifth or sixth-round selection, with The NFL Draft Bible ranking him as the ninth-best inside cornerback in the draft class.
Cobie Durant Career
Los Angeles Rams (2022–2025)
The Los Angeles Rams selected Cobie Durant in the fourth round with the 142nd overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was the first of two cornerbacks the Rams drafted that year, joining sixth-round selection Derion Kendrick. On June 6, 2022, Durant signed a four-year, $4.16 million rookie contract. Throughout training camp, he competed for a spot in the secondary and was named the fourth cornerback on the depth chart to begin the regular season.
Durant made his professional debut on September 8, 2022, in the Rams’ home opener against the Buffalo Bills, appearing on special teams. His first career interception came on September 18 against the Atlanta Falcons, when he picked off a pass from Marcus Mariota during a 31-27 victory. He earned his first career start in Week 15 at nickelback against the Green Bay Packers. On Christmas Day 2022, Durant recorded two interceptions, including an 85-yard return for his first career touchdown, during a 51-14 win over the Denver Broncos. He finished his rookie season with 22 combined tackles, five pass deflections, three interceptions, one sack, and one touchdown in 13 games with one start.
In 2023, Durant entered training camp as a candidate for a starting role following the departures of Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill. He was named the starting nickelback and opened the season with that designation. He started nine games and recorded 39 combined tackles and six pass deflections. The Rams finished the 2023 season with a 10-7 record, earning a playoff berth, and Durant started his first career playoff game in the Wild Card Round against the Detroit Lions.
Dallas Cowboys (2026–Present)
On March 13, 2026, Durant signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He joined his new team following an impressive four-year tenure with the Rams during which he developed into a consistent starting cornerback.
Playing Style and Strengths
Durant is known for his quickness and ball skills, demonstrating the ability to track and intercept passes throughout his career. His speed was evident coming out of college, where his 40-yard dash time ranked among the best for defensive backs. He has shown versatility, lining up both as an outside cornerback and in the nickelback role. His instincts in zone coverage and ability to read quarterbacks have contributed to his interception totals, while his physicality in run support has made him a reliable option in all situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Durant’s 2024 season included a standout performance in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He recorded two pass deflections, one sack, a forced fumble, and an interception during that game. In the 2025 Wild Card Round, Durant intercepted a pass from Sam Darnold that helped the Rams defeat the Minnesota Vikings 27-9. He also made a notable play in Week 12 of the 2025 season when he stripped the ball from Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown during a 34-7 victory over Tampa Bay.
Cobie Durant Career Statistics
Throughout his NFL career, Durant has accumulated significant playing time across four seasons with the Rams, appearing in 61 total games with 25 starts. He has established himself as a productive defensive back with consistent turnover creation.
Los Angeles Rams Highlights
During his four seasons with the Rams, Durant recorded 141 career tackles, 26 pass deflections, seven interceptions, two sacks, and two defensive touchdowns. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors once and was recognized as the 2025 Black College Football Pro Player of the Year. His 2025 season saw career highs with 17 games played and 15 starts, along with 40 tackles and three interceptions. The Rams made the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024 seasons with Durant contributing as a starter.
College Achievements
Before his NFL career, Durant was a standout at South Carolina State, where he earned first-team Associated Press FCS All-American honors and first-team All-MEAC recognition in 2021. He was named the Defensive MVP of the Cricket Celebration Bowl that same year and finished his college career with 12 interceptions.
| Competition Level | Games Played | Tackles | Interceptions | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Regular Season | 61 | 141 | 7 | 26 |
Cobie Durant Honors
Durant has received multiple honors throughout his football career at both the collegiate and professional levels. His recognition includes All-Conference honors in college and prestigious awards in the NFL.
Major Awards
His major accolades include Black College Football Pro Player of the Year (2025), First-team All-MEAC (2021), and Second-team All-MEAC (2019). He also earned First-team Associated Press FCS All-American honors in 2021 and was named Defensive MVP of the Cricket Celebration Bowl in the same year.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant milestone in Durant’s career as he earned the Black College Football Pro Player of the Year award, recognizing his excellence at the professional level as an HBCU product. He began the season as the Rams’ number two starting cornerback and was paired with Tre’Davious White after White joined the team. Durant played all 17 regular season games with a single-season career-high 15 starts, matching his career single-season bests with 40 total tackles and three interceptions. His 2025 season included multiple standout performances, including a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown against Tampa Bay and consistent production against division rivals including two games against the San Francisco 49ers and two against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams’ defense had an interception-laden season, and Durant contributed to that effort with crucial takeaways throughout the year. He played all three games of the Rams’ postseason run, making significant contributions in the Wild Card victory over Carolina and the Divisional Round win at Chicago, where he recorded two interceptions including one against Caleb Williams on the game’s opening possession. The Rams advanced to the NFC Championship Game before losing to the Seattle Seahawks, who went on to win Super Bowl LX. Durant’s consistent availability and playmaking ability throughout the season solidified his value as a starting cornerback in the NFL.