Cobie Durant Bio
Cobie Durant is an American professional football cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Born on February 9, 1998, in Lamar, South Carolina, Durant rose from a small hometown to the professional ranks through the HBCU pipeline, playing college football at South Carolina State. After being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he has developed into a reliable member of the Rams’ secondary and a player recognized for his production on the perimeter and in the slot.
Standing 6 feet tall and listed at 207 pounds, Durant combines track-level speed with physicality in run support. He earned the Black College Football Pro Player of the Year honor in 2025, validating the trajectory he has followed since his rookie season in Los Angeles.
Early Life and Background
Cobie Durant was born and raised in Lamar, South Carolina, a small community in the Pee Dee region of the state. Growing up in a tight-knit environment, he was introduced to football at an early age and quickly developed a passion for the defensive side of the ball. His speed and length made him a natural fit at cornerback, and he became a multi-sport athlete during his formative years, sharpening the athletic foundation that would later draw the attention of college recruiters.
Durant attended Lamar High School, where he starred as a defensive back and a return specialist. His high school performances earned him a place on the recruiting radar despite coming from a small-town program. Coaches at the time praised his competitive drive and his willingness to refine his technique against older competition during camps and combines.
Path to American Football
Following high school, Durant committed to South Carolina State University, continuing his career at the HBCU level in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). He quickly worked his way into the starting lineup and became one of the most disruptive defensive backs in the conference. By his sophomore season, he had already established himself as a playmaker, earning Second-team All-MEAC honors in 2019.
Durant’s stock continued to rise through his junior and senior campaigns, culminating in a First-team All-MEAC selection in 2021. He improved his draft stock after performing well in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl and was one of only four HBCU players to attend the NFL Scouting Combine. His 4.38-second 40-yard dash ranked fifth among all defensive backs at the event, confirming the elite speed that had defined his college film.
Cobie Durant Career
Early Career (2022)
The Los Angeles Rams selected Durant in the fourth round, 142nd overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was the 20th cornerback drafted and one of two cornerbacks taken by the Rams, joining sixth-round pick Derion Kendrick. On June 6, 2022, Durant signed a four-year rookie contract worth $4.16 million, including a signing bonus of $504,340.
He entered his rookie season as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart behind Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill, and David Long Jr. Despite the crowded room, Durant made an immediate impact when injuries pressed him into action, recording his first career interception and first career sack in a Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He finished the year with 22 combined tackles, three interceptions, and a pick-six returned 85 yards against the Denver Broncos, earning an overall grade of 75.2 from Pro Football Focus.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2023-2024)
In 2023, Durant was named the starting nickelback to begin the season under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. He started nine of 16 games and posted 39 combined tackles with six pass deflections. The Rams finished second in the NFC West with a 10-7 record, and Durant started his first career playoff game in the NFC Wild-card Round against the Detroit Lions, a 23-24 loss.
The 2024 campaign marked Durant’s emergence as a full-time starter. After the Rams promoted Chris Shula to defensive coordinator, Durant was installed as the No. 2 starting cornerback alongside Tre’Davious White. He responded with 40 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, one sack, a forced fumble, and one interception in 15 starts. His Week 7 performance against the Las Vegas Raiders, which featured a forced fumble and an interception of Gardner Minshew, earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Durant played a central role in the Rams’ postseason run, intercepting Sam Darnold in a 27-9 Wild-card win over the Minnesota Vikings before the Rams fell 28-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round.
Driving Style and Strengths
Durant’s game is built on speed, length, and physicality at the catch point. He excels in press-man coverage and has shown the range to recover against vertical routes, a skill that traces back to his 4.38-second 40-yard dash. In run support, he is a willing tackler who finishes through the ball carrier, and his work in the slot during the 2023 season demonstrated his versatility across the secondary.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Durant’s 85-yard pick-six against the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day 2022 stands out as a career-defining play. He was also named NFC Defensive Player of the Week in 2024 and earned the Black College Football Pro Player of the Year award in 2025, highlighting his continued growth as one of the premier HBCU products in the modern NFL.
Cobie Durant Career Wins
While individual win totals are not typically tracked for defensive backs, Durant has contributed to team success throughout his professional career. He has helped the Rams reach the playoffs in two of his first three seasons, including a 2023 NFC Wild-card appearance and a 2024 campaign that ended in the Divisional Round against the eventual Super Bowl-bound Philadelphia Eagles.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond team results, Durant has collected notable individual accolades, including First-team All-MEAC recognition in 2021, Second-team All-MEAC honors in 2019, and the 2025 Black College Football Pro Player of the Year award. His consistent grades from Pro Football Focus across his first three seasons reflect steady, upward-trending performance in coverage and run support.
Cobie Durant Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Cobie Durant’s parents and extended family have not been publicly disclosed in widely available sources. He grew up in Lamar, South Carolina, where the local community played a significant role in his development as an athlete.
Personal Life
Durant has kept his personal life largely private. Public records and available sources do not provide verified information about a spouse, partner, or children at this stage of his career. His professional focus has remained on his development as a starting cornerback in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Durant is firmly established as a starting cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams. His strong 2024 finish, which included an NFC Defensive Player of the Week award and a postseason interception against the Minnesota Vikings, positioned him as a foundational piece of the Rams’ secondary under defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
The 2025 campaign will be the final season of Durant’s current rookie contract, which runs through 2026. With his blend of speed, length, and physicality, he is expected to handle a heavy workload on the perimeter and in the slot, and he enters the year with momentum following a year in which Pro Football Focus ranked him 95th among 222 qualifying cornerbacks.
Durant’s individual recognition also continued into 2025, as he was named the Black College Football Pro Player of the Year. The award underscores his standing among the most accomplished HBCU products in the league and reinforces the trajectory he has followed since arriving in Los Angeles as a fourth-round pick in 2022.