In 2015, just one year after transferring from NCAA school Arizona State, former Mount Douglas Rams standout Terrell Davis helped his hometown UBC Thunderbirds win their first Vanier Cup since 1997.

Fast forward five years, where receiver Gavin Cobb — a fellow alumnus of the BC Triple A high school football powerhouse — is looking to accomplish the same feat in Bisons colours.

A two-time Subway Bowl champion, including in 2013 with Terrell's younger brother Marcus, as well as the 2015 Triple A Player of the Year, Cobb has spent the last four years making plays as both a pass-catcher and returner for NCAA Division 2 program Simon Fraser.

Thanks to the U SPORTS repatriation rule that was passed in 2013, Cobb won't have to sit out a transfer year, and will have two full seasons with the Herd as he looks to finish off his undergrad.

"A lot of it had to do with my degree. Staying at SFU I'd still have another five, possibly six semesters left to do, whereas at Manitoba I only have three or four, so I'd be able to finish my degree a lot quicker," Cobb says of the decision to come to the prairies.

"I definitely don't regret going to SFU. It's been a great experience and it's taught me a lot of things. It sucks that it didn't work out the way that I wanted it to, but I wouldn't be where I was today if it wasn't for SFU.

The decision to come to Manitoba, I kind of just felt that it was what was best for me. I didn't talk to any other schools just because I had a good relationship with [Bisons head coach Brian] Dobie, and the team is pretty much Vanier ready. I feel like I could be the piece to the puzzle that gets the team to the championship."

A can't miss prospect for a perennial powerhouse

Having seen what Cobb was able to accomplish for Mount Doug, it's no surprise that Dobie originally recruited him straight out of high school.

Blessed with spectacular athleticism, the versatile baller recorded 2,766 all-purpose yards over his last two seasons with the Rams, helping the school capture their fourth and fifth championships in what was a decade of dominance.

"I think it really just stems down from coach Mark Townsend. That guy is a genius. If it wasn't for him, I don't know where Mount Doug football would be. He coached community football way back in the day when I was a kid, and he always instilled in us from that young age how to be a professional, and he really taught you how to win and how to lose.

We just had that winning culture. When we got to high school, he told us what we had to do to win, and we knew what we had to do to win. Once everybody bought in it just kind of all fell into place. I think that's what I took away from Mount Doug the most was just that winning culture. He put that dog mentality into us in high school."

Another valuable asset during Cobb's time with the Rams was speed coach Dacre Bowen, a track and field Olympian in 1976 who ran for the Oregon Ducks in university.

"He trained us on the track at UVic," noted Cobb.

"We'd just go there and train all summer long. He really taught us some stuff. He taught me a lot of things about how to bend people and how to manipulate them with the way you run. It's kind of cool. It's just all really about angles."

Anyone who's seen Cobb return a kick or catch a pass can attest to his body control and elusiveness, especially in tight spaces. His knack for making defenders miss comes from a mix of skill, but also out of necessity given his 5'10", 170-pound frame.

"Ever since I was a kid, I've always had the big, playmaking ability," he says confidently.

"I've always been a small guy, and I'll get tackled every once in a while, but I've found ways to not let guys get full contact with me."

Returning the favour for SFU

Cobb had plenty of U SPORTS interest coming out of high school but chose to commit to the Clan for the 2016 season, looking to aid the program in bringing home their first win since 2014.

He was joined by fellow Rams players Oliver MacKenzie, Justice Kremler and Michael Olson, as well as 6'7" Vancouver College receiver Rysen John, who's currently receiving NFL interest from over half a dozen teams.

"They were trying to turn the program around and I thought it would be kind of cool to be part of a revolution of a program. Me and Rysen talked about it and he hit me up one day and was like 'hey man, I think I'm going to go to SFU.' I was like you know what, that's a good idea, I was thinking the same thing. He committed, I committed, and then there was Oliver, Justice and Michael."

As a pass-catcher, Cobb had a strong career, finishing with 1,108 receiving yards. It was his skills as a returner that truly made him a game-changer however.

As a true freshman, he finished fourth in all of Division 2 with 909 combined return yards. The following year, Cobb had 1,041 kick return yards and was named a conference all-star. He also recorded his first-ever special teams touchdown, breaking the school record on a 99-yard run back against Western Oregon.

"That one, I can replay it in my head all the time because it just worked out so perfectly. I caught the kickoff, went straight up the seam and then bended to the left a little bit. There was a gap – the hole was so big I could drive a truck through it – so I just put my foot in the ground, got upfield and the rest was history."

A Rams reunion

It'll be a Rams reunion in 2020, as Manitoba has become a popular spot for Mount Doug players over the years.

Former 2013 teammates Christian Krause (OL), Aarmin Purewal (OL) and Julian Luis (LB) were all a part of the team last season and should be back in 2020.

In terms of the offensive system, don't be surprised if Cobb takes on a prominent role right away. He caught some passes from the fifth-year pivot Des Catellier a few weeks ago and feels that the two "are going to be great together."

Special teams-wise, chances are fifth-year Mike Ritchott, a conference all-star who set a program record for kick return yards last season, will return to his post in 2020, however the spot beside him is wide open for the taking.

"I would love to be able to return kicks. I think it's one of the most fun parts about playing football," added Cobb.

"It's kind of like all eyes are on you, and the rest is up to you. You just run, find that gap and hit it hard."