Indiana Football: Wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. charged with two misdemeanors

Simmie Cobbs Jr. was arrested on Saturday night at a Jason Aldean concert and charged with two misdemeanors, failure to identify and resisting law enforcement.

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Simmie Cobbs Jr. had a tumultuous and disappointing 2016 season. His 2017 season does not appear to be starting any better. Indiana’s redshirt junior receiver was arrested this weekend when a confrontation with concert security escalated into two misdemeanors.

According to the IndyStar, Cobbs Jr. was at the Jason Aldean concert at the Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana on Saturday night. When security tried to clear him from the aisle, Cobbs Jr. refused and they took him to the security office. There he refused to provide any identification or take a breathalyzer and was arrested.

As you can see below, the refusal to identify charge came at 9:13 PM on Saturday, which makes sense. What is odd is his second charge, resisting law enforcement, came the following afternoon at 12:25 PM. He was released from custody less than four hours later.

The impact of Cobbs’ arrest

This would be a nothing story if it was almost anyone else. On the surface, this looks like a college kid of legal drinking age got into an argument with security at a concert. Things escalated when he failed to comply with the officers that showed up next. Those among us who haven’t gotten a little too drunk at an outdoor summer country concert and yelled at a security guard, cast the first stone.

The problem is Cobbs Jr. was suspended for the first game last season along with five of his teammates for “not living up to their responsibilities to the program at different times since the 2015 season.”

The resisting law enforcement charge is also somewhat troublesome without more context. Presumably, he was sober at that point after having been in custody for more than 12 hours. I am definitely looking forward to hearing Cobbs’ side of things.

Indiana responds to the situation

The Indiana Athletic Department released a statement on Sunday:

"Indiana University Athletics and the IU football program are aware of the arrest of redshirt junior Simmie Cobbs Jr. We will continue to gather facts, monitor the legal process and take action as the evolving situation warrants."

Cobbs Jr. ended up breaking his ankle on the first play after he returned from his suspension last season. He was granted a medical redshirt.

Coming into this season, he slots in as one of the Hoosiers two best receivers. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver led Indiana in receptions and yards in his last full season with 60 catches for 1035 yards.

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If the Hoosiers are going to make their third straight bowl game, Cobbs Jr. will have to be a big part of the offense. It will be fascinating to see what the university does when the facts are all laid bare.