Coaches often talk about the game within the game when it comes to football, and a pair of Bardstown seniors have a chance to play a number of them over the next four years.

BARDSTOWN CITY SCHOOLS

Bardstown seniors Dee Yocum and Marcus Cosby signed recently to continue their college football careers, with Yocum opting for Campbellsville and Cosby heading to Georgetown. They are pictured with (back) Dee's parents Richard Conner and Chanel Yocum, as well as Marcus' mother, Amy Cosby, his sister, Leandra, and his father, Ernie Cosby.

 

PETER W. ZUBATY/The Kentucky Standard

Bardstown's Dee Yocum was the Tigers' top shut-down cornerback and also found time to rush for 500 yards on offense despite sharing the backfield with three other runners who went for 700 yards or more.

Buy this photo

PETER W. ZUBATY/The Kentucky Standard

Marcus Cosby was the rare four-year starter at Bardstown, and graduates as the school's all-time leading receiver with 99 catches.

Buy this photo

1 of 3

“There’ll probably be some talking to each other,” Dee Yocum said of he and Bardstown teammate Marcus Cosby, who each signed on recently to continue their football careers in the rugged Mid-South Conference. Both will remain Tigers, with Yocum donning the Campbellsville University uniform, while Cosby will be adorned with Georgetown’s stripes.

“We’re playing at two different, rival schools, and I play wide receiver and he plays DB (defensive back), so he’s going to be guarding me,” Cosby said. “So it’s going to be fun.”

It won’t be the first time they’ve faced off, however.

“It’s going to be just like practice,” Yocum said. “It’s going to be hard for us to split up because of how close we are — we grew up together.”

Cosby leaves as the all-time leading receiver in Bardstown history, notching 99 catches as a four-year starter, while Yocum did his biggest work on the defensive side of the ball, anchoring the Tiger defense as a shut-down cornerback.

“They’re both four-year lettermen for us, and that doesn’t happen very often,” said Bardstown coach David Clark. “They’ve been able to give us a lot of stability and leadership on both sides of the ball. They’re great ambassadors for the school.”

It’s a close friendship that goes beyond being teammates and childhood buddies. When Yocum’s mother had to move away for work, Cosby offered to take in his friend.

“He happens to live with me, so he’s like a brother,” Cosby said. “We’re always doing things together. It’s going to be hard to split apart.”

But as it is now, they have a few months left together before graduation, then getting ready for summer practice. The end of their high school road brings about mixed emotions.

“It’s tough to deal with, but you just have to deal with it because it’s the next step of your life,” Cosby said.

It’s something Clark said the duo are ready for.

“I’m really proud of them to go to the next level,” he said. “They understand the importance of getting their college degree.”

Cosby plans to study physical therapy, while Yocum is looking toward majoring in computer science.

“It’s really exciting — you just want to see what the future holds,” Yocum said. “It’s a big accomplishment, and you just have to take care of business. I worked hard in high school to get to this level.”

Clark said both players displayed an uncommon versatility, dependability and selflessness.

Yocum was the Tigers’ top defensive back, helping anchor a unit that allowed just 15.7 points per game over the past two seasons, a span that saw Bardstown go 20-4. In addition, he found time to rush for 500 yards as a senior in a deep backfield that featured three other backs with 700 or more rushing yards, and he did it with an edge of quiet toughness on a gimpy ankle most of the time, Clark said.

“He played the better half of his junior and senior seasons hurt, and never complained once,” he said. “He wasn’t at full-strength for half of both seasons.”

Cosby, in addition to being the Tigers’ top receiver, also showed his versatility as a kick returner and safety on defense, and had the ability to shift over to quarterback when necessary.

“Marcus filled in at a lot of different spots for us,” Clark said.

Now, however, they’ll be a bit more anchored in their spots as they make the leap to college football. There will be some texts and phone calls exchanged during the season, to be sure, especially when Georgetown and Campbellsville face off in conference play. It’ll be just like old times.

“We’re very competitive with each other — we talk smack a lot in practice,” Yocum said.