Chrissy Cobbs doesn’t wear a jersey on Saturdays in Beaver Stadium, but she’s still a key piece of Penn State football’s operation. As an offensive student assistant, the senior broadcast journalism major has already accomplished more in the sport than most hope to in a lifetime.

Football has been stitched into Cobbs’ life for as long as she can remember. Growing up in northern Virginia, football wasn’t just a sport for her. It was a part of her family. Her father, Duffy Cobbs, was a defensive back on Penn State’s 1982 and 1986 national championship teams. Her brothers, Brian and Michael, both played Division I football, with Brian eventually reaching the NFL.

“When I was really young, I would go to football practice and my dad would give me a whistle, and I would act like I knew what I was doing,” Cobbs said. “The more I was around, the more I wanted to be involved, whether that was in the drills or just throwing the football on the sidelines.”

That early exposure set the stage for her own path in the sport. In high school, she became her team’s offensive signaler, quickly gaining a deeper understanding of the game.

At Penn State, Cobbs threw herself into opportunities early. She started out writing for The Daily Collegian before joining Penn State football as a recruiting operations intern. From there, she shifted into personnel recruiting, breaking down film of high school and transfer prospects. Now, she serves as an offensive student assistant while also working as a sports specialist for Culture Central.

As a senior, Cobbs balances schoolwork with football responsibilities. Tuesdays are typical: after morning classes, she heads to the Lasch Building for lunch before diving into wristband prep before practice. Every number has to match, everything laminated and cut to size, every detail ready for practice.

At practice, she snaps balls in warmups, assists with quarterback drills, and helps signal plays. On game days, she rides with the coaches, changes into her gear, and steps onto the field ready to work. 

“I watch football now from a coach’s lens,” Cobbs said. “I’ll see a pass concept and think, ‘Dang, they should have thrown the crush concept on the boundary side of the field instead.’”

That coach’s perspective hasn’t come without challenges. As one of the few women in the room, Cobbs has often had to prove herself.

“Not everybody believes that you belong at first, and sometimes you’re tested in ways you never thought you would be, because you’re a woman,” she said. “It’s just about persevering in those moments and proving that you do belong here.”

Rather than discouraging her, those challenges have only fueled her drive. She’s proud of her family’s legacy in the sport but determined to write her own chapter.

“My brother texted me after a game once and said, ‘Chrissy’s the coolest person I know,’” she said. “Honestly, that made me tear up, because he’s a role model to me.”

Last season, Cobbs’ efforts paid off with a milestone memory: standing on the sideline in Glendale, Arizona, when Penn State defeated Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

The experience cemented her sense of belonging but also left her hungry for more. After graduation, she hopes to combine her journalism background with her football knowledge and pursue a career as an on-air analyst. 

“You’ll always have adversity in whatever job you do,” Cobbs said. “It’s how you handle that adversity that benefits you.”

For now, Cobbs remains focused on the day-to-day grind, including practices, laminated wristbands, and the details that keep Penn State football running smoothly.

“Football has always been in my life,” Cobbs said. “Right now, I am trying to live in the moment.”