Monmouth College Athletics

One of Monmouth’s most versatile athletes, Robert “Tabby” Talkin came to MC from Roseville in the fall of 1942, having distinguished himself as an all-state athlete.

At Monmouth, he ran on a school-record mile relay team, but he left the college his sophomore year to enroll in the Navy V-12 program at Illinois State University. That fall, his 88-yard return of a kickoff in the last 10 seconds of a game lifted the Redbirds to a 12-6 victory. In basketball, Talkin was a third-team All-American, and he captained the ISU track team and lettered in baseball.

Returning to Monmouth, he was an all-conference member of the 1946-47 Scots basketball team. Contacted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1947, Talkin was unable to try out, due to his junior status. A number of injuries then put an end to his hopes of a pro football career.