He played college football for the North Carolina A&T Aggies, and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

[2] In his two years on the varsity team, he rushed for a total 808 yards, including 252 earned in a single game.

As a result, North Carolina A&T was the only Division I school to offer Cohen a football scholarship,[2] which he accepted.

As a freshman, starting in six of the 11 games played in the 2013 season, Cohen was positioned as a part of a group of freshmen players poised to take over the Aggie program after senior running backs Ricky Lewis and Dominique Drake graduated.

[12][13][14] Cohen finished the 2014 season with 1,340 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, both being the second-highest single-season totals in A&T history.

[3][15] Cohen also earned MEAC co-offensive player of the year, along with All-American recognition from SBN, BoxtoRow, and Stats FCS.

[18] Cohen's 2015 season was highlighted by a number of record-setting performances including a career-best 295 yards, and offensive MVP recognition, at the 2015 Celebration Bowl.

Cohen's performance also made him the first player in school history to pass the 5,000 career rushing yard mark.

[27] His performance would also make him the MEAC's all-time leading rusher, and the first player in school history to break the 5,000-yard mark.

[28][29] Cohen also earned All-American recognition from several national organizations and media outlets including: the NCAA, STATS FCS and BoxToRow.

[30] According to Alex Marvez of the Sporting News, Cohen had been in talks with and also worked out for several teams going into the 2017 NFL draft including the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, and Green Bay Packers.

[32] Cohen's size and abilities drew many comparisons to Darren Sproles, and he was projected to be a sixth-round pick in the upcoming draft.

[47] He was the second rookie since Gale Sayers in 1965 to record a rushing, passing, receiving, and punt return touchdown.

In Week 4 of the 2018 season, Cohen recorded seven receptions for a career-high 121 receiving yards in the 48–10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On the final play of regulation, with the Bears down by seven points, Cohen was involved in a trick play to tie the game: at the Giants' one-yard line, quarterback Chase Daniel handed off to tight end Trey Burton, who lateraled the ball to Cohen.

Fellow teammates Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, and Kyle Fuller were also named first-team All-Pro.

[59] In the Wild Card Round, against the Eagles, Cohen had three receptions for 27 yards in his playoff debut, a 16–15 loss.

[63] In Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, Cohen was knocked into on a fair catch and suffered tears to his ACL and MCL, as well as a tibial plateau fracture.