Florida State star RB Dalvin Cook declares for the NFL Draft
Cook projects to be one of the top running backs taken in the draft
Florida State star running back Dalvin Cook has declared for the NFL Draft. The junior announced his decision in an Instagram video on Saturday afternoon, one day after Florida State beat Michigan 33-32 in the Orange Bowl.
⚡️ #ThankYouDC4 ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/9UKo6y6yJ8
— FSU Football (@FSU_Football) December 31, 2016
Cook finished the season with 1,765 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns and is Florida State's all-time leading rusher with 4,464 yards and 46 touchdowns. He capped off his incredible, but perhaps nationally under-appreciated, career with 145 yards rushing and 62 yards receiving in the bowl victory over the Wolverines.
Cook was adamant about playing in Florida State's bowl in light of decisions by Leonard Fournette (LSU) and Christian McCaffrey (Stanford) choosing to sit out their respective games to prepare for the NFL Draft. Then again, the Orange Bowl was a homecoming for the Miami native.
"My home crowd and a majority of my family is going to be out there," Cook said this past week. "Going to compete with my guys, once again, is always a great feeling."
Nationally, it never felt like Cook got the recognition he deserved. He never made it to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist and never won the Doak Walker Award for top running back. Yet, it felt universally agreed upon that he was one of the top players in all of college football. Cook has speed to burn, he also demonstrated better-than-advertised power and balance. His game was arguably the most complete of any back in college football.
Now, he projects as one of the best players in the draft. He should be a first round pick, and maybe the first running back taken, according to CBS Sports' draft projections.
















