Florida State star running back Dalvin Cook announced on Saturday that he will forgo his senior year to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.
Cook finished his Florida State career with 207 total yards in the ‘Noles 33-32 Orange Bowl victory over Michigan, on his way to winning MVP honors.
Cook left his mark on the FSU football program with his name scattered among the record books. The Miami native holds the all-time records for rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, single-season rushing yards and single-season all purpose yards to name a few.
This past season, Cook set a career-high in rush yards with 1,765, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. After a slow start to the year, Cook finished strong, rushing for over 100 yards in nine of FSU’s final 10 games, and he went over 200 yards twice in that span.
The junior also set career-highs with 488 receiving yards and 33 receptions. He had over 100 receiving yards twice this season, the first two times of his career.
During his time in Tallahassee, the versatile back has gathered a plethora of awards, including the 2015 Jim Brown Award, given to the nation’s top running back. This past season, he was a consensus All-American choice. He was also a two-time All-ACC first team member, as voted by the media and coaches. He finished tied for tenth in the 2016 Heisman Trophy voting.
To no surprise, Cook is a first-round draft pick in many 2017 mock NFL Drafts. CBS Sports has him projected as the 14th overall pick and SB Nation has the talented back tabbed as the No. 15 pick.
As for who will replace Cook for the ‘Noles? FSU’s running back depth chart includes Jacques Patrick, who is presumed to take over the starting role. Patrick, who will be a junior in 2017, ran for 348 yards with a 5.8 yard average serving backup duties in 2016. However, the x-factor might be Cam Akers, the recent running back commit of Mississippi, who is ranked No. 4 overall and No. 2 at his position in the 247 Sports composite, and is set to enroll early. Also, due to arrive to Tallahassee in the fall are blue-chip commitments Khalan Laborn from Virginia and Zaquandre White from Ft. Myers, Florida.