Florida State football, recruiting news: Dalvin Cook named running back of the year by PFF

Football

Dalvin Cook may have been snubbed from being both a Heisman finalist and the Doak Walker Award winner, but he was recently named Pro Football Focus’ collegiate running back of the year.

Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

PFF Grade: 89.3; Pos. rank: 2

Coming into the year, the big question was who would emerge as the best running back in the nation, with strong candidates in Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, LSU’s Leonard Fournette and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. In the end, it was Cook who had the best year, capping off an incredible collegiate career with an impressive three-game stretch to end the year that summed up his play nicely. In games against Syracuse, Florida and Michigan, he averaged 3.7, 4.8 and 6.0 yards after contact per carry, and forced 33 missed tackles. Particularly against Michigan that really is incredible, with 119 of his 145 yards coming after contact and Cook forcing a missed tackle once every two carries.

Cook led all running backs in 2016 with 1,195 yards after contact, the most of any running back in the nation, but also more than all but 31 running backs managed total rushing yards. The best pure runner in the nation, Cook stands out in terms of raw stats, advanced stats and passes the eyeball test too, with plenty of quality runs of four and five yards in his repertoire. In a year when many of the top running backs in the nation didn’t live up to expectations, Cook was able to tie a career best in touchdowns and post career-best numbers in rushing yards and yards after contact. – Gordon McGuinness

Florida State’s senior class surprised the team’s tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, Tim Brewster, with a special souvenir.

After a string of ACC players announcing that they are declaring for the NFL draft early, NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb, who notched 22 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks this past season, announced that he will be returning for his senior season on Tuesday.

Recruiting

A pair of Florida State’s 2017 early enrollees, five-star defensive end Josh Kaindoh and four-star defensive back Cyrus Fagan, arrived and enrolled and FSU on Wednesday.

In more 2017 news, another major recruit in Mississippi, D.D. Bowie, a four-star wide receiver, shared that he would flip his current Ole Miss commitment over to the Seminoles if they were to offer him.

“I don't know if Florida State will offer,” SB Nation recruiting expert Bud Elliott told me. “The Seminoles want to take two or three receivers, and already have four-star D.J. Matthews in the class. Tamorrion Terry and Henry Ruggs, both of whom have offers, could be higher on FSU's board.”

While the first members of the 2017 recruiting class are arriving on campus, recruiting for the 2018 class begins to pick up. On Tuesday, the Seminoles offered a scholarship to three-star safety Joseph Foucha out of New Orleans.

Alumni

Freddie Stevenson, who just wrapped up a four-year career as FSU’s starting fullback, officially received his NFL Combine invite on Tuesday.

Exactly how impressive was Jalen Ramsey’s rookie season in Jacksonville? This tweet puts it into perspective.

Former FSU QB Jameis Winston took some time to pose for a picture recently with a baby dressed in some surprising garb.