Five things to know about Dalvin Cook, new Vikings running back

Get to know Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.

April 29, 2017 at 1:02AM
(Brian Stensaas/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Dalvin Cook made his mark on the Florida State record book by eclipsing one of the Seminoles' greatest – Warrick Dunn. Cook broke Dunn's 20-year school career-rushing record after games of 267 yards against South Florida and 225 against Syracuse. He finished his career with 4,464 rushing yards.

– Cook was raised by his grandmother, Betty Cook, who, according to MMQB's Robert Klemko, "fostered several children" in her small Miami home.

– Cook's final collegiate game, a 33-32 FSU win over Michigan in the Orange Bowl, was one for the ages. He was dominant, rushing for 145 yards on 20 carries and added another 62 receiving yards. Of all of his eye-popping plays in that game, the one that many remember would be devastating had the Seminoles not recovered.

– Cook came close to locking down all of the biggest collegiate awards for running backs last season. He was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award.

– Shockingly, no athletes who played high school football in the state of Florida were taken in the first round of the draft. Cook, chosen 41st, was just the third overall from the state. The two taken ahead of him were guard Forrest Lamp from Western Kentucky, drafted 38th by the Chargers; and Florida safety Marcus Maye, drafted 39th by the Jets.

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about the writer

Rana L. Cash

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