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James Cook NFL Draft Profile
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James Cook Scouting ReportCook possesses soft, reliable hands. He’s an incredibly natural catcher of the ball. Furthermore, his athletic ability enables him to pose a threat after the catch. Cook also demonstrates an excellent route-running ability that would make some wide receivers proud. There are few better pass-catching running backs in this NFL Draft class. Cook is just a gadget player at the next level. He’s also a genuine talent as a rusher. He can put together multiple moves to create space behind the line of scrimmage and among traffic. Cook has impressively quick footwork and is able to plant his feet, sink his hips, and almost effortlessly change direction. Cook is an extremely willing blocker both in pass protection and as a run blocker. He’s routinely tasked with chip blocking, and there were multiple examples of him getting out in front and blocking downfield in the games studied. Furthermore, he routinely looks for work in this regard, demonstrating a level of football intelligence. Cook has the potential to separate himself with his multi-faceted ability. Moreover, the limited tread on his tires — only five career games with 10+ carries — will prove alluring to NFL teams. At present, he could be looking at a very early Day 3 selection. However, he has the opportunity to solidify himself as a Day 2 prospect with a good showing at the Senior Bowl. |
Areas for Improvement
Having praised his willingness as a blocker, this is an area that requires the biggest development. At 5’11” and 190 pounds, Cook isn’t the most physical back in the class, and it shows when it comes to blocking. He can be easily uprooted upon contact, resulting in pressure on the quarterback. That said, there were times where his athletic ability allowed him to recover. Although he has the vision and patience to be a competent runner between the tackles, he could seek to add a little more muscle to be a more physical presence. Cook won’t be mistaken for a power back by any stretch of the imagination. That could limit his projection at the next level. Yet, there were examples of him being able to drive with his lower body in the games studied.
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James Cook Career at SchoolCook’s commitment alongside Zamir White gave Georgia the first- and third-ranked RBs in the 2018 recruiting class. Their running back room also contained Elijah Holyfield and D’Andre Swift. As a result, early opportunities to impress were limited for the standout from Miami Central. Cook impressed when the chance presented itself. Against UMass, he led the team with 133 all-purpose yards while scoring 2 touchdowns, an early demonstration of the versatile and dangerous threat that he possesses. Although he ended his freshman season with just 41 carries for 284 yards, he was named one of the team’s Offensive Newcomers of the Year. Cook earned three starts in 2019. Furthermore, he still averaged 6.1 yards per carry. The Georgia RB continued to showcase his ability as a pass catcher, snagging a 19-yard receiving touchdown against Georgia Tech. While he took a hit statistically, he was recognized within the program as the co-winner of the Most Improved Offensive Player award.
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James Cook NFL Draft Player ProfileCook continued to impress. Against Alabama, he snagged an 82-yard receiving touchdown while adding both rushing and receiving scores against Missouri. Cook tallied 104 yards on just 6 carries against South Carolina, bolstering a team-leading 6.7 yards per carry. He finished second on the team with 303 rushing yards and fourth with 225 receiving yards. Cook has emerged as the standout prospect from the Georgia RB room for this NFL Draft cycle. He earned the start in the season opener against Clemson and tallied receiving and rushing touchdowns against South Carolina. In the win over Tennessee, Cook set a career-high with 104 rushing yards and 3 total touchdowns while leading the team as a captain. Those performances had already earned Cook a call-up to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Regardless, his best was yet to come. The Georgia running back tore Michigan apart in the Orange Bowl, tallying a career-best 112 receiving yards, including a 39-yard touchdown. With one game left of his college career, Cook can achieve something that his brother never did — winning a college football National Championship.
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