It didn’t take long for Florida State running back Dalvin Cook to establish himself as one of the top offensive threats in the nation. As a freshman, the 5-foot-11, 213 pound back gradually emerged as the No. 1 option in the Seminoles backfield, breaking the century mark in each of his last three games in route to gaining 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns on the season.
His sophomore campaign at Florida State’s offense was when he really broke out as a star, as Cook ran for 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging a whopping 7.4 yards per carry. A few of his memorable performances as the Seminoles feature back include racking up 269 total yards and three touchdowns against Miami and rushing for 194 and a touchdown on just 21 carries against Clemson.
The scary thing is, Cook wasn’t even at full strength last year, as he dealt with ankle and hamstring issues throughout the season. He should be even better at full strength, and the Rebels’ defense is the first team tasked with containing the talented junior.
Junior defensive end Marquis Haynes was not short on confidence when asked about the matchup with Cook.
We have a real game plan for him and we’re going to shut him down,” Haynes said. (Photo by Ariel Cobbert)
“I think defensively we’ll handle him real well,” Haynes said. “We have a real game plan for him and we’re going to shut him down.”
Hugh Freeze, like many coaches, was impressed with Cook, likening him to Georgia running back Nick Chubb and praising his ability to make players miss in space.
“Offensively, (their) tailback is a special, special player. Cook is really, really good,” Freeze said.
The Rebel defense will likely be without starting defensive end Fadol Brown, whose next-level size of 6-foot-4, 273 pounds makes him very effective in run support. Freeze said he felt that the most important thing for the defensive line to do to contain Cook was to fit their gaps.
“We have got other good players that have taken a ton of reps,” Freeze said. “I don’t know that being without Fadol will make a huge difference on whether or not we stop No. 4 (Dalvin Cook). He is going to get his share – he is just that talented, I think. We have got to be extremely disciplined with fitting our gaps and staying in those gaps because he will entice you.”
Brown has not practiced at all in fall camp due to a foot injury he suffered last fall. He saw a specialist in Texas on Friday, and though he was optimistic about how the treatment went, his status for Saturday’s game is up in the air.
“They give him the ball so deep in their zone games, he will entice you to another gap and then he will make you pay by hitting the one you just vacated,” Freeze continued. “We have got to be really disciplined whoever is in there, whether it is Fadol, at linebackers, at safeties– all of our fits have to be really, really good every single play because he will find the gap.”
Senior John Youngblood will likely start in Brown’s place, which Haynes felt comfortable with.
“Youngblood has done a tremendous job. He’s smart, talented. He’s one of those dudes that’s fundamental, (has) the technique down,” Haynes said. “I like playing on the field with him.”
Freeze was also pleased with the depth behind Brown, but said he definitely wanted the senior on the field if he is healthy.
“Youngblood is going to do everything right. Victor Evans is looking really good behind him also. I think we will be fine there. Obviously you want a kid like Fadol (Brown) to be able to play and hopefully he can, but we have confidence in those other two. Also in G-Mac (Garrald McDowell) and Shawn Curtis , we’ve got some good players there.”
