Prospect Bio

James Cook, the younger brother of Dalvin Cook, was a two-way player at Miami Central High School. There, he rushed for 782 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense with three interceptions and two touchdowns on defense in 2017. He earned first-team All-Dade honors as well as first-team All-State Class 8A-6A. Cook was also a mainstay on the school’s track and field team. He competed in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and shot put. As a four-star prospect, he ranked No.54 nationally, No.3 among running backs, and No.16 in the state of Florida. He originally was committed to following in his brother’s footsteps with plans to go to Florida State, but he changed course and chose Georgia instead. He arrived at the same time as 2022 classmate Zamir White to an already stacked running back depth chart that included Elijah Holyfield and D’Andre Swift. He played in 13-of-14 contests and finished fourth on the team with 284 yards on 41 carries. There was no step forward in his sophomore season. Instead, he carried just 31 times for 188 yards. He did, however, earn the team’s Most Improved Offensive Player Award. 

It was a different story in 2020, when he was second on the team with 303 yards on 45 carries in eight games working behind White. He added 16 catches for 225 yards, which was good for fourth on the team. Cook was again was the No.2 behind White in 2021. He rushed 113 times for 728 yards and seven touchdowns with another 284 yards and four scores on 27 receptions. Cook shined when it counted the most with four receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown against Michigan in the semifinals and a career-long 67-yard run on the way to a National Championship win over Alabama. 

College Stats

James Cook College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference

Positives

+Patient

+Speed; 4.42 40-time; 104.3 (77th-percentile) Speed Score (PlayerProfiler.com)

+Versatile 

+Has lined up in slot and out wide

+Good hands; one drop on 68 career catchable passes (PFF)

+Good route-runner 

+27 receptions in 2021

+Vision 

+1.63 yards per route (PFF)

+8.2% (66th-percentile) College Target Share (PlayerProfiler.com)

+10.2% reception share in 2021

Negatives

-Slender

-Pass protection 

-Never the lead back 

-Only 5 career games with 10+ carries

-1.07 yards per team play in 2021

-16% touchdown share in 2021

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: Justice Hill

NFL Draft Projection: Day 2

Yards Per-Formance Grade: 54.7

Bottom Line:

James Cook may be the brother of Dalvin Cook, but their games really aren’t similar. James is a smaller back who was never the lead guy in college. He’s not going to win with power, nor is he going to handle a heavy workload or grind out yards between the tackles. Instead, he thrives in the passing game. At Georgia, he lined up out wide, in the slot, and ran a variety of routes out of the backfield. He projects as more of a change-of-pace back in the NFL. He will create mismatches and will be used as a weapon in the passing game. While he won’t ever be a true workhorse, he will handle 7-10 carries a game. He will be best in an outside zone scheme where his speed and one-cut running style can be fully appreciated. Cook is likely to hear his name called sometime in the third round or early on day three. In dynasty, he’s a safe pick at the end of the second or in the third round of rookie drafts.

Post Draft Analysis:

It was well known that the Bills were interested in adding to their running back room. They got their guy in James Cook in the third round. Cook is immediately the most talented back on the roster. He may not be the greatest first and second-down runner, but Cook is going to be an impact player on passing downs. On a team that is as pass-happy as Buffalo, there will be a ton of opportunities for Cook to get the ball in his hands. He may end up on the field more than we projected in the pre-draft process.

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade