Tag: James Cook

Top 10 SEC running backs for 2021 season

Ranking the top 10 SEC running backs for the 2021 college football season.

SEC talent is always at the top of college football, and this year is no different, especially when it comes to running backs.

In 2020, the league’s rushers were led by Alabama Heisman finalist Najee Harris, who was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in this year’s NFL draft.

But who will lead the rushing attacks for SEC programs in 2021?

We rank the top 10 SEC running backs for 2021 by production and overall ability:

Georgia RB coach Dell McGee on UGA’s loaded backfield

Georgia RB coach Dell McGee compares UGA’s loaded backfield to that of 2017, when Nick Chubb and Sony Michel were playing for the Bulldogs.

Georgia is at it again, returning yet another load backfield for the 2021 season.

Zamir White, James Cook, Kendall Milton, Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards and 2021 early enrollee Lovasea Carroll all project to share the ball this season, resulting in another year of RBU going strong.

Right now, no single player is expected to shoulder the load, said Georgia running back coach Dell McGee on a Tuesday Zoom session.

“We don’t necessarily play seniority with any of our players, that’s why we have offseason workouts and spring ball.”

“A lot of our evaluation and setting of the depth chart will come from how they perform day in and day out leading up to the spring game. It’s a constant battle with our guys at the running back position.”

Last season, though, it was White who led the way in carries, yards and touchdowns.

Georgia running back stats (2020):

Zamir White: 144 carries, 779 yards, 11 touchdowns

James Cook: 45 carries, 303 yards, 3 touchdowns

Kenny McIntosh: 47 carries, 251 yards, 1 touchdown

Daijun Edwards: 37 carries, 218 yards, 1 touchdown

Kendall Milton: 35 carries, 193 yards, 0 touchdowns

Georgia’s running back battle will be exciting to follow this offseason with so much returning star power. McGee went as far as to compare the return of White and Cook to that of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in 2017.

“It’s very similar to the situation when Sony Michel and Nick Chubb came back,” McGee said. “From a team standpoint, they want to do more and they feel like they are a part of that and part of the success that we can have.

Younger guys, like D’Adre Swift, seized the opportunity to learn from Michel and Chubb, and this year’s youngsters should take every chance they get to study and emulate Cook and White.

“I think it’s a good situation for our younger running backs and our younger players because they offer a lot of leadership mentally and physically on how to perform, how to practice and how to take care of their bodies.”

They have to treat this offseason and spring practice like it’s a brand new season,” McGee said.

They have to be eager to learn, eager to get better, eager to improve their skills because all of our players have weaknesses that they need to work on and that needs to be a point of emphasis and that starts with me making sure they’re detailed in what they need to improve on.”

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What Georgia Bulldogs are returning for another season?

What Georgia Bulldogs are returning for another season instead of entering the 2021 NFL Draft? UGA returns a lot on offense.

The Georgia Bulldogs have lost a lot of talent to the 2021 NFL Draft, but at the same time, Georgia is returning a lot of key talent on offense and in the trenches. Quarterback JT Daniels headlines the University of Georgia players who are returning for another season in 2021.

The 2020 college football season was unique and will not count against player’s eligibility. Seniors can return for another season.

Here’s all of the top Georgia players who have elected to return to Athens instead of entering into the 2021 NFL Draft:

Georgia Bulldogs RB James Cook returning for another season

Georgia Bulldogs running back Jame Cook is returning to Athens for another season and will not enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

Georgia Bulldogs running back Jame Cook is returning to Athens for another season and will not enter the 2021 NFL Draft. James Cook, the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, missed the Peach Bowl to mourn the loss of his father.

2021 will be Cook’s fourth season with the University of Georgia, but he’ll be a junior, since nobody lost eligibility in 2020. James Cook came to Georgia as a highly touted recruit from Miami Central High School.

James Cook is projected to start as the third down back for Todd Monken and UGA’s offense next season. Cook is a dangerous receiver and is Georgia’s best receiving back. He could take over as lead running back if Zamir White declares for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Look for James Cook to get more touches next season. He’s averaged 6.6 yards per carry in his career and 11.2 yards per reception. Cook never had more than seven carries in a game during the 2020 season.

The Miami Central graduate gained 320 yards on 47 total touches in 2019. He totaled 61 touches in 2020.

Cook’s best play of the season came when he burned the Alabama defense for an explosive touchdown.

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Vikings running back Dalvin Cook returns to Miami after father dies

James Cook, the father of Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, has died. Dalvin Cook has returned to Miami.

Minnesota announced that Dalvin Cook’s father, James Cook, has died. He was 46.

“The entire Vikings organization is thinking of Dalvin and his family following the passing of Dalvin’s father,” the team said in a statement Wednesday.

The Vikings running back has returned to Miami, where he grew up. He is unavailable for the Week 17 game vs. the Lions, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin

The Vikings offense has had success this year and Dalvin Cook has been a big part of that. Cook is tied for first in the league with 16 rushing touchdowns. He also has 1,557 rushing yards this season.

Cook ran through divisional opponents to put the team on a three-game win streak and back in the playoff conversation. At one point, he led the NFL in rushing and he currently sits in second for that category.

James Cook for six — extends Georgia’s lead over Missouri

Georgia football now leads 42-14 after a James Cook run in the UGA vs Missouri game.

Georgia’s offense is grooving right now.

Leading 35-14 thanks to a 43 yard Zamir White touchdown, Georgia got the ball again and drove right down the field.

Three straight throws to true freshman Darnell Washington helped get the Dawgs into scoring position before James Cook took a handoff for 10 yards to give UGA a first and goal.

On that next play, offensive coordinator Todd Monken went to Cook again, who took the end-around 9 yards for a score.

That’s Cook’s second touchdown of the game. He has six carries for 41 yards and 1 catch for 37 yards.

 

Watch: JT Daniels to James Cook for 6, Dawgs lead 14-0

Georgia vs. Missouri is live now on SEC Network. Check out this Georgia touchdown that put the Bulldogs up 14-0.

It’s all Georgia right now in Columbia.

First it was a 2-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Kenny McIntosh that put the Bulldogs up 7-0 on their first possession, and now, Georgia has stretched its lead to 14-0 on this 37-yard touchdown pass from JT Daniels to James Cook.

Check it out:

Georgia has 112 total offensive yards to Missouri’s 56 with one minute remaining in the first quarter, live now on SEC Network.

Watch: JT Daniels to James Cook for 6, Dawgs lead 14-0

Georgia vs. Missouri is live now on SEC Network. Check out this Georgia touchdown that put the Bulldogs up 14-0.

It’s all Georgia right now in Columbia.

First it was a 2-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Kenny McIntosh that put the Bulldogs up 7-0 on their first possession, and now, Georgia has stretched its lead to 14-0 on this 37-yard touchdown pass from JT Daniels to James Cook.

Check it out:

Georgia has 112 total offensive yards to Missouri’s 56 with one minute remaining in the first quarter, live now on SEC Network.

Twitter reacts to Georgia football’s blowout win over South Carolina

Twitter reacts to Georgia Bulldogs football’s blowout 45-16 win over South Carolina Gamecocks. UGA football is now 6-2 on the season.

The Georgia Bulldogs dominated the South Carolina Gamecocks to win 45-16 in Columbia. The Dawgs have now won three straight games at South Carolina. Overall, the University of Georgia has won five of six games against the Gamecocks.

Of course, Will Muschamp and the Gamecocks won in Athens in 2019, but Kirby Smart and Georgia got revenge today. South Carolina was missing numerous players due to injuries and opt outs.

Georgia ran for over 300 yards and dominated South Carolina in the trenches on both sides of the football. Quarterback JT Daniels managed the game well for the Bulldogs. Georgia’s defense stepped up and limited South Carolina’s offense, which was the only bright spot for the Gamecocks.

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, the entire offensive line, running back James Cook, and freshman wide receiver Arian Smith stood out in UGA’s blowout victory.

Here’s how Georgia football Twitter reacted to the big win:

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Georgia vs South Carolina: James Cook explodes for 29 yard TD

Georgia football RB James Cook is going off in the UGA vs South Carolina game. Here he explodes for a 29 yard TD.

Have a day, James Cook!

In the 2nd quarter, leading 21-10, Georgia running back James Cook said he’s had enough and exploded for a 29 yard touchdown to put the Dawgs up 28-10.

Cook already has 98 yards on only 5 carries tonight. On the same drive he had a 14 yard gain.

Watch him turn on the burners for this 29 yard score.