Tag: James Cook

UGA football names captains for Clemson game

The Georgia Bulldogs have named their team captains for the Clemson game. The two rivals face off in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.

The Georgia Bulldogs have named their team captains for the Clemson game. The rivals will face each other in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, which is held in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Quarterback JT Daniels, running back James Cook, and linebacker Nakobe Dean will captain the Bulldogs for their 2021 season opener. Kirby Smart and UGA need big performances out of all three of Georgia’s captains.

Georgia will look to get a strong performance out of running backs like James Cook against Clemson. Todd Gurley dominated the Tigers in 2014. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

The 65th edition of Georgia-Clemson is expected to be the top nonconference game in college football this season. No. 5 Georgia faces No. 3 Clemson at a neutral site for the first time in over 100 years.

The game has College Football Playoff implications and should be one of the more entertaining games of the season.

Georgia will need strong leadership to prevail. JT Daniels must be effective as a passer despite a depleted arsenal of receivers. Naboke Dean and the Georgia defense will have the tough task of trying to limit Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who looked sharp in two starts last season.

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Projecting UGA’s depth chart at running back

We project who will be Georgia’s top running back among a stacked backfield including Zamir White, Kendall Milton, James Cook, and more.

The Georgia Bulldogs return a stacked backfield for the 2021 college football season. In fact, Georgia will return its seven leading rushers from last season.

Zamir White led the team with 779 rushing yards in 2021. Additionally, James Cook was a matchup problem in the passing game. Cook finished with 225 receiving yards including a long touchdown reception against Alabama.

Overall, Georgia has a deep backfield once again. The Dawgs have depth and versatility at the position with each back bringing something different to the table. All five of Georgia’s top running backs are capable of handling a significant number of carries. Fortunately, offensive coordinator Todd Monken will rotate a lot of backs and will not have to rely on any one runner in particular.

Doak Walker preseason watch list includes two Georgia running backs

The Doak Walker Award, given annually to college football’s best running back, recently released its 2021 preseason watch list.

The Doak Walker Award, given annually to college football’s best running back, recently released its 2021 preseason watch list.

Two veteran Georgia ball carriers, Zamir White and James Cook, both made the list.

Zamir “Zeus” White came to Athens as a five-star recruit. White was the top-rated RB prospect in the class of 2018 despite tearing his ACL in the high school playoffs as a senior. White tore it again before his first season at Georgia in 2018. White took a redshirt that season, so he is only a junior despite this being his fourth season in Athens.

Zeus was the co-winner of David Jacobs Award for overcoming injury during the 2019 season along with quarterback D’Wan Mathis. White changed the script in 2019, when he stayed healthy en route to 408 rushing yards on 78 carries.

White started at running back for all 10 of Georgia’s games in 2020. White is a physical running back who can remain upright through a lot of contact. He finished the 2020 season with 779 rushing yards on 144 carries.

Cook is projected to start for the Dawgs in obvious passing situations. Cook, who was Georgia’s fourth-leading receiver last season, finished his 2020 campaign with 16 catches for 225 yards.

He is Todd Monken’s most versatile back. He can run between the tackles and is a mismatch for linebackers in the passing game. Cook ran for 303 yards on 45 carries in eight games in 2020. He may be Georgia’s best 2022 NFL draft prospect at the running back position. NFL teams put great value on versatile running backs with less tread on their tires.

This season, he’ll compete with Zamir White, Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards, and Kendall Milton for carries. Cook gave the Dawgs a boost when he decided to return to Athens for another season.

Bleacher Report ranks top CFB backfields for 2021 – Where is Georgia?

Georgia football, or ‘RBU’, has one of the best backfields in college football. Where does UGA rank in Bleacher Reports’ top backfields?

Bleacher Report recently released its list of the top college football backfields for the 2021 season. Georgia football, referred to as ‘RBU’ by many, came in at No. 7 on the list, ahead of only Texas (8).

UGA’s backfield is once again loaded headed into 2021. Leading rushers from a year ago, Zamir White and James Cook, return for their senior seasons, along with junior Kenny McIntosh and sophomore Daijun Edwards and perhaps the most talented running back in the room, sophomore Kendall Milton.

Here’s what Bleacher Report wrote on Georgia’s No. 7 ranking:

“Considering the college-to-pro pipeline Georgia has established in the last 10 years, it’s no surprise top-ranked running backs have flocked to Athens. The level of talent in this position room is absurd, really. Over the last two seasons, Zamir White has rushed for 1,187 yards and 14 touchdowns. James Cook has posted 300-plus yards from scrimmage in each of the last three seasons, including a career-best 528 last year. Kenny McIntosh added 362 scrimmage yards, and Daijun Edwards ripped off a 100-yard game late in 2020, too. For good measure, Kendall Milton tallied 193 yards on just 35 carries. All five players are expected to return in 2021, giving Georgia a near-unending supply of upside in the backfield.”

But who could possibly be ranked ahead of Georgia here?

  • No. 6 – Texas A&M (Isaiah Spiller, Devon Achane, Earnest Crownover, Deondre Jackson, Darvon Hubbard)
  • No. 5 – BYU (Tyler Allgeier, Lopini Katoa, Sione Finau, Jackson McChesney)
  • No. 4 – Notre Dame (Kyren Williams, Chris Tyree. C’Bo Flemister)

  • No. 3 – Oregon (CJ Verdell, Travis Dye)

  • No. 2 – Appalachian State (Camerun Peoples, Daetrich Harrington,  Nate Noel, Marcus Williams Jr., Jahmir Smith)
  • No. 1 – Oklahoma (Kennedy Brooks, Eric Gray, Marcus Major)

See the full rankings here.

 

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.