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U.Va.'s Cook waits, hopes as NFL draft nears
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Virginia Tech cornerback Chris Cook (No. 26) celebrates with Vic Hall after recovering a fumble and scoring a touchdown at the Orange Bowl in Miami in 2007. (Lynne Sladky | Associated Press file photo)
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Interactive: Draft-day predictions
By Tom Robinson
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 21, 2010
There have been trials, no doubt. A broken leg as a freshman. A sprained knee as a sophomore. A 2008 college year and football season lost to academic suspension.
But Chris Cook's spirit for his sport was never broken, never lost. It's why the University of Virginia standout could find himself the first player from the state to come off some team's "big board" in the three-day NFL draft that starts Thursday.
"If that's what happens then, yeah, I'm all for it," Cook, a cornerback, said this week.
Cook's a potential late first-rounder, but is no lock like state products Percy Harvin, Chris Long and Eugene Monroe the past couple of drafts. But being the biggest corner in the draft, at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, plus one of the fastest, should produce no less than a second- or third-round payout for Cook. Those two rounds will he held Friday.
"I don't think he's gonna sit there too long," said U.Va. assistant Anthony Poindexter, who recruited Cook to U.Va. - both are from Lynchburg - coached him and, critically as it turns out, strongly urged Cook to return from his forced sabbatical instead of going pro last year.
"That's a hard thing to do, when you get put out of school for a year at that stage in your career," Poindexter said. "But to come back with the attitude he came back with, and in the shape he came back in, it was almost like he had never left for a year. That's a credit to the kid."
Coming back to campus was a relief, sure, Cook said, but the practicality of it wasn't lost on him. "Yes, it was a beneficial decision," he said. "I don't feel like my status would have been as high as it is right now if I'd have come out."
A defensive leader, Cook picked off four passes and deflected six others for the 3-9 Cavaliers. But as happens often with the most physically gifted hopefuls, Cook's name began to get circled in ink during the postseason workout season.
Cook's 4.46-second 40 at the NFL scouting combine was second-best among corners and third among all secondary men. That means he piques interest as a bigger-than-usual corner, a faster-than-average safety, or as some creative combination of both.
"It's hard to find guys that size, and that fast," Poindexter said. "He really is a natural corner, but I think when you get the guy, you can do whatever you want to with him on defense, really.
"Maybe I'm biased, but I think with his tool set, and his attitude toward the game - he plays with a chip on his shoulder; he always feels like he's got something to prove - I think he'll be a great pro."
Naturally, Cook most loves mixing it up at corner, "and I feel like I can do it as well as any of the smaller guys," he said. "But I don't mind making the transition to safety if I have to make that transition."
Remember, the draft walk-up is silly with misinformation, but for what they're worth, various reports have had Cook flying to San Diego, Minnesota, New Orleans, New England and Miami for private auditions.
Cook was coy about all that, as ordered. "They asked me to keep that under wraps," he said. "But I can tell you I went from East Coast to West Coast to the Midwest."
With significant turbulence in his rear view, Cook's best journey is about to take flight.
Tom Robinson, (757) 446-2518, [email protected]
Posted to: College Football Sports Login or register to post comments
[X] Click a thumbnail to view the full-size image. Buy Pilot photos here.
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/04/uvas-cook-waits-hopes-nfl-draft-nears
Close Gallery
Virginia Tech cornerback Chris Cook (No. 26) celebrates with Vic Hall after recovering a fumble and scoring a touchdown at the Orange Bowl in Miami in 2007. (Lynne Sladky | Associated Press file photo)
View full-size photo | Buy Pilot photos
Interactive: Draft-day predictions
By Tom Robinson
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 21, 2010
There have been trials, no doubt. A broken leg as a freshman. A sprained knee as a sophomore. A 2008 college year and football season lost to academic suspension.
But Chris Cook's spirit for his sport was never broken, never lost. It's why the University of Virginia standout could find himself the first player from the state to come off some team's "big board" in the three-day NFL draft that starts Thursday.
"If that's what happens then, yeah, I'm all for it," Cook, a cornerback, said this week.
Cook's a potential late first-rounder, but is no lock like state products Percy Harvin, Chris Long and Eugene Monroe the past couple of drafts. But being the biggest corner in the draft, at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, plus one of the fastest, should produce no less than a second- or third-round payout for Cook. Those two rounds will he held Friday.
"I don't think he's gonna sit there too long," said U.Va. assistant Anthony Poindexter, who recruited Cook to U.Va. - both are from Lynchburg - coached him and, critically as it turns out, strongly urged Cook to return from his forced sabbatical instead of going pro last year.
"That's a hard thing to do, when you get put out of school for a year at that stage in your career," Poindexter said. "But to come back with the attitude he came back with, and in the shape he came back in, it was almost like he had never left for a year. That's a credit to the kid."
Coming back to campus was a relief, sure, Cook said, but the practicality of it wasn't lost on him. "Yes, it was a beneficial decision," he said. "I don't feel like my status would have been as high as it is right now if I'd have come out."
A defensive leader, Cook picked off four passes and deflected six others for the 3-9 Cavaliers. But as happens often with the most physically gifted hopefuls, Cook's name began to get circled in ink during the postseason workout season.
Cook's 4.46-second 40 at the NFL scouting combine was second-best among corners and third among all secondary men. That means he piques interest as a bigger-than-usual corner, a faster-than-average safety, or as some creative combination of both.
"It's hard to find guys that size, and that fast," Poindexter said. "He really is a natural corner, but I think when you get the guy, you can do whatever you want to with him on defense, really.
"Maybe I'm biased, but I think with his tool set, and his attitude toward the game - he plays with a chip on his shoulder; he always feels like he's got something to prove - I think he'll be a great pro."
Naturally, Cook most loves mixing it up at corner, "and I feel like I can do it as well as any of the smaller guys," he said. "But I don't mind making the transition to safety if I have to make that transition."
Remember, the draft walk-up is silly with misinformation, but for what they're worth, various reports have had Cook flying to San Diego, Minnesota, New Orleans, New England and Miami for private auditions.
Cook was coy about all that, as ordered. "They asked me to keep that under wraps," he said. "But I can tell you I went from East Coast to West Coast to the Midwest."
With significant turbulence in his rear view, Cook's best journey is about to take flight.
Tom Robinson, (757) 446-2518, [email protected]
DAL @ GB
