Report: FSU Running Back Dalvin Cook to Meet with Colts at NFL Combine

According to the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook is set to meet with the Indianapolis Colts Thursday evening at this week’s NFL Combine:

Dalvin Cook just got done w interviews here. Says he meets w Colts tonight. That's relevant bc of Ballard. KC meets w most its picks here.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 2, 2017

Cook is considered one of the best running back prospects in this year’s draft class, coming off a season in which the junior star ran for 1,765 total rushing yards on 288 carries (6.1 ypc avg.) and 19 rushing touchdowns.

Nov 26, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball for a touchdown past Florida Gators defensive back Chauncey Gardner Jr. (23) during the first quarter at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /

The 5’11”, 213 pound running back also amassed 488 receiving yards on 33 receptions to go along with a touchdown reception this past season.

The former Seminoles standout finishes his collegiate career as Florida State’s all-time leading rusher with 4,464 total rushing yards on 687 carries (6.5 ypc avg) and 46 rushing touchdowns (also a school record).

Cook finished his Seminoles career as a 2x 1st-Team All-American, 2x 1st-Team All-ACC, 2016 Orange Bowl MVP, and Jim Brown Award recipient (2015) among his many other accolades.

Along with LSU’s Leonard Fournette, he’s highly regarded among many draft experts alike as arguably the top running back prospect–drawing comparisons to current NFL stars:

Dalvin Cook's feet and hips are unreal. Add in his breakaway speed and I'm going to stick with the Jamaal Charles comparison.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) July 1, 2016

The more I study Dalvin Cook, the more I see LeSean McCoy. Can't go wrong with him or Fournette. Totally diff styles, both special talents.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 9, 2017

Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) carries the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

The Jamaal Charles comparison is obviously interesting, as new Colts general manager Chris Ballard previously served as the Kansas City Chiefs Director of Player Personnel from 2013-15 prior to joining the Colts, where the former Chiefs running back previously starred.

Of course, the Colts could clearly use a long-term answer at the running back position, as veteran starter Frank Gore will turn 34 years old in May. Not to mention, last year’s primary backup Robert Turbin is set to become a free agent.

The Colts could draft Cook with the 14th/15th overall pick and have Gore mentor him for a season before fully turning him loose in 2018. However, make no mistake about it, Cook is NFL ready and could be the Colts primary workhorse from the get-go.

Next: olts GM Chris Ballard Provides Perspective on NFL Draft and Free Agency Philosophies

That being said, the Colts have so many holes–especially on defense, and this is widely regarded as a very deep running back class, which means Indianapolis could be better served finding their future successor to Gore in Rounds 2-4 of this year’s NFL Draft instead.

There, the team could still find a high quality starting running back prospect, while still filling their elusive pass rusher and other defensive needs in the earliest rounds of the NFL Draft.

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