Yet many folks point out some off-field issues with Cook. He was not named a captain despite being a senior and three-year starter. There have been accusations Cook is “hated” by his teammates and that they wished he had declared for the draft last year.
I have talked with several folks in and around the Spartans program, including two coaches and a player who starts. I’ve also talked to NFL regional scouts who have dug deep on Cook. Just about all of them told me basically the same thing:
Cook is not “one of the boys”. He carries himself with a sense of entitlement that rubs some people the wrong way off the field. He’s not particularly interested in socializing with anyone outside a very small circle.
In the film room, in the locker room and most definitely on the field, Cook has the 100% confidence and support of everyone. He’s a leadership presence who can rally teammates. One scout compared him to Eli Manning in that regard, another very skilled quarterback who just wasn’t into the social trimmings or customs that most college students seek out. One coach said Cook’s teammates respect him much more than they did former Spartan Kirk Cousins, whose outward religiosity and driving perfectionism for everyone around him repelled some teammates.
It’s not insignificant that Cook failed to get elected a team captain. That does matter to the NFL, even if he is a member of the Spartans’ 12-man leadership council. He will rub some the wrong way in interviews too, and probably not care much about doing so. But his very legitimate talent will sell him to some team picking in the top 10.
Maybe you should re-read what I originally said about this young man before you include me in the group!
