Georgia football: Dawgs’ dream rides with James Cook

If Georgia football returns to the College Football Playoff in 2018, James Cook will have left his mark on the SEC.

Georgia football tailback Elijah Holyfield told reporters this week, “As a competitive player, yes, I always like to be the first one on the field.”

UPDATE: James Cook missed the first half of the South Carolina game because of a targeting infraction in the second half of the Dawg’s opener.

Holyfield exhibits every true competitor’s attitude whether on the field, in the board room, or on the sales floor. A casual look at Holyfield’s effort last year confirms his sincerity. Whether blocking in the first quarter – or even the first play as he did in the SEC Championship game – or carrying the ball with the game in hand, Holyfield competes to be the number one man.

But what Holyfield and fellow upper classman Brian Herrien are more likely accomplishing with their fierce competitive spirit is to push freshman running back James Cook toward his destiny as the number two-man in the Georgia tailback rotation.

Cook, younger brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, signed with Georgia as the number three running back in the country and a top 50 national recruit.  Cook has stepped up to compete with hard charging Holyfied and Herrien, and he’s been showing out.

Smooth, real smooth

Outside linebacker D’Andre Walker paid Cook the ultimate complement, comparing him to Sony Michel, “But a little bit faster.”

Along with the speed, he brings the same competitive intensity as Holyfield, drawing this review from Holyfield himself. “He plays with the type of intensity that he’s not scared of anybody, even though he’s kind of a small guy.”

D’ Andre Swift suggests you won’t need a scorecard to pick out Cook. “He’s real unique, he’s going to be a great player. It’s just his stride, it’s not like a one cut, it’s just real smooth, real smooth.”

Teammates are notoriously supportive of each other, but coaches drive with one foot on the breaks. Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart’s assessment of Cook’s progress is as reserved as it is poetic. “To say that he’s more ready than any of those other backs, that’s a long stretch because he has a long way to go.”

Georgia football prime time backfield

Cook has a long way to go and a short time to get there if Georgia is going to do what they say can’t be done – get back to the College Football Playoff Championship game and win it.

Holyfied and Herrien are both coach and fan favorites. They compete, they are determined, they lead. Based on past performance, however, the H and H guys are limited. They will play meaningful minutes and contribute, but if Georgia appears in the College Football Playoff, James Cook will share the prime time minutes with D’Andre Swift. He’s the remaining back with the talent to consistently make big plays against every defense the Dawgs will face.

Expect to see Cook early and often in Columbia when Georgia takes on South Carolina in the first CFP litmus test.

Talent rules

Determination and intensity will not beat Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp’s defense alone.

Beating South Carolina requires big time backfield talent and a lot of it. Kirby Smart is pumping the breaks on Cook now, but he’ll have him gassed up and ready for the second game of the season.
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