Ex-Bulldog's star rising at Carolina
When Jared Cook left North Gwinnett High School, he was a sought-after receiver.
Not highly sought after, just kind of sought after.
in other words, he looked like a nice player who might do this and could probably do that but almost certainly not do what superstars do.
His first two years at South Carolina, Cook's stats have backed up that billing. After redshirting as a freshman, Cook torched the field to the tune of six catches for 113 yards in 2006. Those were season-long numbers, not one game.
So why, oh why, is Steve Spurrier himself — a pretty tough critic of talent — suddenly comparing Cook to Calvin Johnson, the Georgia Tech receiver just drafted by Detroit with the No. 2 overall pick?
Well, let's start with Cook's 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame and his 4.37-second speed in the 40-yard dash.
So far, that's what Spurrier starts — and ends — with.
"He's got to do it," Spurrier said. "He's got all of the physical tools of a Calvin Johnson, but obviously, he wasn't Calvin Johnson last year. We'll see how hard he works and what he does on the field and the weight room. Right now, we don't know what he is. A receiver? A tight end?"
Cook would love to answer that question for Spurrier. He'll have his chance on the field.
"Comparisons like that come with a lot of hard work," Cook said. "But I still have a lot to improve on. I can't be satisfied with where I am. I'd like to play receiver, but I can play wherever they need me. I want to come out and make big catches and come up big for the team."
Cook thought that chance was going to come last season. But trying to learn the plays and assignments at two positions kept him a step behind much of the year.
"I was just doing a lot of things on field," he said. "It was hard to keep up at so many positions. I got frustrated trying to remember plays and keep up with fast-paced things going on in meeting rooms. Everyone goes through it, though."
Just being involved in the offense and playing one position all spring went well.
The Gamecocks will be looking for someone to fill the void left by the departure of Sidney Rice, their All-SEC receiver.
Sounds like a perfect opportunity for a Calvin Johnson-like player to step in.
"With Sidney leaving, everyone has to be ready, not just me," Cook said. "Everyone can contribute. Sidney worked hard and I came in the weight room with him and he pushed me every day in agility drills. I came out better for it."
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