UGA Football: Frierson Chats With James Cook

By John Frierson
Staff Writer

Georgia running back James Cook is both trying to follow in his famous brother’s footsteps while also working hard to forge his own path.

Dalvin Cook had a great career at Florida State and is now among the top running backs in the NFL, having rushed for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings last season, his third in the league. Through his first two seasons at Georgia, James Cook has 458 total rushing yards on 66 attempts — an average of 6.9 yards per rush — along with a total of 24 receptions for 221 yards, all while serving predominantly as a backup to the likes of D’Andre Swift, Brian Herrien and Elijah Holyfield.

The opportunities to get the ball and make big things happen this season may be more abundant for the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Cook as he and Zamir White are Georgia’s top returning rushers. During a Quick Chat after practice Thursday, Cook talked about having a successful older brother, throwing the shot put, his hometown of Miami, playing the drums and much more.

Here’s some of what he had to say:

Frierson: Looking at your bio, I saw that you did the 100, 200 and 400 in track, which wasn’t a surprise, but seeing the shot put on there definitely was. I think of big guys that are offensive and defensive linemen when I think of guys doing the shot put. How did you get started doing that?

Cook: [Laughs] I mean, my shot put days were mainly back when I was in the eighth grade and I was bigger than everybody. It was me just throwing it, just having a little fun and just trying to do other things.

Frierson: Do you miss your days running track?

Cook: It was an enjoyable thing to do, just getting to meet other people and going to all these different places and racing different guys, some of the fastest guys in the country. The best part was just getting to meet other people.

Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up, or was it just all football and track?

Cook: I played basketball, too. I kind of loved basketball and wanted to stop playing football at one point.

Frierson: When you have an older brother as good as you do, did you ever feel pressure to live up to what he did?

Cook: There wasn’t really any pressure — I’m an athlete and a football player, that’s what I was born to do. I just go out there and give my all every day.

Frierson: Is there one piece of advice that he gave you that has served you well over the years?

Cook: He just told me to keep my heart and don’t ever give up — just keep pushing to get what I want to get.

Frierson: What’s something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?

Cook: I could eat rice and chicken and never get tired of it. If it’s good and I like it, I’ll eat it every day.

Frierson: How good a cook are you? Is that something you worked on during the past six months?

Cook: I can cook a little bit, I can do a little something. I cook things like fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, corn, something like that.

Frierson: How did you fill the time during the spring and summer? What was it like being home and having a pretty empty schedule for a change?

Cook: It was kind of a relief, but knowing that we didn’t get that spring (practice) kind of set everything back. I put myself in the best position to work hard every day while I wasn’t here, and keep my body in tip-op shape and gain some weight while I’m on the break.

Frierson: Miami is a little like New Orleans in my mind in that it’s a place with a very distinct personality and a lot of good food. When you think of home, what comes to mind?

Cook: I think about eating good and seeing my family. I like to eat some soul food and just a lot of other different restaurants in Miami.

Frierson: What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?

Cook: I liked playing the drums. I just liked it because there was a lot of bass.

Frierson: Do you have a creative side? Is there anything creative you do or wish you could do?

Cook: I like to listen to music a lot, different types of music.

Frierson: Who’s the funniest guy on the team?

Cook: I’d have to say Mark Webb. I mean, he’s just very energetic and the things that he says, they just come out of the blue.

(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)

Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He’s also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.