FSU Alumni: Dalvin Cook listed first on Vikings depth chart at RB
By Jason Parker
Dalvin Cook had to wait until the second round before being draft this April – he may not have to wait long to be a starting NFL running back.
It may have been one of the biggest stories of the 2017 NFL Draft when Dalvin Cook, the record setting running back for FSU football who was one of the best backs in the draft, had to wait until the second round to be selected by the Minnesota Vikings – falling down to that point after alleged tampering from a disgruntled person.
After being an official NFL player for over three months, it appears that Cook has impressed his coaching staff enough to have an early lead entering the 2017 preseason opener. The Vikings released their first depth chart of training camp on Monday, and the former star from Miami who left Tallahassee as one of the best to wear the garnet and gold was in a prime spot.
Dalvin Cook will start the preseason on Thursday listed as the number one player at running back:
"HBDalvin CookJerick McKinnonBishop SankeyTerrell Newby"
Now, this doesn’t mean that Cook will be the starter for the entire season based on just the first week and a half of training camp. All it really means is that Dalvin Cook will be getting the first reps when the team takes the field against the Buffalo Bills this week.
BUT…
It is a clear indicator that the Vikings like what the see so far and drafted Cook out of Florida State with the intent of him being the starter for this team. He had plenty to prove after falling all the way to the second round, and so far it seems that Cook is living up to the hype.
Related Story: Jameis Winston wants to be compared with top quarterbacks, not Marcus Mariota
It should also be noted that another former FSU star, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, is also listed as a starter for the team at the left DB spot. Of course, Rhodes just signed a massive contract extension, so that one isn’t as much as a surprise.