FSU’s Cook, Walker taken in second round
The wait may have been longer than expected for former Florida State running back Dalvin Cook.
But on the second day of the 2017 NFL draft, Cook and another Seminoles playerw ere finally able to realize their childhood dreams.
Cook, a standout running back from Miami who was widely considered a first-round talent, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 41st pick in the second round of the draft Friday.
FSU defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who had 31.5 sacks in his final two seasons with the Seminoles, was taken 51st overall by the Denver Broncos with the 19th pick of the second round.
Theywere joined by three University of Florida defensive backs, giving Florida colleges five total selections during the draft’s second round.
The New York Jets chose safety Marcus Maye with the No. 39 pick, while cornerbacks Quincy Wilson (No. 46, Indianapolis Colts) and Jalen Tabor (No. 53, Detroit Lions) soon followed.
The greatest drama surrounded Cook, who was thought to be a potential first-round pick but was not selected Thursday, ending Jimbo Fisher’s four-year streak of having an FSU player taken on the first day.
NFL Network was among several outlets earlier Friday to report that teams had expressed reservations with Cook based on off-field concerns.
The Vikings, who lost Adrian Peterson to a knee injury after three games and were last of 32 NFL teams in rushing last season, hope Cook is able to stay on track to capitalize on after a stellar three-year career at FSU.
“I’d sign him again 100 times,” Fisher said of Cook during a radio appearance Thursday. “Not because of his production, but because of the person he is.”
While Cook had an ideal work ethic as a player and teammate on the field, but NFL teams were concerned with his “upbringing” and past minor brushes with the law in Miami more than his character, NFL Network’s Ian Rapport said.
“But some of it is the situations he puts himself in off the field,” Rapport reported. “He has promised teams that the people around him are not coming with him to the NFL.”
Cook became the face of Jimbo Fisher’s offense after Jameis Winston’s departure and finished his college career as FSU’s all-time leading rusher with 4,464 yards and 46 touchdowns. His 48 total touchdowns is one shy of FSU’s all-time mark set by Warrick Dunn.
Cook also became the first player in the Atlantic Coast Conference and first in-state running back to rush for more than 4,000 yards in three seasons.
Walker, who was second nationally with16.5 sacks last season, was home in Jacksonville for the draft and was rewarded for his commitment to becoming a better pass rusher.
UF players joined a crowded field of defensive back draft prospects.
Maye’s selection ahead of Wilson and Tabor was a surprise. Generally, the Melbourne native was pegged as a third-round pick.
But Maye’s decision to return for a fourth season paid off.
Maye, 23, looked a step faster and did not suffer the mental lapses that at times marred his previous seasons. He then ran in the 4.5-second range at pro day.
Maye totaled132 tackles, 12 pass break-ups and three interceptions the past two seasons. He forced five fumbles in 2015 alone.
The 6-foot-1, 211-pound Wilson followed up a breakout junior season with a 4.54-second 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Based on the website Pro Football Focus, Wilson played more snaps (735) during the regular season than any UF defender and allowed 16 catches on 46 targets. The 34.8 percent opponents’ completion rate allowed by Wilson ranked first in the SEC and fifth nationally.
Meanwhile, Tabor’s 40 times— 4.62 at the combine and 4.73 at pro day— were killers.
But following Tabor’s selection, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock noted, “Tabor’s tape is really good.”
The past two seasons, Tabor totaled 20 pass break-ups and eight interceptions, including three pick-sixes, to earn first team AllSEC honors.
Projected as a top-15 pick entering the season, Tabor’s 40 times, 32-inch vertical leap and nine repetitions bench-pressing 225 pounds forced him towait to hear his name called.
Now Tabor and UF linebacker Jarrad Davis, selected in the first round, will be teammates again with the Detroit Lions.