Dalvin Cook broke Florida State's single-season rushing record of 1,242 yards, held by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Warrick Dunn, in just his ninth game of the season Saturday as he led the Seminoles to a 34-17 win over visiting North Carolina State.
Cook entered the game needing 12 yards for the mark, and he broke the record on his second carry to set up the Seminoles' first touchdown with a 13-yard run. Dunn set the FSU mark in 1995, his junior year, while averaging career-bests in touchdowns (13) and yards per carry (7.5). He was drafted in 1997 by the Bucs, and went on to rush for 10,967 yards over 12 NFL seasons with Tampa Bay and the Atlanta Falcons.
Cook finished the game with 138 yards on 22 carries with a pair of touchdowns, and now has 1,369 yards rushing this season.
He picked a good week to play impressively, as scouts from 10 NFL clubs were at Doak Campbell Stadium to witness Cook and other top draft prospects, such as FSU defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Cook, a sophomore, won't be eligible for the NFL draft until 2017 or 2018, depending on whether he applies for early entry after next season.
Cook still has games upcoming against Chattanooga, Florida, and a bowl opponent, though FSU has been knocked out of contention for the ACC title game. That will allow him to put a lot of distance between himself and Dunn's mark.
FSU overcame three turnovers by quarterback Everett Golson after replacing the former Notre Dame star with Sean Maguire.
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