Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Touted Running Back Cam Cook One of WVU’s Transfer Portal Prizes
April 02, 2026 12:47 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Cam Cook said he took Rick Trickett's path to Morgantown.
College football's top returning ball carrier admitted earlier this week that Trickett's decision to return to West Virginia University for a third coaching stint was a big factor in his decision to finish out his college career here. The two were paired together last season at Jacksonville State.
"I have a real good relationship with him," Cook said. "Also, knowing coach Rich's (Rodriguez) offense at (Jacksonville State) before he came here, that played a big role feeling comfortable coming here."
Cook's productivity at Jacksonville State last year is certainly attention-getting.
According to Mountaineer Sports Network's Jed Drenning, Cook led the nation with 54 runs of 10+ yards last season - 11 more than the next two closest players. He gained 1,659 yards, ranked sixth nationally with 16 rushing touchdowns, and averaged nearly 150 all-purpose yards per game.
The Round Rock, Texas, resident became the first Jacksonville State player in 20 years to rush for more than 100 yards in seven consecutive games last season, which included a career high 218-yard performance against Sam Houston.
West Virginia doesn't have a deep history of recruiting productive transfer running backs from four-year schools, but Cook's numbers last year exceed the stats produced by such outstanding players as Houston's Charles Sims, Pitt's A.B. Brown and Rushel Shell III or Maryland's Michael Beasley.
Those guys were each standout performers at WVU.
That in itself should be an exciting proposition for Mountaineer football fans. Then, when you consider Rodriguez's long track record of producing elite ball carriers throughout the years, the Cook-Rodriguez pairing could turn out to be a match made in Almost Heaven.
"It's going to take more than one person to bring me down," Cook admitted. "I can beat you to open space and make you miss. I can go and catch the ball. Going through all of that, and then picking a school to go to, all of the stuff that has happened has made a big difference in how I chose to be here."
Rodriguez indicated earlier this week his desire of having some semblance of a depth chart established at the conclusion of spring football practice later this month. In the past, he was comfortable letting that process play out into fall camp, but today's game has altered his thinking.
Having an established runner with a proven track record playing in an offense similar to Rodriguez's clearly puts Cook in an advantageous position.
He understands Trickett's blocking schemes and is familiar with running behind Jacksonville State transfers Amare Grayson and Cam Griffin. All of these things should put West Virginia's run game in a much better place than it was at this time last year.
"(Cook is) the only veteran guy (among the running backs)," Rodriguez noted. "He's not a rah-rah guy, but you can tell he's got experience. We've limited him in the live stuff because we know what he can do. He's got to be the alpha in the room. It's a good, competitive room, and we've still got a couple of guys who aren't here yet, but Cam is going to be the leader of it."
New running backs coach Jay Boulware agrees.
"He's played in a game at this level, which is more than everybody else in the room can say," Boulware said. "He's our experienced guy. I can tell him something one time and he pretty much gets it.
"He does everything well," the coach continued. "He's got great patience in the run game. He's got great vision. He can catch the ball and block; he can do it all. His versatility in coach Rod's offense adds a nice dimension."
Cook's college career began at TCU in 2023 where he spent two seasons before transferring to Jacksonville State.
His sophomore campaign in 2024 included 460 yards and nine touchdowns as TCU's top ground gainer, so he has significant Big 12 experience. However, Cook says he's a completely different running back than he was two years ago, or the one we got a glimpse of as a true freshman when he faced West Virginia in Fort Worth (WVU rallied to win that game 24-21).
"I think I'm bigger, faster, smarter, and I know what's going on now on all sides of the field, not just what the running back is doing, but how the O-line is blocking and where they are trying to get to," Cook explained.
"Last year, I played in the slot, motioned into the backfield, motioned out of the backfield, so just being able to show (different parts) of my game," he added. "I didn't envision myself leaving (TCU) and that journey really changed me a lot, and the stuff that I did do led me to being here. The whole process brought me here."
The expectation today is a much-improved Mountaineer running game in 2026 with the quality backs that have been added to the roster, led by senior Cam Cook.
"I'm glad they went out and got him," Boulware concluded.
The Mountaineers have on-field work scheduled for later today before taking Easter weekend off.
College football's top returning ball carrier admitted earlier this week that Trickett's decision to return to West Virginia University for a third coaching stint was a big factor in his decision to finish out his college career here. The two were paired together last season at Jacksonville State.
"I have a real good relationship with him," Cook said. "Also, knowing coach Rich's (Rodriguez) offense at (Jacksonville State) before he came here, that played a big role feeling comfortable coming here."
Cook's productivity at Jacksonville State last year is certainly attention-getting.
According to Mountaineer Sports Network's Jed Drenning, Cook led the nation with 54 runs of 10+ yards last season - 11 more than the next two closest players. He gained 1,659 yards, ranked sixth nationally with 16 rushing touchdowns, and averaged nearly 150 all-purpose yards per game.
The Round Rock, Texas, resident became the first Jacksonville State player in 20 years to rush for more than 100 yards in seven consecutive games last season, which included a career high 218-yard performance against Sam Houston.
West Virginia doesn't have a deep history of recruiting productive transfer running backs from four-year schools, but Cook's numbers last year exceed the stats produced by such outstanding players as Houston's Charles Sims, Pitt's A.B. Brown and Rushel Shell III or Maryland's Michael Beasley.
Those guys were each standout performers at WVU.
That in itself should be an exciting proposition for Mountaineer football fans. Then, when you consider Rodriguez's long track record of producing elite ball carriers throughout the years, the Cook-Rodriguez pairing could turn out to be a match made in Almost Heaven.
"It's going to take more than one person to bring me down," Cook admitted. "I can beat you to open space and make you miss. I can go and catch the ball. Going through all of that, and then picking a school to go to, all of the stuff that has happened has made a big difference in how I chose to be here."
Rodriguez indicated earlier this week his desire of having some semblance of a depth chart established at the conclusion of spring football practice later this month. In the past, he was comfortable letting that process play out into fall camp, but today's game has altered his thinking.
Having an established runner with a proven track record playing in an offense similar to Rodriguez's clearly puts Cook in an advantageous position.
He understands Trickett's blocking schemes and is familiar with running behind Jacksonville State transfers Amare Grayson and Cam Griffin. All of these things should put West Virginia's run game in a much better place than it was at this time last year.
"(Cook is) the only veteran guy (among the running backs)," Rodriguez noted. "He's not a rah-rah guy, but you can tell he's got experience. We've limited him in the live stuff because we know what he can do. He's got to be the alpha in the room. It's a good, competitive room, and we've still got a couple of guys who aren't here yet, but Cam is going to be the leader of it."
New running backs coach Jay Boulware agrees.
"He's played in a game at this level, which is more than everybody else in the room can say," Boulware said. "He's our experienced guy. I can tell him something one time and he pretty much gets it.
"He does everything well," the coach continued. "He's got great patience in the run game. He's got great vision. He can catch the ball and block; he can do it all. His versatility in coach Rod's offense adds a nice dimension."
Cook's college career began at TCU in 2023 where he spent two seasons before transferring to Jacksonville State.
His sophomore campaign in 2024 included 460 yards and nine touchdowns as TCU's top ground gainer, so he has significant Big 12 experience. However, Cook says he's a completely different running back than he was two years ago, or the one we got a glimpse of as a true freshman when he faced West Virginia in Fort Worth (WVU rallied to win that game 24-21).
"I think I'm bigger, faster, smarter, and I know what's going on now on all sides of the field, not just what the running back is doing, but how the O-line is blocking and where they are trying to get to," Cook explained.
"Last year, I played in the slot, motioned into the backfield, motioned out of the backfield, so just being able to show (different parts) of my game," he added. "I didn't envision myself leaving (TCU) and that journey really changed me a lot, and the stuff that I did do led me to being here. The whole process brought me here."
The expectation today is a much-improved Mountaineer running game in 2026 with the quality backs that have been added to the roster, led by senior Cam Cook.
"I'm glad they went out and got him," Boulware concluded.
The Mountaineers have on-field work scheduled for later today before taking Easter weekend off.
Players Mentioned
Geimere Latimer | April 2
Thursday, April 02
Coach Deke Adams | April 2
Thursday, April 02
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 2
Thursday, April 02
Cam Cook | March 30
Monday, March 30
