James Cook describes his play style and how he became versatile

The Buffalo Bills selected former Georgia running back James Cook in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the hopes they will be able to mold him into the next multi-position offensive threat thanks to his ability to perform well anywhere on the field.

“I mean, there’s so many variations to what I can do, that I think some people in the NFL can’t do,” Cook said.

Cook said his versatility can see him end up in the backfield bouncing outside the tackles and finding lanes when need be, but he’s also comfortable in the slot and out wide.

This was apparent at Georgia last season, taking 113 carries for 728 yards and seven touchdowns while also rushing the ball 27 times for 284 yards and four more scores – both career highs for Cook. Throughout his career, he accounted for 2,233 yards of offensive production in four seasons with the Bulldogs. Additionally, Cook made his impact on the memorable game, rushing for 77 yards on six carries, including a momentum-shifting 67-yard rush.

“It’s just something that you work over time,” Cook said. “Just kind of do all the dirty work that people don’t see, you know, as long as we’re doing the little things that helped fix my game, to take it to another level.”

Notably, Cook never fumbled in the 313 times the ball was in his hands during his four-year tenure at Georgia – an underrated quality that not many pay attention to, though is what drew the Bills to Cook in the first place.

“If you want to play, you have to protect the ball first,” he said. “I mean, that’s everybody’s money in their hands. So, I take that with pride … Just a little detail that gets you better to prepare for what you’ve got to do.”

Now, Cook trades in the Dawg Pound for the Bills Mafia – which Cook doesn’t believe will be a major jump because to him, playing Between the Hedges at Georgia has prepared him for it. Though, with Georgia having not lost at home since 2019 (a double overtime loss to South Carolina), there’s no need for Bulldog fans to put themselves through a table, especially after last season’s success.

Nonetheless, the Bills will put Cook to work early in the hopes to regularly incorporate him into their offense next to Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen. With Buffalo looking to exploit his versatility, Cook earning himself a larger role with the team as a rookie isn’t out of the realm of possibility, as no one else on the Bills roster can offer what Cook can.