The anxiety built up as first-round hopeful Chris Cook waited to hear his name called by National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell. Though he would not learn of his future in football until day two of the 2010 NFL draft, the former Cavalier did not have to wait long once the clock restarted Friday to experience the exaltation and relief associated with that once-in-a-lifetime announcement from the Commissioner's podium in Radio City Music Hall in New York.
With the 34th overall pick and second selection of the second round, the Minnesota Vikings - a team Cook had plenty of contact with prior to the draft - called his name.
"When I saw [the Vikings] traded out of the first round, I wasn't really sure what pick they had in the second round," Cook said. "When I saw they had the second pick in the second round, I thought, 'OK, yeah, hopefully my phone rings, and it has that Minnesota area code.' I was just excited. I've been nervous all day and excited at the same time, a lot of mixed feelings going on today."
Rick Spielman, Vikings vice president of Player Personnel, said the organization had watched Cook play during the 2009 season, when the senior captain compiled four interceptions, which ranked fourth in the ACC. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier worked with Cook during the spring, Spielman said, and paid him a home visit. Spielman added he thought Cook was one of the better cornerbacks at the Senior Bowl.
Cook was the sixth cornerback selected among a total of 34 that were drafted at the position and becomes the highest defensive back picked in program history. He joins an experienced secondary that includes nine-year corner Lito Sheppard, who was named to two Pro Bowls in 2005 and 2006, and 12-year veteran Antoine Winfield, who made his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2008.
"When I watch those guys, a lot of them have an attitude about them that's like, 'You won't beat me on this play or the next play,'" Cook said. "I feel like those are the type of guys that I need to be around."
Although Cook could conceivably play safety, both Spielman and coach Brad Childress said they envision Cook as a big, versatile cornerback for their team. Cook, who is listed at 6-foot-2, adds both depth and size to the Viking secondary - Sheppard is 5-foot-10 and Winfield is 5-foot-9.
"I know [Cook] played safety and corner but we see him as a bigger corner, just a different person than we have currently on the roster," Childress said. "A young Leslie Frazier, if you will, who wasn't too bad either."
Cook's future in the NFL aside, it was not always clear he would make it to this level. Declared academically ineligible for the 2008 season, Cook suffered a serious setback from both football and lifestyle standpoints.
Instead of terrorizing wide receivers, Cook worked at Sears "putting refrigerators and stoves and washing machines and dryers on the back of trucks and unloading trucks, taking trash out to the dump and everything," he said, adding that 2008 was one of the most trying times of his life.
In an era when general managers and pro scouts are concerned with a player's character now more than ever, the Vikings made sure to investigate Cook's lackluster performance in the classroom.
"We felt very comfortable after we went through why he was academically ineligible," Spielman said. "We went through his whole career. That's why Leslie Frazier went down and spent some time with the coaches down there, spent some time with the kid, just to make sure we had a real good feel for him. When Leslie came back from the trip, he felt very positive about the kid."
Other Cavalier draft-hopefuls were not as lucky as Cook. As the names rolled off the board in the late Saturday rounds, it became apparent that fullback Rashawn Jackson and defensive tackle Nate Collins would not be selected. They did manage to sign free-agent contracts, however, with the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants, respectively. Collins will reunite with former Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim, who was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2009 draft.
Offensive tackle Will Barker reportedly reached a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, joining former Cavaliers John Phillips and Kevin Ogletree, while cornerback Vic Hall signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
Read More
Payton Cormier breaks Division I goals record
By Michael Liebermann | 5 hours agoCormier has forever cemented his legacy as one of the greatest lacrosse players in NCAA history.
Cavaliers advance to NCAA Championship with second place finish at Baton Rouge Regional
By Stephen O'Dea | 7 hours agoVirginia will head to the National Championship in Carlsbad, Calif., with a chance to make history.
Thank you, Reece Beekman
By Ben Istvan | YesterdayBeekman will leave Charlottesville as the program's all-time leader in steals.
