All SEC Blog Poll Selection at TE --- Jared Cook

The crew at LOHD take great pride in being part of the roll out of the All SEC Team conducted by the many blogs that are part of the SEC Blog Poll. We were asked to submit are ballot which you can view HERE and we have been asked to focus on one of those players as part of the roll out of the All SEC Team chosen by SEC Bloggers. Please visit the blogs listed at the end of this to view all of the players on the SEC Bloggers ALL SEC Team for 2008.

2008 All SEC Team Selection at Tight End

USC's TE Jared Cook

Jared Alan Cook was born April 7, 1987. He is a junior that is pursuing a degree in retailing but most likely will be playing in the NFL come the start of football in 2009. Some of you may recall that he has a brother, Jason Cook, that plays football at Ole Miss. I am sure Jared found great pleasure in helping the gamecocks beat Ole Miss in 2008.

Jared is listed at 6 foot 5 inches tall and weighs in around the 240lbs area. He is a beast and a total mis-match for opposing defenses. He has been clocked at a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash with a 39.5-inch vertical leap. He has progressed nicely in his career after leaving North Gwinnett High School in 2005. He has seen time at WR and TE throughout his career as a gamecock.

Let's take a glance at the stats...

-Redshirt year in 2005.
-2006: Six catches for 113 yards, an average of 18.8 yards per catch. Saw action in all 12 games either at WR or TE.
-2007: Started the season slated as a WR but quickly moved into the TE role on a more permanent role. Again played in all 12 games with 3 starts. Was third on the squad with 30 receptions for 421 yards (second on the team), averaged 14.0 yards per catch, and nabbed 3 TDs.

-2008: Was a coming out year for him as he was selected to the All-SEC 2nd Team by the AP and 1st team All SEC by the league coaches. He was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, which goes to the nation's top TE. Cook is second on the team with 35 receptions and 550 receiving yards while leading the team with a 15.7 yard per reception average. He has the 2 longest receptions of the season by a Gamecock - a 66 yard TD catch vs. Arkansas and a 63 yard reception at Ole Miss. He has 2 TDs to his credit this year. His best day was vs. Vandy where he had 8 catches for 111 yards.

Mr. Cook is rumored to be going to the NFL in 2009. Which really and truly can you blame him? He is rated by NFL Experts as being somewhere in the #2 to #4 TE Draft Prospects. We all can agree that a legit TE in the NFL is hard to come by and many say he could be the next Antonio Gates.

What he has going for him is speed, big body, can take a hit and strength...all of which is hard to find in a TE so it is no wonder that the SEC Bloggers voted him to the ALL SEC TEAM in 2008.
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The inaugural SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team Offense is being rolled out across the blogosphere today. A look at who's releasing which positions-

Alligator Army: Quarterback
The Dead Guy: Running Backs
Leftover Hot Dog: Tight End
Team Speed Kills: Offensive Line and Wide Receiver

So make sure to visit and again congrats to Gamecock Nation's very own Jared Cook!