The NFL is a sociological funhouse mirror. I would call it a microcosm, but enough distortion exists to dispel that notion. How relevant is lineage when scouting professional football players? There are sons of former NFL players scattered about the league, their abilities ranging from fringe to All-Pro. The most glaring example of nepotism is in the Manning family. Father Archie paved the way for Peyton to be one of the greatest ever. Little brother Eli rode in on Peyton’s coattails from Ole Miss to the league and led two magical Super Bowl runs. Their nephew, Arch, is one of the most coveted high school recruits in a generation.
Dalvin Cook isn’t quite the Peyton Manning of running backs, but his little brother James is entering the NFL as an intriguing prospect out of the University of Georgia. James Cook is not even of the same archetype at the running back position as Dalvin was when he came out of Florida State. Even though they could pass for twins in public, the parallels diverge once they hit the football field.
James Cook is exciting in his own right. Although not built as sturdily as his older brother, he added 10 pounds already this offseason and would hold up well to adding muscle from NFL training regimens. His speed and agility are both traits where he shines over Dalvin. His 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine gave James a lifetime of bragging rights over his Pro Bowl-caliber big bro. One could credit Georgia’s never-ending stable of blue chips at running back for his versatility as a player and his relatively low mileage. James only surpassed ten carries in five games at Georgia, thanks to sharing the load with D’Andre Swift and Zamir White.
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