Cleveland safety grabs his first offer

After missing his sophomore season because of academic issues, East Cleveland (Ohio) Shaw safety Darwin Cook has refocused his priorities and is now headed down a path that looks destined for Division 1 football.

The 6-1, 180-pound Cook made up for missed time in his junior season by taking home all-league, all-district and second team all-state honors. His stat line included 19 receptions for 200 yards and three touchdowns on offense to go along with 92 tackles, three forced fumbles and an astounding 22 sacks on defense.

"Those offensive tackles couldn't stop him from coming off that corner with his speed," Shaw head coach Rodney Brown said. "He's explosive and very aggressive. He just has the hunger."

Coach Brown has seen Cook mature from the mindset he had early in his high school career into a player who carries with him all the intangibles to make the leap to the Division 1 level.

"There has been growth every single marking period," Coach Brown reported. "His greatest quality he has is that he is humble. The success he is having now is really new to him, but it hasn't affected his character. He has a love for the game and it is fun for him. He's smart and very loyal to his team."

College coaches have also been impressed with Cook not only on the field, but in his progress off the field. Cincinnati, Purdue, Indiana and Bowling Green have all stopped by the school this spring and he has plans to camp at Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State this summer. Cincinnati jumped out and became Cook's first scholarship offer earlier this spring.

"It's all new to him and we're trying to go through this process together because it's new to me also. I'm only a second-year coach so we're taking baby steps, but we don't want to make it a long process. He's going to take a few official visits and we're going to make a real quick decision.

"I think staying close to home is important because he has a real good relationship with his mom so you have to factor that in also."

While Cook can lend his talents to either side of the football, Coach Brown said most every school recruiting him is doing so as a safety. Coach Brown agrees with those evaluations and compares Cook to former San Francisco 49ers' safety Ronnie Lott.