DB Cook is hot topic

Pearisburg (Va.) Giles safety Ricky Cook has seen most of his interest from four schools.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder has received interest recently from Stanford, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Virginia. He also is expecting visits from both Virginia and Stanford coaches in May.

"I don't know too much about Stanford's program, but they have to be pretty decent playing in the Pac-10 especially with California and USC there. I know the school is one of the best you could go to," he said. "Both of the in-state schools are real good, but we'll have to see what I'm going to major in and then we'll see how things play out."

With the fact that Cook holds a solid 3.88 GPA and is looking for a school with his major, how important is the education to the safety prospect?

"It has to deal with it a little bit, but I feel the academics from any school in the ACC or other big conferences mean you'll get a good education," he said. "That's not going to be my main priority, instead it'll be wherever I'm most comfortable with and the people I'm around and if I enjoy the school. Right now I'm thinking about majoring in engineering, vet school or sports medicine, but I haven't decided yet."

During the offseason, Cook is playing baseball.

"It's going alright, we're not as good as we'd like, but it's alright," he said. "I'm doing alright, I had trouble with my accuracy, but I've fixed that and I even threw a no-hitter against Floyd a couple weeks ago. This is the first no-hitter in high school and I was just throwing like it was any other game and it just happened. It's nice to have and it will be a memory, but hopefully it's not the last one. I also have the second highest batting average on the team too."

As for next season, Cook is hoping for even bigger things on the football field.

"It'd be nice to go as far or further this year, but we have a young team and a lot of players are coming up from junior varsity," he said. "We'll be undersized, but we'll have better speed and hopefully a good all-around year. I'm not going to worry about recruiting, instead I'm going to just play and help my team and let the chips fall where they may. I just want to be a solid leader on the team next year and help the younger kids mature and teach them the ropes."

Does Cook have any sort of timetable on a decision?

"I have no idea. I haven't had any offers yet and it depends, but I don't think I'll run up and sign with the first school that offers. We'll just have to see which one I feel most comfortable at," he said. "I don't have any favorites right now and anybody who sends me something I have an interest in. I'm not focused on one school, but if they have an interest in me; I have an interest in them."

This summer Cook plans to attend camps at Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Virginia.

Cook was named all-district, all-region and all-state as he ran for 1,600 yards and 25 touchdowns; he also threw for 400 yards and nine touchdowns and added 94 tackles, three interceptions and 1 fumble recovery.

Cook should easily qualify with an impressive 3.88 GPA and 1010 SAT.