Dynamic WVU Football Duo Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Two Mountaineers made the Preseason All-Big 12 team, as released by the conference and promoted by the WVU football program on Monday.

Running back Cam Cook and fullback Kayden Luke, both players West Virginia plans to rely on offensively in different ways, are viewed as among the best in the Big 12 entering the 2026 season.

Cam Cook

A year after establishing himself as the nation’s leading rusher, Cam Cook is back in the Big 12 with West Virginia and ready to take his game to another level.

Fully aware of the pressure and expectations, Cook is confident in himself. He knows he can take the WVU offense to new heights in 2026.

Cook explained his mentality and why he holds himself to a very high standard after spring practice on Monday, March 30. On the heels of being the nation’s leading rusher in 2025, Cook feels ready to be a featured back in the Big 12 again.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to help the team,” Cook said about his role as a Mountaineer. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to help us get to where we need to go. Last year, they asked me to do a lot, and I did whatever the team needed.”

West Virginia running back Cam Cook carries the ball during the Gold-Blue Festival’s scrimmage. (WV Sports Now photo by Kelsie LeRose)

And following up a session in which he stepped down a level with Jacksonville State, as Cook put it, the senior star running back appears poised to show he belongs in the Big 12 as a focal point of an offense.

“I have changed a lot since then,” responded Cook when asked how he’s changedsince starting his college career at TCU.

“I’m a bigger back, I’m faster and smarter. I know what’s going on on all sides of the field. Not just what the running back is doing, but how the offensive line is blocking and where they’re trying to get to.”

Kayden Luke

WVU football fans are hoping Kayden Luke the next Owen Schmitt and help to reignite the position across the sport.

Luke, listed at 5-foot-11 and 249-pounds, spent the past two seasons with the Wildcats. He ran for 20 yards on five carries.

But despite limited time in college with Arizona, Luke put up big numbers in high school.

The Arizona native totaled 3,609 rushing yards and scored 52 touchdowns on 451 carries including recording 2,307 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior in 2023.

Soon after announcing his plans to transfer to the WVU football program, Luke made sure to let a Mountaineer legend know he understands the assignment. Brought over as a fullback, Luke could be why the fullback position returns to West Virginia.

And of course, whenever any WVU fan thinks about a fullback, they remember Schmitt using his power and athleticism to help power the West Virginia offense during the extremely successful days of Rich Rodriguez’s first tenure.

That even prompted Schmitt himself to provide some words of encouragement to Luke. The new Mountaineer then responded “yesirrrr absolutely!!!!!” to let Schmitt know he won’t let him down.

Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.