National Analyst Makes Case for Why Cam Cook Can Dominate in WVU Offense

With Rich Rodriguez fully expecting Cam Cook to be the driving force to his offense in 2026, there are some unsure if last season’s national leading rusher will be able to duplicate his success at WVU.

Can he dominate to the same level in the Big 12? Can he handle a big workload without much experience behind him? Will Cook be enough if West Virginia does not find stable backups to share the touches in a run-first offense? These are all valid questions people are asking and wondering about when it comes to Cook as a Mountaineer.

But at least one national college football analyst fully believes in Cook and feels he’s ready to be “the guy” on a contending Power Four team. During a recent episode of his “Always College Football” show, Greg McElroy offered a response to those concerned about West Virginia relying so much on Cook:

“The counterargument right now is that it’s the G5, and I want y’all to hear that. Cam Cook started his career at TCU, so he’s been around Power Four football for a long time. Goes to Jax State, leads the country in scrimmage yards, and forced 100 missed tackles in the process. Now he’s back in the Big 12 at West Virginia, and if there’s one thing we know, it’s that Rich Rodriguez, the head coach, he wants to run the football. He needs a dynamic, space-eating back that can handle 20 or 25 carries a game and contribute as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Well, that is Cam Cook’s resume. Right there. If you look at what he is, this is the number nine running back in the country; some people think he’s a top-10 player in the country, regardless of position. All he is is maybe one dominant performance from Big 12 competition for everyone to get on board and acknowledge how good this young man might be.”

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

Cam Cook, Expected to Carry West Virginia’s Rushing Attack | WVU Football All 105

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.”

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 changed since starting his college career at TCU.

Cam Cook Is Confident He Can Carry WVU Offense: ‘I’m Going to Do Whatever It Takes’

“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.”

Find more coverage of Cam Cook and WVU football at WV Sports now.

For a related story, Cam Cook has been tagged as one of the top newcomers in the nation by a national outlet.