Gardner-Webb's Cook Named National FCS Receiver of the Week By CFPA
October 22, 2014 | Football
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb senior Kenny Cook was named National FCS Receiver of the Week by College Football Performance Awards.
Cook (Cross Hill, S.C. / Clinton HS) put together a performance that was both clutch and record-setting, delivering the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 47-41 win in double overtime after an 18-point lead collapsed in the fourth quarter.
He caught a career-high 12 passes and broke Gardner-Webb, Big South and Foster Stadium records with 251 yards receiving – with touchdown catches of 80 (career-long) and 25 yards. Cook's 25-yarder was the game winner, a leaping grab on Gardner-Webb's first play from scrimmage in the final overtime period.
The Walter Payton Award candidate set up Gardner-Webb's initial score in overtime, diving for a 23-yard catch on first down. J.J. Hubbard scored the go-ahead touchdown two plays later.
Cook's 80-yard catch-and-run early in the third quarter put the 'Dogs up 28-13 with 14:05 left on the clock. He also had a diving, 49-yard catch late in the first quarter.
Cook's yardage total Saturday nearly equalled his output in four previous games (260) and marked only the third time in Gardner-Webb history a receiver had gone over 200 yards in a game. The 6-foot-4, 218-pounder also produced the highest yardage output of any player in the FCS this season – and the second-highest in all of Division I football in 2014.
Cook now leads Gardner-Webb with 37 catches for 511 yards and four touchdowns in less than five full games. He played just one quarter in the season opener at Furman, and did not dress in either of the next two games due to injury. Two of his touchdown catches have been game winners.
Since Cook's return, Gardner-Webb has gone 3-1 and is averaging a healthy 32.8 yards and 408.0 yards offensively. For his career – which spans just 28 games in Boiling Springs – Cook has hauled in 161 passes for 2,185 and 20 touchdowns. He ranks sixth in school history in catches and is tied with former Coastal Carolina All-America Jerome Simpson for eighth in Big South annals.
Gardner-Webb (4-3) opens Big South Conference play on Saturday, October 25, at Liberty. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm (ESPN3/wgwg.org).
