Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook (4) beats the grab attempt by Sam Houston defensive back Jaidan Scott, right, during an NCAA football game on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke).

MORGANTOWN — Rich Rodriguez didn’t get to watch all of the Jacksonville State games last season, because, of course, he was coaching his own college football team at West Virginia. During the middle of the week, Rodriguez caught a couple of the games. He paid attention because he was the head coach there before heading to WVU, and he still had great ties with the people down there.

Something caught his eye while watching the games.

“I didn’t watch all their games, but the midweek games and stuff, I got a chance to watch a little bit of,” Rodriguez said. “This guy was making people miss. He was a really good football player.”

Rodriguez was watching Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook, who transferred to the Mountaineers this offseason. He was arguably the biggest transfer acquisition this offseason.

Cook led the FBS in rushing and was tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns. Before Jacksonville State, Cook played two seasons in the Big 12 at TCU. He rushed for 460 yards and nine touchdowns in his second season. Cook was one of the top running backs in the portal.

WVU was in the market for running backs, too. The Mountaineers lost all but one running back to the transfer portal, which was Andre Devine, who didn’t register a stat in 2026. Rodriguez added a bunch of freshman running backs, including 4-star Amari Latimer, and some more experienced JUCO backs, but he needed a veteran guy to start right away.

“We went after him, wanted an experienced guy,” Rodriguez said. “We knew that we were going to have almost a whole new running back room anyway, and I’m glad he’s here.”

Cook is a perfect fit in Rodriguez’s offense, and a reason why he was a top priority. Rodriguez’s offense is run-heavy, and WVU was fifth in the Big 12 in rushing attempts. Cook carried a big workload last season. WVU had a revolving door of running backs last season with all the injuries, so Cook should be more reliable.

On March 7, WVU started spring practice, and Rodriguez officially got to see Cook on the practice field. He did watch him during workouts and in meetings, but not on the field yet. In the limited time, Cook has been as good as advertised.

“He’s a really smart football player,” Rodriguez said. “He’s got a great feel for it. He can block, he can catch. So he’s got all the stuff that you want in the backfield.”

Other than being the lead back on the field, part of Cook’s role this year will be teaching the young running back room. Although not in the first couple of weeks, because like the freshmen and JUCO players, Cook is still learning Rodriguez’s system.

“Eventually, he can help some of the young guys, but right now, he’s still learning too,” Rodriguez said. “It’s all new terminology. Jax State didn’t do what we do terminology-wise. But, he understands the fundamental part of what we’re teaching.”

Even though Cook was brought in to be the starter, the rest of the running backs are competing for a role in the offense. There are currently five backs in the room with more to come, and Rodriguez thinks all of them have a chance to play at some point this season. Someone will need to be the second option when Cook inevitably takes a breather in the high-tempo offense.

Right now, though, as expected, Cook is the lead back.

“He’s gonna kind of be the alpha in the room, so to speak, the leader of that group,” Rodriguez said. “I think all of them are going to play… It’s a pretty competitive room. Cam will kind of be the leader of it, but all those young guys got a chance to play.”