Don’t expect FSU star running back Dalvin Cook to skip Orange Bowl

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Don’t expect FSU running back Dalvin Cook to sit this one out.

Despite a trend toward top players skipping their team’s final bowl games – LSU’s Leonard Fournette and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey – to prepare for the NFL draft, Cook is expected to play against Michigan in the Dec. 30 Orange Bowl.

Since Fournette and McCaffrey announced plans to skip their final games, the debate has swirled whether they are being selfish or if they have done all that is expected of them. Still, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said it would surprise him if Cook joined the list.

“Actually, I would be stunned,” Fisher told the Orlando Sentinel. “I would be.”

Cook himself offered no hint that he might not play.

To finish our season off in a big bowl game in that stadium, it’ll definitely mean a lot,” Cook said Saturday.

“I’m going to give it my all. … It’s going to be something to remember.”

There have been instances of players being injured in their final games, which has affected their pro status.

Gary Shelton is one of the most recognized and honored sportswriters in the history of the state. He has won the APSE's national columnist of the year twice and finished in the top 10 eight times. He was named the Florida Sportswriter of the Year six times. Gary joined SaintPetersBlog in the spring, helping to bring a sports presence to the website. Over his time in sports writing, Gary has covered 29 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, Final Fours, Masters, Wimbledons and college national championships. He was there when the Bucs won a Super Bowl, when the Lightning won a Stanley Cup and when the Rays went to a World Series. He has seen Florida, FSU and Miami all win national championships, and he covered Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden and Don Shula along the way. He and his wife Janet have four children: Eric, Kevin, K.C. and Tori. To contact, visit [email protected].