1,600 lead rusher Cam Cook enters the transfer portal
Jacksonville State's top running back entering transfer portal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook, one of the most productive players in college football this season, announced Wednesday that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. After a breakout year with the Gamecocks, Cook is expected to become one of the most in-demand players once the portal officially opens.
Cook shared the news in a message posted on Instagram, thanking Jacksonville State for helping shape him both on and off the field. He explained that after long conversations with his family, coaches, and close advisors, he decided that entering the transfer portal was the best move for his future.
Cook transferred to Jacksonville State from TCU before the 2025 season, and the move paid off in a major way. In his only season with the Gamecocks, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back rushed for 1,659 yards and 16 touchdowns on 295 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. He led the nation in rushing yards and rushing attempts, even though he missed the team’s bowl game. Cook also finished first in total yards from scrimmage with 1,945, adding 286 receiving yards on 30 catches.
Jacksonville State star running back Cam Cook announces he’ll enter the transfer portal.
— Thomas Ashworth (@_ThomasAshworth) December 24, 2025
The All-American ran for an FBS-leading 1,659 yards and 16 touchdowns for Jax State this season. pic.twitter.com/XK9LAShxH2
His consistency stood out all season. Cook recorded 10 games with at least 100 rushing yards and finished with over 100 total yards from scrimmage in all 13 games he played. He rushed for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in every Conference USA game and had a career-high 218 rushing yards against Sam Houston State.
Cook’s performance earned him numerous awards, including Conference USA Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and first-team All-Conference honors. He was also named an AP All-American and a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back.
Behind Cook, Jacksonville State finished the season 9-5 overall and 7-1 in Conference USA, earning a spot in the conference championship game. Although the Gamecocks fell short in that matchup, they closed the season with a bowl win over Troy.
Before arriving at Jacksonville State, Cook played two seasons at TCU, where he appeared in 21 games and led the Horned Frogs in rushing in 2024. A former four-star recruit out of Round Rock, Texas, Cook rushed for nearly 2,900 yards in high school.
The NCAA transfer portal officially opens on January 2 and will close on January 16. Once it opens, Cook is expected to be one of the top running backs available, with several Power Conference programs likely to show strong interest.
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