TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ Dalvin Cook believes players like Ezekiel Elliott, Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley paved the way for relatively smaller running backs to flourish in the NFL.
Before joining them at the next level, Cook is out to prove he's better than players like Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey and other running backs in the 2017 NFL draft.
"I'm just a do-it-all back, and I just feel like I am the best back in this class," Cook said Thursday, during his media appearance at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Cook reiterated the confidence in his abilities as he hopes to climb up the draft boards, trying to prove to NFL scouts and executives his versatile style and explosive playmaking ability are worth their pick.
Cook, who ended his Florida State career with 4,464 yards rushing and 48 total touchdowns in three seasons, is widely considered as a first-round prospect for the draft, set for April 27-29 in Philadelphia.
Cook said he will participate in each combine event _ including bench press, where he had 22 repetitions of 225 pounds, and the 40-yard dash.
"It's all on me now," Cook said of his chances to be an early pick in the draft. "It's all on how I go perform, and how I (can) jump the draft board. The week is here that I've been waiting for, so I just have to go and do my part."
