SYRACUSE, N.Y. _ Dalvin Cook took his block, and rushed for a 41-yard run down the left sideline before stepping out of bounds with plenty of daylight ahead of him.
Now Cook, arguably the best running back in Florida State history, has his name in the school record books to support the claim.
Cook broke Warrick Dunn's school career rushing yards record while tying Greg Allen's mark for most career rushing touchdowns in FSU's 45-14 win at Syracuse on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 32,340 people at the Carrier Dome.
Cook, a junior from Miami who could likely be a first round pick in April's 2017 NFL draft, broke Dunn's 20-year mark of 3,959 career yards. He needed 19 yards before the game to take the top spot in school history.
He also became the first three-year player in ACC history and third college football player ever in the state of Florida to rush for more than 4,000 career yards.
But why Cook was in the game in the fourth quarter of a blowout victory after achieving all of those feats was a puzzling decision by Jimbo Fisher.
Cook carried the football 25 times for 192 yards and four touchdowns, tying a career-high, but was knocked out of the game after taking a hit that resulted in his second fumble with 13 minutes remaining in the blowout win.
Cook was able to walk off the field on his own after the play.
Fisher pulled Cook out of the Boston College game in Doak Campbell Stadium 19 yards short of the record last week.
Cook, now with 4,166 career rushing yards, broke Dunn's 20-year mark while tying Allen's mark of 44 career rushing touchdowns. He'll look to make more school history in FSU's final game of the regular season against Florida on Nov. 26.
While running backs like Warrick Dunn, Greg Allen, Sammie Smith and Travis Minor can argue their claim to the title, Cook cemented his name, at least statistically, as the best running back in school history.
Cook also became the third college football player ever in the state of Florida (Kevin Smith, Errict Rhett), and sixth player in ACC history to rush for 4,000 career yards. Cook is the first junior on both of those lists.
The Seminoles were able to win their second straight game, and stay on par with their goal of finishing the season with 10 wins for the fifth straight year.
