Florida State receives commitment from DT Cory Durden; Dalvin Cook’s brother at Junior Day

February 22, 2016

| Filed in: Football, Recruiting, Tom D'Angelo

FSU landed four-star DT Cory Durden of Newberry during Junior Day.

Florida State landed four-star DT Cory Durden of Newberry during its Junior Day. (Noles247)

Florida State held its first Junior Day on Saturday and secured its sixth commitment for the 2017 class.

Cory Durden, a four-star defensive tackles from Newberry, made his pledge during the trip.

Durden told Chris Nee of Noles247 he took the visit just to confirm he was sold on FSU.

“The program is built around loyalty and brotherhood and that’s why I decided to end my recruitment today,” he said. “I was going to let it play out and see everything again and just make sure this is what I wanted to do and it was.

“It feels like home. It is a great place.”

Durden said he had been a “silent” commitment and just made it public on Saturday.

Durden is 6-5, 303-pounds. He is the No. 19 defensive tackle in the country according to 247Sports composite. He is the cousin and teammate of four-star DT Ja’len Parks, who also is committed to FSU.

“It is amazing,” Durden said. “That is my first cousin, we have been together our whole lives. It is a blessing to play more downs next to him.”

Durden has hit it off with coach Jimbo Fisher and defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins.

“Coach Odell is not like most,” he said. “He is a great coach. Coach Fisher is the same way.

“Me and Coach Odell have a strong relationship off the field. I talk to him a lot. I talk to him all the time.”

Florida State will hold its second Junior Day on Saturday.

Dalvin Cook’s brother names FSU his leader

James Cook

One 2019 prospect received plenty of attention this weekend, as much for his name as his talents.

James Cook, the younger brother of FSU running back Dalvin Cook, attended Junior Day and told Warchant that FSU is his leader despite growing up a Miami fan.

Cook, 5-10, 180 pounds, attends Miami-Central where he will be a sophomore next fall. Florida State’s roster includes four Central grads, including his brother. In December, he ran 15 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns while leading Central to its fourth consecutive state championship in a 48-13 win over Armwood.

“When I was here, it was like I was already one of their own players,” Cook said. “It feels like I’m in Miami or at Central in how comfortable I felt around all the guys. I loved everything, it was great. I really loved it. Right now, FSU is the No. 1 team for me. When I’m here, it is family. I know Da’Vante Phillips, Ermon Lane and Calvin Brewton.”

Cook told Warchant he learned a lot from Dalvin’s recruitment and will not rush his decision. Dalvin committed to Clemson and Florida before settling on FSU.

“I’m going to weigh all my options and take my time,” he said. “So seeing what he went through helped me. I’m going to take my visits and then make a decision after that. Dalvin wants me at Florida State and tells me to come here and not Miami. But he also lets me make my own decision. Everything he told me about FSU, though, is true in how much of a family it is here and how much I would love it.”

Cook already has 11 offers, including FSU, Florida, Miami, Alabama, LSU and Georgia.

[Is Florida State closer to securing an opponent to play in Jacksonville in 2019?]

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[Florida State has third most difficult 2016 non-conference schedule in country]