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Florida Gators Football: Five Keys To Defeating Florida State Seminoles

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 28, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) stops Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) on the one yard line during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) stops Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) on the one yard line during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) carries the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) carries the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Contain Dalvin Cook

One week after going to war with Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice, the Florida Gators will face Dalvin Cook. There aren’t many back-to-back battles with running backs worse than what Florida is about to endure, if any.

For those who are somehow unfamiliar, Cook is the most productive running back in Florida State history—and he’s only getting better.

Cook has run for 1,467 yards and 17 touchdowns, and caught 27 receptions for 400 yards and a touchdown in 2016. He’s amassed 4,166 rushing yards, 44 rushing touchdowns, 73 receptions, 847 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns during this three-year career.

With upwards of 5,000 total yards from scrimmage, it’s become abundantly clear that Cook is one of the greatest running backs in college football history.

Gators head coach Jim McElwain called Cook the most explosive player in college football, Ryan Young of SEC Country. That’s high praise from a coach who has gone up against the likes of Fournette, Guice, Ralph Webb, and Boom Williams in 2016.

For what it’s worth, Cook ran for 144 yards against Florida in 2014 and 183 yards and two touchdowns against the Gators in 2015.

Must Read: Who stepped up against LSU?

If Florida is to stand at any chance at defeating the Seminoles in Tallahassee, then it must be able to contain Cook as it did Guice and Fournette.

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