MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Cam Cook leads the nation with 168 carries and is preparing to play an eighth straight Saturday when West Virginia takes on TCU at noon from Amon G. Carter Stadium in the Mountaineers’ final contest before their bye week.
Yet after Cook’s least productive rushing performance in a WVU uniform last weekend against Cincinnati, when he was held to 40 yards on 15 carries, fatigue is the last thing on the mind of a tailback returning to Fort Worth to face the team he started his college career with.
“That last game, I didn’t really take too many hits, so I’m feeling pretty good right now,” Cook said.
It was a reduced workload for Cook against the Bearcats. While he was bottled up on the ground, the tailback caught two passes, including a 40-yard touchdown that tied the game with 3:44 remaining, helping the Mountaineers go on to win for the first time in Big 12 play, 45-42.
Before being held in check against UC, Cook had rushed for between 123 and 193 yards on no fewer than 20 carries in West Virginia’s five other matchups against FBS opponents. His only other light workload was intentional back in Week 2 against Tennessee Martin when the senior carried 10 times for 52 yards.
Now the fifth-leading rusher in college football looks to resume his normal production after he was held under 100 rushing yards for the fifth time in the last 21 games dating back to the start of the 2025 season, which Cook spent at Jacksonville State when he led the country in rushing with 1,659 yards to go with 16 touchdowns.
That it comes against the Horned Frogs, where Cook spent the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, only adds to the intrigue.
“I’ve definitely thought about it, but to me, it’s just another game,” Cook said. “Just trying to go out there and get another win with the guys. It’ll be good to see my family that lives in that area. Other than that, I don’t draw too much to it.”
The contest will be held some 170 or so miles from Cook’s hometown of Round Rock, Texas, and what’s been a stout TCU defense figures to present challenges.
The Horned Frogs allow the fewest points (12.2) and yards (264.2) on average of any team in the Big 12 Conference and have yet to surrender more than 21 points in a game this season. In Big 12 play, TCU has allowed a total of 44 points across three games, while holding the opposition to an average of 104.7 rushing yards and 3 per carry.
There’s been marked improvement from a unit that was No. 72 nationally in scoring defense last season at 25.3 points.
“They’ve gotten better at stopping the run. It’s something I have to experience now,” Cook said. “I’ve been watching the film, trying to see what they have going on, but it’s a little bit different than when I was there.”
Cook’s second and final season at TCU was the first for now third-year Horned Frogs’ defensive coordinator Andy Avalos.
“The defense has changed. I just really know the guys that are in the room,” Cook said.
The fifth-leading rusher in college football with 833 yards, Cook had been a major factor in the Mountaineers’ offensive success this season up until last week. When he wasn’t, the Mountaineers got a career-high 464-yard passing performance from quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. in a 45-point performance that paved the way in a win and showed the offense can still thrive without a dominant ground game.
“Mike going out and dominating in the air and on the ground, I’ve never really been part of an explosive offense like that,” Cook said. “Just seeing it is crazy. I’ll make a play and maybe it seems like we’re slowing down, and then boom, Prince [Strachan for] 50 yards down the field and we’re kicking a field goal to win the game. It’s crazy.”
The Horned Frogs have been equally stingy defending the pass this season and they lead the FBS with two passing touchdowns allowed.
That likely puts more of an emphasis on WVU establishing Cook early on in his return to Fort Worth.
“Happy for Cam. He’s been really productive,” said TCU head coach Sonny Dykes. “Went to Jacksonville State and did really well there. He’s a good football player and a great kid from a great family. I’m happy that he’s had success and not surprised.”