Connor Cook.....

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

Cook is arguably one of the top QBs in the league, the son of an ex-IU player and will be playing Sundays in the NFL.
On Sirius radio yesterday, they had an interview with Cook and he spoke about his college recruitment.
Cook was not heavily recruited by elite schools but he did come to IU and worked out for the program in passing drills.
The coach who reviewed him at the time was Matt Canada. Canada watched him go through a series of drills and came to the conclusion, as Cook related, that he was a big QB with a very strong arm but told him he had accuracy issues. Essentially, "Thanks but no thanks."
Walking away, Cook was staring down a list of MAC offers when Coach Pat Narduzzi called Cook for a workout with the Spartans. Narduzzi was impressed and the rest, as they say, is history. Connor Cook came "that close" to potentially donning a Hoosier jersey. At the time, he was hoping for an IU offer

 

[TheSpa]

Cook's dad and an IU player's uncle are very good friends. MC did pass on CC, but so did a number of other big ten schools. Good kid who has improved tremendously.

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

When Cook first started out he was not very good and MSU did not have much of an offense. They did have one of the best if not the best defense in the country however. That allowed them to stick it out with Conner until he has developed into one of the best QB's in the country.

 

[turney333]

When Cook first started out he was not very good and MSU did not have much of an offense. They did have one of the best if not the best defense in the country however. That allowed them to stick it out with Conner until he has developed into one of the best QB's in the country.

Yep, Cook has really grown into an exceptional QB, but he started out really rough. He didn't win the starting job until about halfway through his RS Soph year, and that was while competing against some less than stellar teammates.

 

[TheSpa]

When Cook first started out he was not very good and MSU did not have much of an offense. They did have one of the best if not the best defense in the country however. That allowed them to stick it out with Conner until he has developed into one of the best QB's in the country.

They had a very good o line, solid backs and receivers and could pound the ball pretty well. Perfect conditions to let a quarterback develop.

 

[iueyedoc99]

Not sure how much he would have played until mid season last year, but it would have been nice to have him on the roster.

 

[td75]

Sudfeld is a very good QB, probably as much or more potential than Cook. Give Sudfeld Cook's defense and he too, wins 10 games per year.

 

[boston jamie]

Sudfeld is a very good QB, probably as much or more potential than Cook. Give Sudfeld Cook's defense and he too, wins 10 games per year.

Was reading through the posts and was about to post your exact sentiment. I think Sudfeld is by far the better passing prospect. Bigger arm and very good accuracy at 6'6 240.

Cook is more mobile, but very inaccurate at times. This isn't backed up by stats but in the games I've watched, Cook seems to hit some of the tougher passes and just miss the "gimme" types (not even miss but just throw high or outside so the receiver can't get anything after he makes the catch).

Or maybe I'm just a homer...

 

[turney333]

Was reading through the posts and was about to post your exact sentiment. I think Sudfeld is by far the better passing prospect. Bigger arm and very good accuracy at 6'6 240.

Cook is more mobile, but very inaccurate at times. This isn't backed up by stats but in the games I've watched, Cook seems to hit some of the tougher passes and just miss the "gimme" types (not even miss but just throw high or outside so the receiver can't get anything after he makes the catch).

Or maybe I'm just a homer...

I see where you are coming from.

Cook's reputation has been built on being clutch in some big games, but overall has had the tendency to be a bit inconsistent. Very few QBs get to be on the big stage as much as Cook has.

 

[IndyIUFan66]

I see where you are coming from.

Cook's reputation has been built on being clutch in some big games, but overall has had the tendency to be a bit inconsistent. Very few QBs get to be on the big stage as much as Cook has.

Definitely not trashing Cook, but from my limited time watching him, I don't see him as "that elite" myself. Think Nate proved himself at Manning camp coming in 2nd inaccuracy and pretty sure Connor Cook was not first. Cook is savvy, has a great program/D to help his cause too. But if IU can play respectable D this year and WR's catch the ball (I feel fine about offensive line's ability to deliver) predict Nate will have a very fine year and may start taking some of that B10 limelight.

 

[Grateful Red(head)]

Matt Canada has always been an awful coach. No surprise at all that he passed. Now to add to the story, who was the QB that Canada decided to take instead of Cook? I truly don't know, just curious.

 

[IUninethree]

who was the QB that Canada decided to take instead of Cook? I truly don't know, just curious.

Cook was in MSU's 2011 recruiting class. IU signed Tre Roberson the same class. Both were rated as 3-star guys by Rivals. Cook was a 5.7, Roberson a 5.6. Cook was rated the #13 'pro style' QB (one spot behind Cardale Jones), Roberson the #28 'dual threat' QB. Cook committed to MSU as a junior.

If I recall, Roberson committed to Lynch initially, then kept the commitment to IU after Wilson came on board.

 

[TheSpa]

Matt Canada has always been an awful coach. No surprise at all that he passed. Now to add to the story, who was the QB that Canada decided to take instead of Cook? I truly don't know, just curious.

MC an awful coach? Truly idiotic.

And he was very impressed with a kid from Indy. You might have heard of him.

 

[RBB89]

Matt Canada has always been an awful coach. No surprise at all that he passed. Now to add to the story, who was the QB that Canada decided to take instead of Cook? I truly don't know, just curious.

Matt Canada is hardly an awful coach. A metric ton of coaches passed on Cook.

 

[Grateful Red(head)]

MC an awful coach? Truly idiotic.

And he was very impressed with a kid from Indy. You might have heard of him.

Where is he coaching now? Remind me of the powerhouse that he coaches at again? How many HC opportunities has he had?

 

[Grateful Red(head)]

Matt Canada is hardly an awful coach. A metric ton of coaches passed on Cook.

Just because he passed on Cook does not make him an awful coach. It's his coaching that makes him an awful coach. Terrible play caller. So glad he's gone.

 

[TheSpa]

Where is he coaching now? Remind me of the powerhouse that he coaches at again? How many HC opportunities has he had?

He's the OC at North Carolina State. He took that job after being the OC at Wisconsin. Put down your shovel.

 

[RBB89]

Where is he coaching now? Remind me of the powerhouse that he coaches at again? How many HC opportunities has he had?

OC at NC State, was the OC at UW under Bielema when they put up 70 in the B1G title game.

 

[TheSpa]

Just because he passed on Cook does not make him an awful coach. It's his coaching that makes him an awful coach. Terrible play caller. So glad he's gone.

Ask Nebraska how terrible of a play caller he was.

 

[Grateful Red(head)]

He was a terrible play caller and game manager at IU. Remember when Chappell came off the bench to run one play against Northwestern? He threw a pass on that one play and it went for a pick 6 the other way. That was a Matt Canada special.

 

[RBB89]

He was a terrible play caller and game manager at IU. Remember when Chappell came off the bench to run one play against Northwestern? He threw a pass on that one play and it went for a pick 6 the other way. That was a Matt Canada special.

I'm assuming he stole your girlfriend?

 

[TheSpa]

He was a terrible play caller and game manager at IU. Remember when Chappell came off the bench to run one play against Northwestern? He threw a pass on that one play and it went for a pick 6 the other way. That was a Matt Canada special.

Put down your shovel. You know nothing about MC. Not one thing.