Leroy Cook: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|American football player, defensive(born end1952)}}

| name = Leroy Cook

| image =

| caption =

| number = 98

| position = [[Defensive end]]

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|11|9}}

| birth_place = [[Abbeville, Alabama]], U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lbs = 220

| high_school =Abbeville (AL)Abbeville

| college = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]]

| draftyear = 1976

| draftround = 10

| draftpick = 290

| pastteams =

* 2× [[List of unanimous All-American]]Americans ([[1974in Collegecollege Footballfootball|Unanimous All-America Team|1974American]], ([[1975 College Football All-America Team|1975]])

* 2×Consensus [[SoutheasternCollege ConferenceFootball All-America Team|All-SECAmerican]] ([[1974 All-SECCollege football team|1974]], [[1975Football All-SECAmerica football teamTeam|19751974]])

* Alabama Crimson Tide record for tackles for a loss in a career (27)

'''Leroy Cook''' (born November 9, 1952 in [[Abbeville, Alabama]]) is aan American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] infor the [[NationalDallas Football LeagueCowboys]] forof the [[DallasNational CowboysFootball League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] at the [[UniversityAlabama ofCrimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]] and was a two-time consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] selection.

Cook attended Abbeville High School, where he played football and [[basketball]]. In football, he played wide receiver until his senior year, when he was switched to [[Fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]], because the incumbent starter decided not to play that year. He was a three-time All-Wiregrass Athletic Conference and a two-time All-state player.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dothaneagle.com/sports/local/leroy-cook----a-standout-football-player-at-abbeville-alabama---/article_80f83a7a-3718-11e5-a8cc-97f68b024ef1.html|title=Leroy Cook -- a standout football player at Abbeville, Alabama -- will be inducted into Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame|publisher=Dothan Eagle|date=July 30, 2015||accessdate=February 19, 2020}}</ref>

As a senior in 1971, he contributed to the school winning the state championship both in football and basketball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=JOHNSON |first=JON |date=2024-08-25 |title=Henry County Sports Hall of Fame inducts eight during ceremony |url=https://dothaneagle.com/sports/high-school/henry-county-sports-hall-of-fame-inducts-eight-during-ceremony/article_ac58212c-6345-11ef-a8ec-232d2c78406a.html#:~:text=Leroy%20Cook:%20As%20a%20senior,the%20Year%20as%20a%20senior. |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Dothan Eagle |language=en}}</ref>

He earned consensus [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|unanimous All-American]] honors in [[1975 College Football All-America Team|1975]] and was a Firstconsensus [[College Football All-teamAmerica Team|All-American]] in [[1974 College Football All-America Team|1974]]. As a freshman, in 1972, Cook made 16 tackles (three for a loss) and caused two fumbles. In 1973, he made 18 tackles and again was credited with two caused fumbles. In 1974, his first as an All-America he made 81 tackles (10 for a loss) with six of those being sacks. He was credited with two more forced fumbles and blocked three kicks

Cook was widely thought of as being a first to third round talent in the [[NFL Draftdraft]], but on November 29, 1975, after a 28-028–0 win against the [[University of Auburn]] when [[Bob Baumhower]] slapped Cook's left shoulder pad from behind in a celebratory manner, Cook's right knee snapped and suffered a torn ligament.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Tony |date=6 September 2022 |title=Randall Williams- Once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat - Early County News |url=https://www.earlycountynews.com/articles/local-feature-randall-williams-once-a-bobcat-always-a-bobcat/#:~:text=As%20the%201975%20Iron%20Bowl,football%20future%20ended%20that%20moment. |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Early County News -}}</ref> He sat out of most practices in the weeks leading to the [[Sugar Bowl]] against Penn State. He started the game but had to leave after his knee gave out in the first series and probably caused further damage to the original injury.

With his professional sports career in doubt, Cook ended up being selected by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the tenth round (290th overall pick) of the [[1976 NFL Draftdraft|1976 NFL draft.]],<ref whoname=":0" gambled/><ref hename=":1">{{Cite couldweb recover|last=Stephenson from|first=Creg his|date=25 kneeMay injury2017 |title=The ballad of Leroy Cook, Alabama's forgotten football superstar |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2017/05/the_ballad_of_leroy_cook_alaba.html |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=al |language=en}}</ref>

Because he played in college as a stand-up defensive end, he was draftedselected to play as an [[outside linebacker]]. He was placed on [[injured reserve]] to rehab his injury during [[1976 NFL season|1976 season]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Pokes Harbor Super Hopes|publisher=The Commerce Journal|date=July 22, 1976}}</ref> Cook attempted to make the team in [[1977 NFL season|1977]], however, he was cut inon July 22 and never signed another professional contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39241516/|title=Transactions|publisher=Silver City Daily Press|date=July 23, 1977|page=8|accessdate=February 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":1" />