2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Lawson Cook, DB, Charleston Southern University

• Name: Lawson Cook
• Position: DB
• College: Charleston Southern University
• Height: 6’0″
• Weight: 192 lbs
• Twitter: @thelawsoncook

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

I don’t recall the exact moment. However, as a kid, I remember telling my 6th grade careers class teacher that I wanted to play professional football when I grew up. I remember her telling me it wasn’t possible or realistic. The most recent memory is the main reason I am still pursuing it. I had just left the prep school I signed up with out of high school a couple months prior and I stumbled upon Eric Thomas and Giavanni Ruffins “How Bad Do You Want It” video. it struck a nerve in me. I knew I had talent in high school as I was a stand-out player, but I had no work ethic, I was lazy. I then trained for 9 months, waking up at 4am in hopes of a junior college team would make a spot for me so I could earn a D1 scholarship and then get a chance to play professionally. I made a promise that day outside of my gym that I would do whatever it takes and work as hard as I must to make this a reality.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

My single favorite moment of my football career would have to be the “Cook-Out” game against Grayson high School. We were both undefeated in the same region. This was my best game of my career. I had 11 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and an interception for a touchdown to seal a win. This was a huge win, and It was the most memorable game I’ve been a part of with the most memorable team I’ve been a part of.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

Moving forward with my football career, I’m looking to be a professional for a winning organization and to be a sponge for information. I love learning more about the game of football and I love implementing that knowledge while I compete and give tremendous effort doing it.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?

I would love to workout with Ray Lewis and spend some time learning from him. I am huge on effort as both a player and a man. I think that Ray is a great example of giving and showing effort. He had a great career, and he credits it to his effort. I can’t agree more, effort will get you opportunities not only to make a play on the field but make a difference in life.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

I take inspiration from everyone around me, I look at others and the situations they are in or have been in so that when I am facing it, I have already seen and prepared for it. I often look at what I have been through to be in the position I’m in now as inspiration as well. You can look at other people all you want, it’s different when you have your own first-hand experience to take from.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

Personally, I’ve played in a 3-4 scheme and a rover/nickel and a 4-3 as a safety. I think every scheme has its pros and cons. I personally like a scheme where you include more defensive back body types. I believe that the personnel make plays while the scheme should work with the given personnel to put them in position to make plays on the ball. My favorite position to be in is in the post. Being in the post allows you to be able to run the alley/run fit or survey the whole field with the ability to run and make a play on the ball from top down.

What should we know about Lawson Cook the person?

The people who have been around me or come in contact with me know that I’m dedicated and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the goal at hand and in the long run. I’m a man who believes that no matter what position you’re in or what you’re going through, that is exactly where you’re supposed to be. God puts you in situations to equip you for what he is about to bless you with. The only thing you can control is your effort and how you do things. You give effort and leave the rest up to God, you’ll succeed at something.

What stands out about your film the most?

The one thing that has stood out with my film since high school is my effort the the ability I have to run to the ball. I give every play the same amount of effort because you never know when it’s your time to make a play. Effort will put you in position to make plays even if you are on the other side of the field.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

I say to my friends and teammates all the time that “football is life and life is football.”. This is because football teaches you two things I find important. 1) effort, effort is the only thing you can control. You can’t control what happens around you, but you can control how you do what you do. 2) next play mentality, you can’t focus on what went wrong last play or in life, in the past. All you have the ability to do is move forward and keep going towards your goal.

What would a team get in a player like you?

The team who signs me will get effort and character every single day, no matter what has happened or what will happen. I give outstanding effort and I run to the ball every play. They will also get a player and teammate who is willing to learn and adapt to help the team win and succeed on the field, off the field, and in the locker room. I’m hungry and I love to compete.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I love football because it teaches you so much about yourself. It forces you to stare adversity in the face and deal with it. You either win or lose, there is no in-between. Football teaches you that it’s not about losing but how you handle the loss and what you take from the loss. Thats the beauty of this game. It reflects life.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

This is a hard question to answer. There are a lot of guys from high school, juco, and d1 that should get more shine than they do. Thats the thing about college specifically, there are legit guys out there who are just as good as starters but they just haven’t gotten their shine yet. From: justin berendzen <jrberendzen@gmail.com>Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 12:42 PMTo: Lawson K. Cook <LKCook1@csustudent.net>Subject: [External] – 2023 draft prospect interview 1.What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?2.What are your favorite moments from your football life?3.What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?4.If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?5.Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?6.What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?