TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Those questions about whether Dalvin Cook can recover from a slow start? He just answered them.
The shifty Florida State running back rushed for a career-high 267 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, helping the 13th-ranked Seminoles rebound from the most lopsided loss in school history with a 55-35 rout of previously unbeaten USF.
Cook has had a quiet season after rushing for a FSU-record 1,691 yards as a sophomore, raising questions about why he had not been as productive in his team's first three games.
"People get caught up in having the stats, but we have to go out there and play the same football every week. We have to run the ball and we have to pass the ball, we just did a better job this week," Cook said. "When (the team) calls my number I just try to get the job done."
Cook scored on a 75-yard run on the Seminoles' first play from scrimmage, an immediate response to USF starting the game with Quinton Flowers and Rodney Adams teaming on an 84-yard catch-and-run for a quick 7-0 lead. The 213-pound junior's rushing total on 28 carries topped his previous best of 266 yards against South Florida last year.
"It was very important to answer back. USF came out with a very aggressive game plan and we had to respond with points," Cook said. "The offensive line did a good job of giving me space, and I was one-on-one with the safety and I had to beat him."
Florida State (3-1) bounced back from being trounced 63-20 by Louisville, a road shellacking that dropped the Seminoles 11 spots in the AP Top 25 from No. 2.
"Dalvin had a nice day," coach Jimbo Fisher said, though he wasn't happy that his team yielded five touchdowns and 450 yards on defense. "We have to learn to finish games and play the full 60 minutes."
South Florida (3-1) is off to its fastest start since 2011, however the Bulls were no match for a talented bunch that began the season with expectations of contending for its second national title in four years.
"I looked at this game as an opportunity for our football team to get a little more respect nationally," South Florida coach Willie Taggart said.
"We didn't take advantage of that."
Marlon Mack's 1-yard TD run gave USF a brief lead before Cook, Freddie Stevenson and Bobo Wilson scored on Florida State's next three possessions to put the Seminoles up 28-14.
Deondre Francois threw for 169 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The red-shirt freshman added a 35-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter.
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