Ryan Cook was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he attended Cibola High School. He was a three-year starter at center for Cibola and was named second team all-city in 1999. As a senior, Ryan was named first team all-city and second team all-state for his performance. He was selected to play in the North-South all-star game. He didn’t receive any scholarship offers so he walked on at the University of New Mexico. He was slowed in the spring by a foot injury, but he recovered and made an instant impact for the Lobos. He started eight games at center after their starting center moved to tackle to cover for injuries at the position. Ryan held onto the starting center position for the next three seasons, paving the way for four straight 1,000 yard rushing seasons from running back Dontrell Moore and earning first team all-mountain west conference honors three straight years.

Ryan Cook is a huge center at 6-7 300+ pounds. He has a great deal of experience having started at center for the Lobos since his freshman season. He has been very durable over the course of his career and is an extremely strong player. He plays hard every down and displays good overall technique. He has good footwork and mobility for a player his size. He possesses the “mean streak” you like to see in an offensive lineman. He has long arms which help him keep defenders away from his body and the strength to take on any defensive tackle that lines up against him. He is a very good run blocker who helped pave the way for four consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons by Dontrell Moore. He has good mobility but he does have problems getting to the second level in the running game. His size can be a disadvantage at times for Cook. Not many quarterbacks can see well over a 6-7 center and he has to really work to get low enough to get under the pads of opposing defensive tackles. He has the size of a tackle but could be moved to guard in the NFL. Ryan Cook is one of the better interior offensive linemen in the draft. He is versatile enough to play anywhere along the offensive line and has a good chance to be a first day pick in April.