In USF's mad rush to replenish its 2026 football roster through the Transfer Portal, new coach Brian Hartline placed a premium establishing strength for both the offensive and defensive lines.
One name that was hard to overlook during the Bulls' shopping spree was guard Caleb Cook, a 6-3, 315-pound graduate student from Georgia Southern. He is just what the Bulls were looking for -- an experienced, accomplished offensive lineman they could plug-and-play.
Apparently, the Football Writers Association of America about Cook. The organization named him to its preseason Outland Trophy Watch List. The award goes to what the organization considers the best interior offensive or defensive lineman in the country.
Caleb Cook has been named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/fuZRVnHjTV
— South Florida Football (@USFFootball) August 4, 2026
The organization was founded in 1941 and includes in its membership the men and women across North America whose job it is to cover college football. Cook is one six players on the watch list roster who are transfers going into their first seasons with their current program.
Cook played at Georgia Southern from 2020 through last year.
After going through spring practice there in 2020, Cook was red-shirted the following season. He suffered a broken leg in 2023 after two games and missed the rest of the season.
The 2025 season was his best. He earned first team All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
Pro Football Focus liked what it saw. It gave him an overall grade of 66.8, which is a solid, above average mark. His pass blocking grade was 74.6, which is also is above average.
Cook is one of three players from the American Conference named to the watch list.
Others include Army center Brady Small and Florida Atlantic defensive tackle CJ Doggette Jr.
Small was a key contributor last season to helping his team produce the No. 4 rushing attack in the nation in 2025. The Black Knights averaged 254.9 yards per game.
Doggette had 28 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks last season for FAU.
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