Charleston Southern University Athletics

High School: Cook will join Charleston Southern from the upstate of South Carolina … Played high school ball at Byrnes High School under Head Coach Reggie Shaw … Helped lead his team to its first region title this past fall, their first title since 2014 … Recorded a breakout season as a senior compiling 71 tackles for a 6/per game average earning All-State and All-Region honors … Forced four total takeaways on the year with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries … Broke up 12 passes as a senior … During his sophomore season, he played as the starting running back as he compiled over 1000 all-purpose yards to go with 13 touchdown finishing with 800 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards ... Played in the North-South All-Star Game … Was a two-sport athlete also competing on the track team … Has a long list of relatives to play collegiate sports including his Dad who was on the ETSU track team … Also had FBS offers from Arkansas State and Charlotte.
 
Gabe Giardina, Head Football Coach Charleston Southern University on Knai Cook. 
 
“Knai is from the Upstate, a great high school football program, and was a great high school player. We are really excited to see what he does here in the Buccaneer Blue uniform. He will strike your butt and not apologize about it. He plays with great physicality, and is going to fit right in with our team.”