Since slotting the Hinckley, Ohio, native into the starting quarterback role, head coach Mark Dantonio consistently has praised Cook’s speed and scrambling ability, even taking it a step further this week by saying Cook has the ability to rush for 100 yards in a game after Saturday’s win against Indiana and again Tuesday at his weekly press conference.

“Connor can create and become a 100?yard rusher, much like some other quarterbacks, whether it’s running for 30 or 40 yards or scrambling three times for 20 or something of that nature as it naturally occurs,” Dantonio told reporters Tuesday. “I don’t think we’re going to run him 18 times a game … I do think there is a physicality with him, with his size and his speed, that when he does understand what he’s got, he’ll use it more effectively.”

It was an interesting comment coming from Dantonio, who has not had a quarterback rush for 100 yards during his entire tenure at MSU.

Drew Stanton was the last Spartan quarterback to top the century mark on the ground — a feat he accomplished three times during his intercollegiate career, with the last such occurrence coming against Pittsburgh in September 2006. Since Stanton’s departure, most of the starting quarterbacks who have succeeded him — most notably, Brian Hoyer, Kirk Cousins and Andrew Maxwell — have been tabbed as “pocket passers,” known for their ability to create plays in the air while letting running backs get the carries.

But after seeing Cook throw for 200 yards in three of the past four games, while completing nearly 58 percent of his passes this season, it appears there’s a facet of Cook’s game that remains unexplored.

Known for running the ball as well as passing at Walsh Jesuit High School, Cook said he understands Dantonio’s comment but is going to take what the defense gives him, only looking to scramble when the time calls for it.

“When they call the running plays for me, I’m going to do my best to get as many yards as I can,” Cook said. “Maybe he’s probably thinking I can be a 100-yard rusher when the play breaks down and if I can scramble and keep my eyes downfield and get yards on a passing play.”

The prevalence of dual-threat quarterbacks has been growing in college football with names that have revolutionized the position in the past, such as Nebraska’s Tommie Frazier, Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick, Florida’s Tim Tebow and, more recently, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel.

While it’s unclear if Cook will rank among these other quarterbacks when his career ends, the prospect of having a dual-threat option to lean on is a breath of fresh air for the Spartans.

Remembering when Cook first joined the program in 2011, junior running back Jeremy Langford said the team saw potential for success.

“(He was) young (when he came in), but I knew he had an arm and he eventually could be our guy if he got that chance,” Langford said. “He’s had the opportunity and he’s made the best of it.”

For Cook, there still is a learning process ahead, especially given that he only has five career starts to this point in his career, with his longest single game rushing total at just 35 yards.

Yet, when recalling the feeling of running the football, providing an example of running over a defender on a fourth down play against South Florida earlier this season, Cook said the mentality is completely different when he tucks the ball away to run.

“You’ve got to bring out the other guy inside, you’ve got to be physical and you’ve got to want to get the first down,” Cook said. “On a running play, knowing that you’re going to get hit, knowing you can deliver the blow, it definitely brings out a different person inside of you.”