His position coach calls him ''Seabiscuit,'' after the undersized, overlooked thoroughbred that eventually became a champion.

And after being granted a rare sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA, University of Miami middle linebacker Glenn Cook is living up to the label.

Cook dislocated his first three toes and tore ligaments under the big toe on his left foot in August 2007, requiring major surgery and an entire season away from football. But now he is back with a vengeance, and Monday he was named an Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week for his exceptional performance at Texas A&M.

''To me he's like the Peyton Manning of our defense,'' linebackers coach Micheal Barrow said. ``The kid is a genius. Everything you tell him he soaks up like a sponge. I had a laundry list of things I wanted him to work on to get better, and he worked extremely hard. I'm not surprised about his success.''

Cook's numbers at Texas A&M: nine tackles and UM's first defensive touchdown of the season -- scored when he knocked the ball out of the quarterback's hands, scooped it up and ran 2 yards into the end zone.

''That was kind of fun and exciting,'' he said Tuesday in his mellow manner. ``You don't get that many opportunities.''

SMART PLAYER

Cook is 6-0 and 228 pounds, not a particularly intimidating physical specimen for a major college football player. But his technique and smarts set him apart. He leads UM with 18 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, and is a relentless student of the game.

''He played very, very well,'' said UM coach Randy Shannon, not one to throw around compliments. `` He missed two or three tackles -- I won't let Cook off the hook. ``But one thing about Cook, he's going to work all the time. And he'll watch more film than anybody. So he'll know exactly where to be at and where to go.''

UM is ranked 17th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing an average of 75 yards a game.

''We really want to stop the run,'' Cook said. ``If you stop the run and make a team one dimensional, you have a better chance of being successful as a defense. Now we have to improve the other aspect of our defense, which is the pass.''

He credits the defensive line for opening opportunities for the linebackers.

''[We've] just [been] focusing on being real aggressive up front,'' he said. ``Our energy has been good.''

Cook said Barrow has pushed him to set his goals high: ``He thinks a lot of me and has been putting a lot of pressure on me. He says the sky is the limit. . . . It was good to be recognized.''

UNDER THE RADAR

Recognition for his playing ability has not come often. Cook regularly has been reminded of his intelligence and leadership -- he already has his bachelor's degree and is working toward a master's in sports administration. But before this season, he rarely was praised for his physical skills.

''It was just their assessment of my play,'' he said without a hint of resentment. ``Sometimes [people] were correct, and sometimes they were incorrect.

``I just have to go out there and play. It was all about the team back then, and now it's all about the team. It's not about me.''

MENTOR TO TEAMMATES

It is, as he said, about his younger teammates, who view him as a mentor. Last year, when he couldn't compete, Cook took on the role of player-coach, wearing a headset at times and signaling in plays.

''He's a great guy,'' said freshman linebacker Jordan Futch, like Cook, a graduate of Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.

``I heard he was one of the best student-athletes to come through Chaminade, a smart player and a smart person in the classroom. He's very dedicated to what he does.

``He's helping us young guys in the film room get better. When we come on and off the field he's always coaching us. He sort of leads us all on the field, from the corners to the D-line. He's pretty much like a director sitting in a director's chair, a second coach on the field.

``He's a very positive guy, a great character guy.''

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