[1] He was given his first opportunity to play football after his mother borrowed five dollars from her land owner to pay for his physical.
As a senior, he was named to the 1976 All-Delta Conference team and earned a spot on the 1977 Mississippi High School All-Star game.
[3] At Mississippi State, Cooks was a four-year letterman in football and graduated with a degree in physical education.
Cooks' interception came in the penultimate game of the season, where he picked off LSU quarterback John Crane.
[6] Cooks was granted a hardship redshirt status, meaning the 1979 season did not count toward his college eligibility.
He was named to the All-SEC First-Team and helped lead the Bulldogs to a 9–3 record and #19 ranking in the final AP poll.
The next week against #1 ranked Alabama, Cooks again had a 20-tackle performance and forced the game-clinching fumble near the goal line to secure the 6–3 upset.
[18] In Cooks' strike-shortened rookie season, he started in eight of the nine games played, registering 63 tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery.
[19] Despite Cooks' productive season, the Colts finished winless at 0-8-1 under first-year head coach Frank Kush.
In the season opener, Cooks sealed a 29–23 overtime victory against the New England Patriots with a 52-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Cooks publicly expressed frustration with Kush throughout the season, which led to speculation that he wanted to be traded.
[17] Prior to the 1984 season, the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis and Cooks remained with the team.
[25] In the final preseason game of the 1987 season, Cooks was injured when he was poked in the eye while making a tackle.
Upon returning at the strike's conclusion, Cooks appeared in 10 total games and recorded five sacks and one interception on the season.
The Colts made the playoffs for the first time in Cooks' career after winning the AFC East Division.
They defeated the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC playoffs to advance to the Super Bowl.
Former Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns prior to the start of the 1991 season.
Cooks left the Governor's office in January 2001, and went to Alcorn State University where he was Special Assistant to the athletic director for Fundraising and Marketing.
[35] While still playing in the NFL, Cooks and his family opened Jonie's Mug and Cone in Louisville, Mississippi, named for his daughter.