GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman head football coach Clay Hendrix announced today the addition of a graduate transfer player to the Paladins' program.

Sirod Cook, a 5-foot-11, 271-pound defensive lineman and December 2022 graduate of Wingate (N.C.) University with a degree in math, has joined Furman's program.  The Winston-Salem, N.C., native, who has one year of eligibility remaining, will take part in spring practice in preparation for the Paladins' 2023 season.

Cook earned playing time in 36 games over four seasons at Wingate and was credited with 126 tackles, including 33.5 for-loss and 18.5 sacks during his tenure.  This past fall he tallied 44 stops and 11 sacks in helping the Bulldogs' defense to 61 sacks over a 14-game season that saw Wingate go 11-3 and advance to the third round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Cook, who served as co-captain of Wingate's defense, garnered second team All-South Atlantic Conference honors in 2022.

Furman, coming off a 10-3 season a year ago that included a second round appearance in the FCS playoffs, is projected to return 18 starters and 38 players from its 44-man two-deep this fall off a squad that finished ranked a consensus 10th in both major FCS polls.