FSU's Cook found not guilty, reinstated to team

Dalvin Cook was found not guilty of misdemeanor battery on Monday. (USATSI)

UPDATE 9:28 p.m. ET: Florida State has officially reinstated Cook following the not guilty verdict. Here is the official statement from the school.

“In light of today’s ruling in his misdemeanor battery case, FSU football player Dalvin Cook’s indefinite suspension from the team has been lifted, and he will be eligible to practice and to compete representing the University effective immediately.”

Original Story:

Florida State star running back Dalvin Cook has been found not guilty of misdemeanor battery. Cook’s trial started and came to a close on Monday night after eight hours of testimony and a short 25-minute deliberation.

BREAKING: Florida State running back Dalvin Cook has been found not guilty for misdemeanor battery. pic.twitter.com/FemrdN3vwv

— Safid Deen (@Safid_Deen) August 24, 2015

Cook stood accused of punching a woman in the face outside a Tallahassee bar on June 23 and was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery. Cook’s lawyer had previously stated that he expected Cook to be acquitted quickly after the lawyer requested a speedy trial. Three Florida State players and a FSU graduate student served as witnesses; all testified that Cook never hit a woman during the incident, according to the Associated Press.

The Seminoles suspended Cook indefinitely on the day of his arrest, but held out hope that he would return to the team, even taking two team pictures — one with and one without him — pending the outcome of his trial.

Florida State has not officially announced Cook’s reinstatement to the program, but he was a top performer for the Seminoles a year ago.

Cook, as a true freshman, was Florida State’s leading rusher taking 170 carries for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. His backup on the initial depth chart for this year, redshirt junior Mario Pender, had just 41 carries for 206 yards last year. Third string back Jonathan Vickers had just one carry for three yards.

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