This former Boise State running back is set to take over as the Vikings featured back

The Minnesota Vikings released running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, making the four-time Pro Bowl selection a free agent and opening the door for a former Boise State star to step into the spotlight.

Alexander Mattison, who ranks No. 8 all-time at Boise State with 33 career rushing touchdowns, is in line to take over as the Vikings’ starter.

The team hinted at the move last month when it debuted a new header for its Twitter account, which included a photo of Mattison, not Cook, who rushed for more than 1,100 yards last season.

The Vikings officially parted ways with Cook on Friday, ending a long saga that included reported trade attempts and opening the door for Mattison to take over as the featured back.

The only other running backs on the Minnesota roster are second-year pro Ty Chandler, rookie DeWayne McBride and third-year pro Kene Nwangwu, who has been used mostly as a kick return specialist.

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Minnesota picked Mattison in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and the Vikings signed him to a new two-year deal worth $7 million in March. He has spent the past four seasons as Cook’s backup.

Mattison, who turns 25 this month, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday that he and Cook have become close the past few years. He even referred to the former Florida State star as a brother.

“Sharing backfield with him for the last four years, I wish I could do it my whole career,” Mattison said. “But obviously that’s also not what I wish from the standpoint of understanding what my dreams and aspirations are.”

Mattison has appeared in 59 games during his NFL career, rushing for 1,670 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has six starts on his resume, and he racked up a combined 693 yards and five touchdowns in those contests.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell called Mattison an every-down back last week.

“It’s been really good to see Alex Mattison take a few more reps and really show that all-three-down kind of ownership that he’s been capable of for a long time,” O’Connell told reporters on May 30.

Mattison was a workhorse at Boise State. He carried the ball more than 500 times during the final two seasons of his college career, finishing his junior season with 302 carries for 1,415 yards. His carries that year still rank No. 3 in a single season in program history, and his rushing yards rank No. 7.

The native of San Bernardino, California, finished his college career with 2,289 rushing yards, which ranks No. 10 at Boise State. He was named first-team All-Mountain West before declaring for the NFL Draft following his junior season.