The plan had been for James Cook to make his college decision on Dec. 20.

Cook called 5-star Zamir White (left) the thunder in their particular potential pairing in the backfield at UGA. The speedy Cook would provide the lightning. He’s also rated as a 5-star recruit by some services. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

That’s the first day of the new NCAA early signing period, and Cook was set to sign that day.

Instead, the nation’s No. 3 running back has seen the need to improvise with a jump cut.

Cook said he now will announce his college commitment at 8 p.m. Thursday. The Miami Central senior would be the perfect complement to 5-star RB Zamir White for the Bulldogs in the class of 2018.

With both Nick Chubb and Sony Michel exhausting their eligibility between the hedges this fall, the combination of Cook plus White would be a tremendous reload.

Cook has told DawgNation in the past that the Bulldogs would like to use them as a “thunder and lightning” rotation for the future at UGA.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound White rates as the nation’s No. 1 running back and would be counted on to bring the thunder. Cook, who checks in at 5-foot-11½ and 181 pounds, would be the ideal scatback with the lethal big-play quickness that would allow him to make a lot of plays in space.

Cook is also an excellent receiver out of the backfield. He previously was committed to Florida State but backed off that pledge on July 4.