Class of 2023 WR Johntay Cook (TX) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (5/1/25)

[GoSU96]

I just watched his highlights and he is definitely a much better player than Pena. If he can keep his nose clean off the field we have a real star here

Based on 16 catches over two years?

 

[sufan59]

I just watched his highlights and he is definitely a much better player than Pena. If he can keep his nose clean off the field we have a real star here

Pena is very fast. Cook is elite fast.

 

[jr4750]

This is a fun watch:

 

[OttoinGrotto]

What are we expecting out of Cook next season, realistically?

 

[sufan59]

What are we expecting out of Cook next season, realistically?

I honestly expect nothing out of Cook next season playing wise. I expect he gets his life together. The prospect of him actually playing though is extremely exciting given what some of our receivers were becoming last season with much less natural ability.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

What are we expecting out of Cook next season, realistically?

Let Johntay Cook!

 

[RF2044]

What are we expecting out of Cook next season, realistically?

Cook is very talented, and has some experience.

But what to expect, hard to say due to his off-field issues. If he embraces the structure and does what Fran asks, then he can be a very good player for us. After all, last year McCord spread the ball around and benefitted from having four college-elite weapons in his arsenal -- OG, Meeks, Pena, and Allen. No reason Angeli or Collins couldn't make use of a similar stable of weapons next year -- JRS and Gill, hopefully Hatcher to go along with ascending Ross / Hornsby. And Cook could impact that room.

But really, it is all up to him.

5 star talent. Does he have a 5-cent head, or is he going to optimize this second chance?

 

[cusefan88]

Fran will be a good mentor to him if he takes the advice and becomes DART. Clearly has the intangibles.

 

[GoSU96]

What are we expecting out of Cook next season, realistically?

Hype

Controversy

That’s all I got

 

[HRE Otto IV]

This is a fun watch:

So his first "highlight" is high fiving the KR instead of blocking which contributed to a non TD?

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I can't take credit for that, someone mentioned it the other day and now I can't unsee it

That might’ve been me. As someone named “Robert”, I was disappointed in myself for only figuring that out recently. Once I did, he jumped ship. I’m not saying that there’s a connection, but I think there’s a connection.

 

[AZOrange]

What are we expecting out of Cook next season, realistically?

Basically Reggie Bush at WR

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Basically Reggie Bush at WR

So what I thought Jawhar Jordan was going to be for us.

 

[SURules]

What are we expecting out of Cook next season, realistically?

That is hard to judge right now. Athletically, Cook could be the best WR we have since Marvin Harrison. The guy is a man amongst boys. His ability to cut, stop, and start on a dime with that speed is god given. Coaches can’t teach that. How ever, he wasn’t here for spring ball and needs to learn the playbook, get in-sync with the QB’s, coaches, Offensive scheme, and needs to block as a WR which is an issue I heard about possibly. Clearly has the potential to be a dominant player that other teams have to account for on every play. Does he have the mental aspect to realize all of that potential is the question. Fran is the perfect coach for someone like this if Cook accepts Fran’s philosophy and commitment required. I would assume it will take a few games for Cook to be worked into the SU offense and learn what we are trying to do out there. Oh and he loves to talk trash from what I have seen but backs it up.

 

[Orangefizz]

What are we expecting out of Cook next season, realistically?

Somewhere between Zeed and Trebor.

 

[anglerman]

Pena is very fast. Cook is elite fast.

Exactly he has great hands and elite speed.

 

[rrlbees]

I just watched his highlights and he is definitely a much better player than Pena. If he can keep his nose clean off the field we have a real star here

So he’ll be 1st team all ACC? Hope so.

 

[GoSU96]

I think a heathly skepticism is in order here.

He got bounced at Washington after two days. He got bounced at Texas.

For someone so obviously elite, why did he get portalled over and why couldn’t he get on the field?

I get this is going to have a pro Texas slant, but the first test is making it to the start of the season on the roster.

What WR Johntay Cook’s departure means for Texas

Culture means everything at a position easily filled through the NCAA transfer portal as high school wide receiver recruiting surges.

www.burntorangenation.com

And by the way high school recruiting reels don’t mean squat. Pena made more elite plays against Miami than this guy has made in two years.

Until he actually shows something he’s on the all potential team.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I think a heathly skepticism is in order here.

He got bounced at Washington after two days. He got bounced at Texas.

For someone so obviously elite, why did he get portalled over and why couldn’t he get on the field?

I get this is going to have a pro Texas slant, but the first test is making it to the start of the season on the roster.

What WR Johntay Cook’s departure means for Texas

Culture means everything at a position easily filled through the NCAA transfer portal as high school wide receiver recruiting surges.

www.burntorangenation.com

And by the way high school recruiting reels don’t mean squat. Pena made more elite plays against Miami than this guy has made in two years.

Until he actually shows something he’s on the all potential team.

I don’t recall Peña making many elite plays in his first two years either.

 

[crales44]

I don’t recall Peña making many elite plays in his first two years either.

Not to get too deep in these weeds, but Jackson Meeks didn't either before he transferred here. Same with Trishton Jackson. Amba Etta-Tawo was a little more productive but Maryland didn't weep when he left. Maybe a talented guy given opportunity in our system will put up numbers? There's only a long tradition of it.

 

[mustacheovich]

I think a heathly skepticism is in order here.

He got bounced at Washington after two days. He got bounced at Texas.

For someone so obviously elite, why did he get portalled over and why couldn’t he get on the field?

I get this is going to have a pro Texas slant, but the first test is making it to the start of the season on the roster.

What WR Johntay Cook’s departure means for Texas

Culture means everything at a position easily filled through the NCAA transfer portal as high school wide receiver recruiting surges.

www.burntorangenation.com

And by the way high school recruiting reels don’t mean squat. Pena made more elite plays against Miami than this guy has made in two years.

Until he actually shows something he’s on the all potential team.

I'm not gonna judge a guy too harshly for not getting on the field at Texas as an underclassman, we're talking about the school that's had Archie Manning riding the bench. This seems like a guy who needs a mental/attitude adjustment to start putting it together, hopefully he's been humbled a bit and is ready to prove people wrong.

 

[kcsu]

Based on 16 catches over two years

Of course not. Look at Meeks and what he accomplished. Pena is a great college player who will be a long stretch to make the league. This kid has God given gifts that can't be taught. The question is can the staff get him to play up to his potential. If so, we are in for a treat.

 

[cayugacuse]

I'm not gonna judge a guy too harshly for not getting on the field at Texas as an underclassman, we're talking about the school that's had Archie Manning riding the bench. This seems like a guy who needs a mental/attitude adjustment to start putting it together, hopefully he's been humbled a bit and is ready to prove people wrong.

Have to agree. Texas has been putting receivers in the league.

 

[TheCusian]

Forgiveness is not the same as forgetting. One can forgive a transgression, but not forget what occurred.

Of course. The record is the record. Wouldn’t need the 2nd chance if there wasn’t an original transgression.

I find it easy to allow for 2nd chances and almost root for a player more to overcome and excel.

 

[TheCusian]

He appeared in 7 games as a Freshman and 4 last years. He has 16 catches for under 300yds and two TDs in two yrs.

In other words he did next to nothing at Texas.

Gill had 2x receptions and yds and same Td’s as SU’s 5th receiver just last year. LQA had 4x the receptions, 2x the yds and tds last year.

He’d have to be unreal, like ACC offensive poy, 1st team all American great.

His talent makes this possible. Needs to get his head right.