Wide receiver Johntay Cook was one of the most highly sought-after recruits in Texas’ 2023 class. Landing the 5-star prospect was considered a significant win for Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian.
However, in November, Cook left the Texas program after his playing time diminished and entered the transfer portal. Weeks later, the DeSoto native committed to the Washington Huskies.
Shortly after transferring, Cook made headlines by criticizing his former Texas teammate Quinn Ewers. When reports emerged that Ewers had received a nearly $6 million offer to transfer to another school, Cook responded on social media, saying, “Wasting y’all money fr [for real].”
Cook’s stint with the Huskies didn’t last long, though. According to Scott Eklund of Dawgman247, Cook was dismissed from the program. Regarded as the top piece of Washington’s transfer class, Cook was expected to contend for a starting role. He was also the only wide receiver the Huskies signed from the portal.
During his two seasons at Texas, Cook played in 19 games and built a reputation as a dynamic playmaker. In 2024, he opened the season with three catches for 56 yards against Colorado State and followed that with standout performances, including a two-touchdown game against UTSA. However, a costly drop on a deep pass from Arch Manning against Mississippi State appeared to impact his playing time significantly.
After Cook left Texas, Sarkisian commented, “Some of that is natural. We really try to pride ourselves on being a heck of a developmental program. I think that we have some examples on our roster today of guys that maybe weren’t front-line starters in year one or year two and then developed into really productive players. So I try not to fall prey to that (mindset), that that’s just what is going to happen. But I understand it when it does happen if that makes sense.”
Leave a Reply