Former five-star wide receiver Johntay Cook, previously with the Texas Longhorns, is reportedly making a comeback with the Oregon Ducks. Cook, who was highly regarded as a top recruit coming out of high school, has decided to transfer from Texas. This move signals a fresh start for Cook as he joins Oregon’s dynamic offense. The Ducks, known for their strong passing game, could provide Cook the opportunity to maximize his potential and contribute significantly as he reintegrates into the field. His decision to depart Texas may have stemmed from a desire for more playing time or a better fit within Oregon’s system.
Cook, a former five-star recruit who reportedly left Texas on “mutual” terms, is ranked third among the 2023 class’ wide receivers by 247Sports’ composite rankings. In his second season at Texas, he caught eight passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, although he hadn’t caught anything since the team’s game against Mississippi State on September 28.
Cook, who had previously recruited from Oregon, narrowed down his high school recruiting to three colleges, including the Ducks. He ultimately decided on Texas, and in his rookie season in Austin, he caught eight passes for 136 yards.
In an apparent attempt to persuade Cook to commit to the Ducks, Oregon running back commit Tradarian Ball posted on X/Twitter on Thursday.
With a post of his own on Wednesday, Cook himself fueled the rumors on social media. One day after Oregon posted a now-viral video of Dan Lanning and Oregon players mimicking Russell Crowe in “Gladiator” with thumbs-down celebrations during a victory against Michigan, he used the thumbs-down emojis in his X/Twitter post.
