Texas Football: 3 players who must help replace S Caden Sterns

2) Texas football DB’s who can replace Sterns

This might finally be the time where we see the former highly coveted four-star recruit and junior SPUR/cornerback Anthony Cook step to the forefront and reach the ceiling most Longhorns fans know he has. Cook received limited playing time in each of his three years on the Forty Acres to date. But in the snaps he did get, he has been anything but consistent.

So far this season, Cook registered 15 combined tackles (seven solo and eight assisted), 1.5 tackles for loss, no pass breakups, and no interceptions, in seven games played. Most of the snaps that Cook found himself on the field for this season came in the wins over the Oklahoma State Cowboys and West Virginia Mountaineers, both within the last 40 days.

He did provide mixed results in multiple phases of his game so far this season. Cook only has two missed tackles on the season, but allowed a completion percentage of 80 when he was targeted in pass coverage so far. He was better than that in the last two years in pass coverage, so maybe a readjusted role in the secondary could do him well.

For his career on the Forty Acres to date, Cook has registered 57 combined tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble. A lot of the impact Cook made for the Longhorns defense of late came up closer to the line of scrimmage, or with his sure tackling ability. Improve in pass coverage, and he could be a huge piece of this Texas secondary down the stretch.