Texas Football: 3 upperclassmen with a lot to prove in fall camp

Anthony Cook, DB

Another upperclassmen for the Longhorns with a good bit of switchability, but that has yet to prove himself on a consistent basis, is the senior defensive back and former touted four-star recruit Anthony Cook. If this year’s fall camp actually sees a new level of stability in Cook’s game, then a starting role could be in his future before his time on the Forty Acres is over.

There are a lot of holes in the production that Cook gave the Longhorns in the past three years. It’s not like there’s no reason why he was never able to establish himself as a starter in the last three years under Sark’s coaching regime, or former head coach Tom Herman. Cook is very inconsistent, and it’s time to work out those kinks this late in his career.

In roughly two dozen games played over the course of the past three seasons, Cook registered 60 combined tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, no interceptions, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble. The lack of ability to create turnovers, poor closing speed at times to the ball carrier, and the lack of proficiency in pass coverage, are all factors that cost Cook snaps in the last three years.

If Cook wants to get in-game action this fall at either one of the safeties spots, or at nickelback, then he’ll have to prove that he’s worth getting snaps over the likes of Jerrin Thompson, B.J. Foster, Chris Adimora, etc. in fall camp. That won’t be an easy feat, but it’s one that Texas fans have waited for a long time out of Cook.