Multiple reports indicated early on Nov. 7 that Texas football sophomore wide receiver Johntay Cook II was no longer with the UT program. This news comes after Cook didn't play any snaps in Texas's last game in Week 9 against the Vanderbilt Commodores on the road.
Texas football WR Johntay Cook II leaves the program and is entering the transfer portal
Cook also had very limited snaps in Texas's two previous SEC games, taking just four offensive snaps total over the course of the games against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Oklahoma Sooners, and Vandy, despite other wideout injuries in the past few weeks.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian also released a statement on Nov. 7, confirming the news that was reported earlier in the morning on Thursday that Cook and the Longhorns had agreed to mutually part ways.
"We’ve had some roster movement today with Johntay Cook moving on. We have nothing but respect for he and his family. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."Steve Sarkisian on Johntay Cook
Cook registered eight catches for 137 receiving yards and two touchdowns over six games played this season. He hadn't registered a single reception since the SEC opener in late September against Mississippi State.
Along with the news that Cook is no longer with the program, the second-year wideout and former five-star recruit in the 247Sports Composite also plans to enter the transfer portal.
Here are three possible transfer destinations for Cook after agreeing to mutually part ways with the Texas program on Thursday.
Oregon
Last offseason, head coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks were one of the most well-equipped and aggressive programs with acquiring talent via the transfer portal on both sides of the ball. Oregon not only had the highest average transfer ranking in the 247Sports Composite last offseason, it also had the second-ranked portal class in the nation for the 2024 transfer cycle.
Oregon signed former Texas A&M Aggies sophomore wide receiver transfer Evan Stewart from the portal last offseason. Stewart and Cook are close, as they both played high school football in the DFW Metroplex.
Cook was heavily recruited by Oregon and co-offensive coordinator Junior Adams out of high school. He officially visited Oregon in the summer before his commitment to Texas during the 2022 offseason.
The fit, skill-set wise, between Cook and the Ducks offensively looks to be a natural one in that Oregon offensive scheme that emphasizes speed on the outside and likes to stretch the field with explosive plays.