Wide receiver Johntay Cook was a blue chip, two-sport athlete coming out of high school and was a highly recruited player for his talents on the football field as well as on the track. However, after limited production through the first eight games of his sophomore season, Cook is no longer with the Texas Longhorns football program.
Cook played in seven games throughout his true- freshman season, including the Big 12 Championship game. In 2024, Cook had a few impressive catches through the first four games of the season but hasn't had a catch since the Horns hosted Mississippi State.
Through eight games, Cook has only produced eight receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns, a far cry from the elite receivers that fill out the rest of Texas' roster.
As Cook's targets have dwindled, fellow receivers Isaiah Bond, Ryan Wingo, Silas Bolden, Matthew Golden, and DeAndre Moore have seen an increase in reps.
Inside Texas initially reported Cook's departure from the program and didn't fill in many of the missing details other than to say that this separation was, apparently, a long time coming.
BREAKING: Texas WR Johntay Cook is no longer with the program, per @InsideTexas https://t.co/nt0oPx1h1H pic.twitter.com/aq6fJPeIw4
— On3 (@On3sports) November 7, 2024
Cook was initially part of Texas' 2023 recruiting class that eventually became the No. 3 class in the nation –– in large part due to Cook's presence as well as quarterback Arch Manning.
Over his, currently brief, collegiate career, Cook has had 16 receptions for 273 yards (just under 17.1 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has yet to release a statement or make a comment on the matter.
The No. 5 Texas Longhorns host the unranked Florida Gators on Saturday, Nov. 9 and, obviously, Cook will not be present on the field or the sidelines. The usual suspects –– Golden, Bond, Wingo, etc. –– will lead the Horns' offensive charge through the air.