3 reasons Johntay Cook will be the new WR 1 this season

The Texas football season is over a month away, and the Horns are embarking on their first inaugural season in the SEC. Several new and upcoming Horns players will have the chance to see game action this season.

A big sophomore campaign lies ahead in 2024 for Texas football WR Johntay Cook II

One that comes to mind is the Sophomore receiver Johntay Cook, who last year played behind Xavier Worthy (Chiefs), Adonai Mitchell (Colts), and Jordan Whittington (Rams), all three of whom were drafted in this year's draft.

Last year, the Horns got a sample size of Cook's abilities in the 14 games, and he had eight catches for 136 yards. One of those catches for 51 yards against Baylor showed his yards-after-catch (YAC) ability. With all three receivers in the NFL, the opportunity for Cook to make a name for himself is open.

Here are three reasons why Johntay Cook will be WR one this season.

1. Johntay Cook was a top-tier HS talent

Texas is known to have a team full of Blue Chip, four-star, and three-star talent out of high school. In last year's recruiting class, Cook was one of their top dawgs in their recruiting class behind QB Arch Manning, RB CJ Baxter, and LB Anthony Hill Jr.

Cook was a four-star receiver out of DeSoto HS (TX) and ranked the seventh-best receiver in the nation. At DeSoto, he was known for his great ball-tracking and home-run threat ability. In his senior year, he racked up 85 catches for 1530 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns (18.0 yards per catch). Helping the DeSoto Eagles to a 14-2 record and a 2022 6A-D2 Championship.

Although he has a lean frame his style of play and being a route-running technician he can be an outside and slot receiver. Furthermore, his skill set is what you look for in your wide receiver one needs to add mass and strength to his frame to battle against bigger corners.

2. Cook's experience in Texas's Offense

During the Horns' offseason, they added three transfer receivers from the transfer portal: Junior Isaiah Bond from Alabama, Matthew Golden (Houston), and Senior Silas Bolden (Oregon State). All three possess speed and playmaking ability, which Cook also possesses. He will compete with upperclassmen and incoming freshmen like Ryan Wingo for playing time.

Nevertheless, Cook has an advantage in his experience in Coach Kyle Flood's offense. As for the others, they are being implemented into the offense. If Cook can take advantage of that, expect more game rep opportunities.

3. Praises from Coach Sark

When you hear praise about a player from the head coach, you should take notes and pay attention. At SEC Media Day, Coach Sark was asked about what his plan is to do with a deep group of wide receivers and how he plans to expand his rotation.

Sark's response was he plans to "play more receivers" than he has in years past in a rotation. Also in that interview, Sark mentioned Cook as potentially part of that receiver rotation. However, this wasn't the first time he brought his name up; at the beginning of spring camp, Coach brought him up as a player who had taken advantage of opportunity when he got the ball in his hands and brought up his "positive energy".

Overall qualities you look for in a leader and potential starter. The sky is the limit for Cook, so long as he exerts the opportunity he gets. Without a doubt, we should hear his lot on Saturdays this season.

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