Johntay Cook details commitment to Texas: 'It's always been Texas'

DeSoto (Texas) four-star wide receiver Johntay Cook announced his commitment to Texas on Wednesday afternoon, as the Longhorns land their tenth commitment in the last week.

For Cook, it was a long time coming, but it was a decision that he knew would be made eventually because of his relationships with Steve Sarkisian and receivers coach Brennan Marion.

"It's Texas because it's Texas," Cook said. "Coach Sarkisian, the offense he calls, it's unbelievable how he gets guys open. Coach Marion, my dawg, seeing what he did at Pitt last year with Jordan Addison just explains itself. Of course, Arch Manning is just the cherry on top."

Marion came in midway through his recruitment after being hired in January and immediately built that bond with Cook that has made the two friends.

"I just started building the relationship with Marion about five months ago and it's been great," he said. "He's relatable, chill and he if he wasn't my coach I'd still be friends with him. That's a great relationship we've built and he's got accolades, it's proven."

Sarkisian's message to Cook goes back to a Junior Day that Texas held in June 2021 where Cook showed out in front of a loaded pack of recruits.

"His message was different than anyone else," he said. "It was that he needs me and he knows that without a shadow of a doubt that I can win a Biletnikoff and win a Heisman if I can put up enough stats. I was 15 and he told me that I can be a program changer and that was the camp day that Arch threw me that 80-yard bomb. Coach Sark just knew from that day that us two could turn things around."

The camp also featured the likes of Arch Manning, Anthony Hill, Derek Williams, Malik Muhammad and more, as that day set the foundation for what Cook envisions the 2023 class to look like for Texas.

"That day was great," he said. "It wasn't a camp, it was dogs against dogs. We were just out there competing. I feel like that's where everyone really earned their respect amongst each other. That's what set the foundation for how we'll all look when we get on the same team. I'd say over 70-percent of the kids at that camp will go to Texas."

Cook has built a long-standing friendship with Arch Manning going back to that day last June as he looks forward to hauling in passes from him in Austin for the next 3-4 years.

"Arch is cold, bro," Cook said. "Everyone that tries to say Arch isn't cold doesn't know football. And he's a Manning. I don't care what people say, it's in his blood. That's gonna be my quarterback, it doesn't get better than that."

As for who's next, Cook has his eyes set on two targets in the 2023 class.

"Malik Muhammad will be a Longhorn," Cook said. "Anthony Hill is on my list for sure, but Malik Muhammad will be a Longhorn."

Cook's commitment to Texas fulfilled a prophecy that he had as a young kid loving Texas, and now he will be tasked with helping to bring the program back to its glory days.

"I'm a Texas kid, I love my state," he said. "It's always been Texas. I've been loving Texas since I was a little boy. My people have pictures of me throwing up the Hook'Em, it was just meant to be. We're bringing Texas football back, baby."

At 6-foot-0, 170 pounds, Cook is the No. 52 ranked recruit in the country for the class of 2023, according to Rivals. He is the No. 7 ranked wide receiver in the country and the No. 9 recruit from the state of Texas.