The Texas Longhorns are in a strong position as they prepare for a quarterfinal showdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils next week in the College Football Playoff.
While things are going well on the field, off the field, the Longhorns lost a key player to the transfer portal earlier this year. Former 5-star wide receiver Johntay Cook made the decision mid-season to leave Texas and pursue a new opportunity with another team.
Cook, who was ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver and No. 31 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, has yet to officially announce his new destination, but many analysts are predicting that he will transfer to the Florida Gators.
Following those predictions, fans on social media began questioning how a move to Florida might benefit Cook more than staying at Texas, given that both programs have deep and competitive wide receiver rooms.
In response, Cook took aim at Steve Sarkisian and the Texas coaching staff, suggesting that issues with his playing time had less to do with his abilities and more to do with other factors.
During his two years at Texas, Cook appeared in 20 games, recording 16 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns. After starting a few games in the 2024 season, he was removed from the rotation and eventually decided to transfer.
It now seems likely that he will join the Gators and play for head coach Billy Napier in Florida. If Cook does make the move, it remains to be seen whether he can secure a larger role in the Gators’ offense.
