Lately, Syracuse football had a lot of buzz for Washington transfer wide receiver Johntay Cook II, who recently visited the Orange program.
Those predictions in the direction of the 'Cuse from national analysts proved correct.
According to media reports and recruiting services, the 6-foot, the 185-pound Cook has committed to and signed with Syracuse football, a stellar pick-up for head coach Fran Brown and his top-flight staff.
Former Texas and Washington WR Johntay Cook has officially signed with Syracuse, @On3sports has learned. https://t.co/jWRtAO9YzK
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) May 2, 2025
Besides the Orange, per some reports, it looks like Cook may have also visited Arizona State and Arkansas amid the spring transfer portal window that closed on April 25. In recent weeks, the 'Cuse staff reportedly hosted several other transfer wide receivers on visits to the Hill, with Cook ultimately committing to the team.
Syracuse football has a solid wide receivers room for the 2025 season.
Cook, who should have two years of collegiate eligibility remaining, played for two seasons at Southeastern Conference member Texas. In late December of last year, he transferred to Big Ten Conference school Washington but, according to reports, was only with the Huskies program for a couple of weeks and then re-entered the portal during the spring transfer portal window.
His production in college hasn't proven all that sizable, however, he clearly has talent and potential. While Cook is a three-star transfer prospect, as a prep recruit, he was highly ranked and highly sought-after.
For example, as a standout at DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas, Cook in the 2023 class was five stars, No. 31 nationally, No. 4 at wide receiver and No. 6 in Texas, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.
In the winter transfer portal window that transpired last December, the Orange also secured a commitment from South Carolina wide receiver Tyshawn Russell, a three-star transfer prospect. In the 2024 campaign, as a sophomore, he took a redshirt.
Not too long ago, four-star Trebor Pena, an All-ACC performer a stanza ago, transferred from Syracuse football to Penn State out of the Big Ten. Losing Pena stung, however, Russell and now Cook will help fill that void, along with other talented wide receivers on the 'Cuse 2025 roster.
Other Syracuse football receivers to keep an eye on include rising junior Darrell Gill Jr., rising senior Justus Ross-Simmons, rising redshirt freshman Emanuel Ross, rising redshirt freshman Jaylan Hornsby, true freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. and true freshman Darius Johnson.