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Former Texas wide receiver Johntay Cook has been arrested in Fort Worth on multiple charges, including theft. A former five-star recruit in the 2023 cycle, he still searches for a school where he can continue his college football career.
Cook signed with the Longhorns two seasons ago, appearing in 20 games. He hauled in 16 catches for 273 yards but hit the portal after seeing a dip in production as a sophomore. It’s unclear whether that decision was made by him or the UT coaching staff.
He was widely regarded as one of the top transfer options this offseason, and initially committed to play for Washington in 2025. That stay with the Huskies ended before it began.
The program opted to part ways shortly after his commitment was announced. Whispers of altercations and missed workouts quickly surfaced. The Huskies’ decision to cut ties came soon after a reported meeting between Cook and head coach Jedd Fisch.
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A month after that 48-hour stint on the Washington campus, he was arrested in Fort Worth. He was booked on charges of interfering with public duties and property theft. He was in custody at Lon Evans Corrections Center as of Tuesday morning with a bond amount yet to be posted.
The saga continues Johntay Cook’s roller coaster college football journey, which is now in doubt given the latest legal run-in. Before committing to play for Washington in January, he was rejected by Deion Sanders in his pleas to play for Colorado. That might’ve had something to do with his mom’s previous commentary on the program prior to his initial signing with Texas out of high school.
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Not only is his future on the field affected, but the arrest will likely impact his NIL opportunities moving forward. After his contentious exit from Texas, he’s swung and missed on transfer landing spots. Talent isn’t lacking, so it will be interesting to see if anyone takes a chance on the wideout for the ’25 campaign given his off-field struggles.