Syracuse leading receiver Johntay Cook II to enter transfer portal
Syracuse receiver Johntay Cook II recorded 45 catches for 549 yards and two touchdowns in his lone season with the Orange. Joe Zhao | Daily Orange File Photo
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Syracuse wide receiver Johntay Cook II will enter the transfer portal, ON3’s Pete Nakos reported Thursday. Cook is SU’s most high-profile player to leave the program this offseason, joining starting running back Yasin Willis and starting wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr. Cook recorded 45 catches for 549 yards and two touchdowns in his lone season with the Orange.
Cook’s future with Syracuse was always in doubt this offseason after he never indicated whether he’d stay with the program. If he decided to return, he would’ve been a key piece for the Orange, especially once quarterback Steve Angeli returned from his torn Achilles. Instead, Fran Brown must completely revamp his receiver room after losing Cook and Gill, as well as Jaylan Hornsby and Emanuel Ross.
Syracuse made a big splash in May when Cook transferred to the Orange. A former four-star recruit out of DeSoto, Texas, the wide receiver spent two seasons with Texas. After just 16 receptions with the Longhorns, he transferred to Washington, but off-the-field issues prevented Cook from ever taking a snap with the Huskies. That’s how he ended up at Syracuse, where he hoped to develop into an NFL receiver.
Through four games with SU, Cook looked to be heading on that trajectory. He developed a great rapport with Angeli, registering 18 catches for 234 yards before the quarterback went down. Like the rest of the Orange’s offense, Cook’s production waned as the season went on.
Cook will be a hot commodity in the portal, with plenty of big-time programs likely vying for his services. As for Syracuse, its receiver room is bare. Based on the Orange’s losses so far, they’ll have to retool the unit through the portal. It’s also possible Brown will rely on youth next season.
Five-star freshman Calvin Russell might have to make an immediate impact, along with four-star pass catcher Amare Gough. As of now, Brown has a lot of work to do in the portal to give Angeli as much help as possible heading into 2026.
