Every step on Brady Cook’s path has led him to be Mizzou Tigers’ starting quarterback
From the moment he walked off the field in last year’s bowl game, Brady Cook was determined to take the field as Missouri’s starting quarterback this season.
This was far from a given. The starting assignment in the loss to Army was the first of his college career. Then he confronted a series of obstacles.
Cook would have to win the position over last season’s other reserve Tyler Macon.
Eli Drinkwitz brought in three quarterbacks in the transfer portal for visits. Finally, he landed Jack Abraham from Mississippi State with 27 major college appearances on his resume.
A fourth candidate, baseball prospect Sam Horn, chose college football.
The contenders each had strengths and the competition was tight. But on August 9, perhaps a little earlier than expected, Drinkwitz named Cook to start the season opener. Mizzou takes on Louisiana Tech on Thursday at Faurot Field. Kickoff is 7 p.m. (ESPNU).
In today’s college game, not being named a starter often starts the transfer chatter. For Cook, who has competed for the job since enrolling at Missouri three years ago, it never reached the serious conversation stage..
“I spent my whole football career up to this point working to get here,” Cook said. “I just wasn’t ready to throw in the towel and give up this opportunity. I knew it would be hard, and it didn’t always go my way, but I (have) known for a long time I wanted to be the starting quarterback at Mizzou.”
Cook’s clock has been ticking since his youth. Growing up in St. Louis, Cook and his family attended Tigers games. After a superb sophomore season at Chaminade High, Cook became the first player on Mizzou’s list of 2020 commitments.
Barry Odom was the coach, but Cook wasn’t interested in leaving when Drinkwitz took over after the 2019 season. The Tigers switched quarterbacks early in 2020, with Connor Bazelak replacing Shawn Robinson. Bazelak finished the season and appeared to have stranglehold on the job for the next two seasons.
But his uneven play in 2021 left doubt about the future of the position. Cook appeared in four regular-season games, getting extensive time against Georgia because of an injury to Bazelak. Macon started that game but neither looked overmatched against the team that went on to win the national championship.
Cook got snaps in two more regular season games and was announced as the starter a day before the Armed Forces Bowl.
He was ready for the task. His first college start produced these numbers: 27 of 34 passing for 238 yards and a touchdown, along with 53 yards on nine carries and a score. Missouri fell 24-22, Bazelak entered the transfer portal the next day.
Determination had paid off for Cook then, and he never backed off..
“It’s been my main focus, and something I’ve worked my butt off since that bowl game,” Cook said. “It’s been an incredible journey.”
Teammates have noticed the growth and see a player who is ready to take control of the offense.
“He’s gotten more serious about his game,” sophomore wide receiver Mookie Cooper said. “I can tell he’s dialed in and ready to lead this team.”
The passing game should benefit from a receiving group that’s is deep, experienced and talented. Five wide receivers who caught at least 18 passes, led by Tauskie Dove, are back. Added to the mix is freshman Luther Burden, one of the nation’s top prospects entering this season.
They’re also invested in Cook’s success. What can the group do to help Cook make a good opening game impression?
“I think the first thing is to make the plays that we’re supposed to make, sixth-year senior Barrett Banister said. “You don’t want him out there throwing good passes and (us) dropping them...It would also be good for us to go up and make some 50/50 ball catches, give him some confidence that we’re able to make plays in coverage.”
And win the game. The Tigers are a big favorite, but there’s always a measure of uncertainty when a new starting quarterback takes the field. Cook and the Tigers aren’t talking about style points.
“I don’t have any person goals, stats, accolades or anything like,” Cook said. “We just need to come off the field and there needs to be a W on the scoreboard. That’s what success looks like.”
This story was originally published August 30, 2022 at 5:38 PM.