The Right To Brey

Springdale Har-Ber offensive lineman and prime University of Arkansas target Brey Cook (6-7, 310), the state's top high school prospect and a top 50 player nationally, plans to have his college decision made sometime in June. This story is free courtesy Fayetteville Autopark. Click the banner to learn more.

This time last year Springdale Har-Ber offensive lineman Brey Cook wasn’t that well known and really just someone who was in the process of gaining confidence on and off the field.

But when Cook (6-7, 310) stepped before a crowd of media after his team’s spring scrimmage Thursday night, he did so as a confident young man now regarded as one of the best offensive linemen in the country.

He’s got a state title under his belt, a quest to repeat, some 20-plus scholarship offers and a college decision that should be announced soon.

“The original plan was to get it (a decision) right as spring ball ended, which would be right about now,” Cook said. “But I am going to put it off just a couple of more weeks and sometime in June hopefully it really done and just make a decision sometime next month.”

His final list includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama and Auburn.

“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Cook said. “I am still trying to visit all my schools again and really just evaluate everything I can and really just sit down and see what happens.”

Cook has never tried to hide the fact that he is a huge Razorback fan.

“Arkansas is the home team,” Cook said. “I’ve grown up here. I have grown up in Springdale, Arkansas my whole life and I have been to every game. I have been a huge Razorback fan growing up. I think that is one of the biggest reason that they are on the top of my list.”

He has developed a relationship with new UA offensive line coach Chris Klenakis.

“Coach K is great,” Cook said. “I met him a couple of times, talked to him on the phone and hung out with him at a couple of basketball games. He seems like a great coach and I definitely have seen him work and he knows what he is doing.”

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino has the program headed in the right direction per Cook.

“Coach Petrino has done a great job so far and I am sure he is going to do better this year and I am pumped to see how they do this year,” Cook said. “It would be awesome to kind of step in and help them the next couple of years and win another national championship.”

Oklahoma gave Cook his first offer last summer while he was at the Sooners’ camp.

“Oklahoma is that perfect location in that they are about three hours out, but they are still close to home,” Cook said. “Of course, they are just a great program and it’s been great, well, forever they have been good. Just seems like a great place for me.”

He has also taken unofficial visits to a pair of Alabama schools.

“Auburn and Alabama have kind of stuck out a little and they have some great points over there, too,” Cook said.

Cook might pop up at camps in Fayetteville and Norman, but will be hanging out.

“If I do go to any camps it would be just to Arkansas and hang out with them a little bit or Oklahoma or somewhere close,” Cook said. “But I don’t think I will be participating in any of the camps.”

Cook admits the recruiting process has been both fun and stressful.

“It’s definitely been awesome,” Cook said. “It’s been a lot of fun and it is really a humbling experience. From my first Tulsa camp…last year till now. Obviously there are hard times, all the trips you’ve got to make. It kind of gets stressful at times with family issues, but I am just trying to find the best place that fits me. I say overall it has been a great experience.”

He will be a mid-term graduate and thus able to go through spring practice at the college of his choice.

“I do plan on doing that,” Cook said. “That will give me a chance to go through spring ball with them and get the plays down and get adjusted to college life. Just kind of get ready for that fall or that spring.”

Har-Ber head coach Chris Wood has been impressed with how Cook has handled the attention.

“He has got such a level head,” Wood said. “He’s a humble kid and that comes from his mom (Melissa) and how she’s raised him and what she’s done with him. He takes it day-to-day. He’s enjoying it.

“But he also – and this is the kind of guy Brey is – he also understands that attention is going to draw coaches through here and its going to give other kids a look that they wouldn’t have had.”





Brey Cook





Brey Cook