Cornerback Anthony Cook is one of the nation's top overall prospects, and as such, he has some of college football's heavy hitters chasing his commitment.
Cook, out of Houston Lamar, is in no hurry to rush through the recruiting process, and recently took an unofficial visit to Clemson. He'll be in Austin to check out Texas for the Longhorns' spring game on April 15 and is also planning to visit LSU and Ohio State soon, possibly in the next month.
The Clemson visit made a strong impression on the 6-1, 170-pounder.
"I loved it there. It was family-like," Cook said. "I have a good relationship with the DB coach, Mike Reed. I talked to Dabo Swinney, so I like Clemson.
"That was my second time going out there to Clemson. There’s just something about Clemson, you have to love it."
Cook has visited Texas several times over the last couple years, most recently for the Longhorns' junior day in late February. He'll be back on campus in a few weeks, and said he likes what he's seen and heard from the new UT coaching staff.
"Every time I’ve gone to Texas, I’ve liked Texas," Cook said. "But I especially like the new coaching staff, coach (Tom) Herman and the new DB coach, coach (Jason) Washington."
Cook doesn't have a formal list of favorites, but said the Longhorns are definitely in contention for his commitment. If he was to go to UT, Cook said he feels he and the rest of this year's recruiting class could help turn the Texas program around.
"Texas is definitely in the mix, only because I feel like if I was to go to Texas, I feel like my class would be the turning point in Texas," he said. "They have a lot of other dudes, but I feel like the 2018 class would really make a difference."
The Texas coaches have stressed to Cook and other top prospects in the Lone Star State that they could be the group leading the Longhorns back to national prominence. The UT staff promotes #RevolUTion18 on Twitter and the coaches have talked to Cook about the possibility of committing early and getting the ball rolling.
"They’re always saying, 'If you commit, other guys will follow,' things like that," Cook said.
And does the thought of jumping on board ever cross the five-star prospect's mind?
"I think about it, but I feel like I have to take my time. I can’t just rush and commit to a school," Cook said.
Ranked as the No. 2 cornerback in the country, Cook checks in at No. 20 overall on the Rivals100. He could pick up the phone and commit to just about any school in the country, but said he plans to take the recruiting process at a slow pace.
"Just take my time, be patient with the process," Cook said. "I have an older cousin (Eric Cuffee) who went through it, he says ‘Just take your time, it’s your process. If you rush it, you might wind up at a school where you don’t belong.’”
All that being said, Cuffee tells Cook he sure would like to see him in Austin, where the two could play in the Longhorns' defensive backfield together.
"He’s trying to get me to go there. He’s talking about me and him on the other side, that would be sweet," Cook said.
