How an Ohio State offensive lineman wanted to prove he deserved his Buckeyes offer

Cook, the general prospect no. 450 in 247Sports’ composite rankings of the class of 2025, which committed to Ohio State this summer. And throughout his senior season, he wanted to prove he belonged with the Buckeyes, even if it meant playing at less than 100% for almost the entirety of his senior season of high school football.

“This year, to best describe it, it’s kind of a mental challenge,” Cook said. “Week two, suffered a serious ankle injury and played on that for the rest of the season. It was a great year. It showed me what I’m capable of, what I can play through, and just with this team, with this coaching staff, the things we’ve done together with these guys, I wouldn’t want anything else.”

Cook originally committed to Louisville in February, but continued to attend recruiting camps in hopes of improving, and earning more offers – most notably one from Ohio State.

After a strong performance at a recruiting camp in Columbus in June, he received an offer from offensive line coach Justin Frye. A few days later he publicly left Louisville, and a few days after that he committed to Ohio State.

This year, he says, was about proving he belonged and dealing with the pressure that comes with his commitment to Ohio State.

“Oh, it’s extremely nice to be in that situation,” Cook said. “I mean, but if there’s one thing that comes with that, it’s that there’s a lot of pressure. Pressure is a privilege. Coach Day always says that. So that’s kind of how I took it. Every Friday night, everyone knows the guy who’s going to Ohio State.

Cook, who will play center for Ohio State, has moved up the offensive line this season to get himself reps at the interior positions, but also to support his offense in whatever games they need him.

His coach, Stanley Jackson, also played at Ohio State and knows exactly what Cook will be going through in a few months. But also what he fought through in his senior season.

“Elite toughness,” Jackson told Cleveland.com about his standout offensive lineman. “High ankle sprains are difficult to deal with. Most boys spend six weeks with this. We forced him not to play (Week 10)… But he showed elite toughness in his leadership. Jake did everything we asked him to do. When we came in, he was a little overweight, he wasn’t moving well, and he just did everything we asked him to do and that’s why he’s in the position he’s in now. So I’m very impressed with him for his work ethic and his commitment to this.”

Jackson noted Cook’s mental growth in his senior season, not only in the film room — where he says they approach it like it’s a college program — but also in the way he approached a leadership role. And given Jackson’s experiences, it was helpful for Cook to hear firsthand what he’ll experience in Columbus.

“I know what he’s getting into,” Jackson said. “So I was able to say, ‘Hey Jake, you need to understand that you’re going to another world. Everything you’ve been through is about to be nothing, so you have to be ready for that.” Because what often happens is that kids are really good in high school, and you get there and everyone is as good as you or better, and you can get discouraged. So I said, ‘Don’t be discouraged if you have early season or early career setbacks because that’s the point. Because those guys who have been in that program are all three, four and five stars, just like you.” And so just prepare him immensely for what that stage is going to be like.

Cook has done as much of that prep work as he can, getting texts from Frye all season about the technique to prepare him for the jump to Big Ten football. He will be enrolling early in January, which means his high school life is running out.

“I mean you get all this stuff about him and recruiting, I mean that’s whatever, what he does with that O-line on the field, how they approach it and just do everything – that’s what really matters does me,” said Kok. “I know there is development and if I get in, I can learn from the guys (who are already there).”

Cook is doing his part by recruiting some offensive linemen in the class of 2025, including Micah DeBose and Damola Ajidahun. Both prospects are currently committed elsewhere. But like Cook’s situation, he’s doing what he can to bolster the Buckeyes’ class if that means adding something from other programs.

In the meantime, Cook is getting advice from his coaching staff on what it’s like to be a Buckeye, even if some of the advice is unorthodox.

Jackson said that before he went to Ohio State, he was told by his coach (who also played at Ohio State) that he had to use the restroom before running through the tunnel because there would be no second chance to do so . .

“So I say to Jake, ‘So before you run out of the tunnel for the first time, make sure you go to the bathroom so you don’t pee yourself,’” Jackson said with a laugh. “Because the energy you get from the tunnel is unparalleled. It cannot be replaced or replicated. Ohio State is a special place and I just want him to enjoy every moment of it. At the end of the day I told him, “Jake, just make sure you go somewhere where you’ll enjoy it.” Because it often becomes a business. Coaches get paid a lot of money, there’s a lot of pressure around it, and it’s easy not to enjoy those moments and what you do is special. So enjoy every moment because it is second to none.”