SPRINGDALE - Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said two weeks ago he likes to verbalize goals.
If Brey Cook is any indication, Petrino’s philosophy in doing so is rubbing off quickly on his signees. Cook, an all-American offensive tackle from Springdale Har-Ber, is already enrolled at the University of Arkansas and will go through spring workouts with the Razorbacks beginning next month.
“I came in here early to get on the playing field,” Cook said Tuesday. “If I continue to work hard and get those plays down, I think I’ll have a chance.”
Cook spoke following a signing ceremony at his high school Tuesday. Though Cook and four other athletes from Northwest Arkansas signed letters of intent with the Razorbacks last week, they all had their signing ceremonies pushed back to Tuesday because of inclement weather.
Cook is the only of the five to come back to his high school, however. The 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive tackle said he has adjusted well to college life.
“My roommate is (redshirt offensive lineman) Luke Charpentier and he’s kind of showing me the ropes,” Cook said. “I’ve met a lot of friends there and going to classes. Workouts are also going very well. I’m sore, but it’s worth it and I can’t wait to see what the outcome is this fall.”
Cook, a Parade all-American and five-star tackle prospect by Scout.com, is expected to compete early for playing time at Arkansas in 2011. The Razorbacks are losing a pair of fifth-year senior starters in DeMarcus Love and Ray Dominguez at the tackle positions, and have little experience behind them.
“The biggest thing I’ve been focusing on besides working out and getting bigger is just getting the mindset down and getting all the plays, knowing the offense and all the calls,” Cook said. “I’m trying to get ready so when I get on the field I’ll know what to do.
“Coming in early helps me, but then with those tackles being gone I’ve got a shot to get on the field. If I don’t start, I’ll at least compete with those other guys.”
Petrino said last week that Cook had a real shot at pushing for playing time right away.
“Brey has an advantage because he’s here already,” Petrino said. “He’s in the weight room. He’s with our players every day.
“He’s big. He’s physical. What we like so much about him is how he can bend and his footwork. We anticipate Brey coming in and helping us immediately.”
Cook and receiver Quinta Funderburk are the only two of Arkansas’ 25 high signees to forgo their final semester of high school and enroll early at the university. Cook said the decision to do so wasn’t too difficult.
“I’m sure it would ahve been a lot different if I would have gone somewhere different to a school farther away,” said Cook, who had more than 25 scholarhsip offers. “But being right here as close as Fayetteville is to Springdale, I’m able to come back for things like this, to have a signing day and hang out with friends. It’s really not that hard.
“I’ve loved it.”
VIDEO: BREY COOK – SIGNING CEREMONY
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Forgive me for my ignorance, but what is BP referring to when he says, “He can bend”?
The obvious answer is that Brey Cook has elastic appendages like Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four.
Well how dumb could I have been…I won’t be able to show my face for days…good thing no one really knows who I am except I am one of the three hog fans living in SC…
I’m in SC too.
I guess that would be Brey’s younger brother in the background?
He seems like he’ll be a mammoth someday too..
In case a note of reality is in the works here… Being able to bend means he keeps his pads at a good level and uses leverage with his legs through bending his knees, rather than his waist, to keep in a good athletic position to be able to move and adjust to blocking the d-tackle or whomever. Basically, he looks natural/comfortable in his blocking, rather than like he’s reaching for the guy.
Petrino means that he can bend to the outside to pick up the pass rush from ends and LB’s, or bend to the inside to pick off a blitzing LB or help take out the NG. Being able to do that and do it quickly and powerfully is impressive, and almost required by LT’s that protect the QB’s blind side.
I think it means he can bend space and time, thus opening up sizable running lanes and not allowing sacks.
Bend also could refer to bending such things as the truth, or steel… or anything else you can think of.
He can actually infiltrate the Matrix and bends those spoons with his mind.
You guys are cracking me up.
I wonder if he can bend it like Beckham.
Good to have this kid in the mix. He does look bigger, already. Go Hogs!
This is mind bending…
A player that can “bend” is one that is flexible especially in his hips and knees. This allows the offensive man to get under the defensive man’s pads and to also “load” his lower body with explosive power and then drive his man backward or to keep his balance in pass blocking.
By bend, coach means Brey can bend a football like Beckham. Also, Matt, regarding the title of the article. Don’t you think all the other players coming in in this class would love to have a starting job too? That they have a starting mentality?
I WISH I COULD HAVE BEND THERE WHEN HE SIGNED ON.. GUNNY/HOGSCA
He may well be on his way to a nickname already “THE BIG BEND”.
He can bend well enough to do the Raji? He better be able to bend considering he’s 6’7” or else he’ll get flat run over.
Bendable Brey is going to be an impact player right away, but lets not forget about the other studs we have that he will be trying to beat out for the position. Cam Feldt was a stud recruit last year and unless something has happened with him, I expect to compete for the job. We also have Luke Charpentier and Denton Simek from last years class that have had a year in the weight and film rooms. Alvin Bailey (SO), Grant Cook (SR), Tyler Deacon (JR), Grant Freeman (SR), Anthony Oden (SO)?, Blake Gunderson (JR) David Hurd (JR), Colby Berna (SO), Seth Oxner (SR), Travis Swanson (SO)….nice list of potential starters IMO.
its good the Hogs have people like Bray Cook,and some of the other new offensive lineman,but dont forget about a few Redshirt O Linemen from last year,Hogs dont have to rebuild,just reload.