One HBCU product was left out of last week’s report of four going in the 2022 NFL Draft. That would be Cincinnati safety Bryan Cook who was taken in second round, 62nd overall, by the Kansas City Chiefs. Fayetteville State defensive back Joshua Williams was also taken by the Chiefs in the fourth round, 135th overall.
“He can line up in the box or play deep,” said Chiefs director of football operations Mike Borgonzi of the hard hitting Cook. “He’s a physical, smart player.”
“The energy and style of play definitely won’t change,”
Cook said. “It took me this far, so why change it up?”
A Cincinnati native, Cook got his only college scholarship offer out of high school from Howard and spent his first two years in college ball playing outstanding football for the Bison. He was listed as a 6-1, 194-pound defensive back. In 2018, he finished third on the team with 54 total tackles and one interception with seven break-ups, eight passes defended, a forced fumble and recovery. In 2017, his freshman year, he had 36 tackles and four interceptions among nine passes defended.
After transferring to Cincinnati, Cook blossomed into a first team all-American Athletic Conference (AAC) star in three seasons. At 6-1, 210 pounds, he had 96 tackles (57 solos, 39 assists) this past season, with five tackles for losses, one sack and two interceptions from his safety position. Cook had an interception against No. 1 Alabama and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl Classic. Cook teamed with early first round pick Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner in the Bearcats’ secondary. Gardner went fourth overall in the draft to the New York Jets.
