Brady Cook has been a staple of the Missouri Tigers offense over the last three seasons. Through the ups and downs, Cook has been a normally consistent force and has displayed incredible toughness and leadership in that time period.
That toughness showed up on multiple occasions throughout his years with the Tigers,
“One of the things I’ve lived by playing college football is you gotta be tough,” Cook said. “You gotta be gritty. That’s just part of how I’ve played. It’s become who I am. And, every single week, I told myself I was gonna give it every single thing I have to walk off that field with a dub. And I think that’s what it comes down to.”
That toughness personified him, but there were some inconsistencies on the field that ended up defining his final year with the Tigers. He remained a leader, consistent and tough and those things never changed, but his on-field performance did, for some reason, take a small hit.
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Finding a reason for that is pretty hard. Maybe it was injuries or maybe something changed in his mechanics, but there was something different about Cook during his final year. One could say he regressed in those areas, but one thing did evolve in his multi-year starting stint in the SEC.
“I’m proud of how my leadership’s evolved,” Cook said. I think the thing that’s really stuck out to me as I grew as a leader was just knowing your guys inside and out, knowing your teammates on and off the field, making sure they respect and trust you.”
Cook had one goal in mind when he arrived in Columbia, to change the program for the better. The wins were just a bonus that came along with it and improving the culture was at the top of his priority list.
“It’s crazy to think where we started when I came in 2020 and where the program is now, where we left it,” Cook said. “And that was one of my goals, I wanted to leave Mizzou better than I found it.”
Cook had an interesting final college season, to say the least. The Saint Louis native faced his fair share of struggles, from staying healthy to accuracy issues. It wasn’t his best season in a Tiger uniform by any means, but he did deliver some remarkable moments.
No series of throws was as impressive as his fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers. After being knocked out early with an ankle injury, Cook returned late in the third quarter to mount a comeback over Auburn, doing so on a bum ankle in heroic fashion.
He did just about everything he could against the South Carolina Gamecocks, connecting with his star wide receiver Luther Burden III in the waning moments of the game to take the lead. It wasn’t enough and the Gamecocks would score shortly after, but he almost pulled off another monumental win in Columbia, South Carolina.
Nov 16, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) and teammates celebrate after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images / Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Statistically, Cook did have a down year. He threw for 2,535 passing yards and 11 touchdowns on 201 completions, tagging along only two interceptions. His 62.6 percent completion percentage was the lowest of his five-year career with the Tigers as well.
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The year before that was his best, recording 3,317 yards and 21 touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions. His deep-ball accuracy was the best it had ever been and his connection with all of the Missouri receivers was spot on. In general, Cook’s decision-making and accuracy never looked better, which is the reason for so many questions about what happened during his final season.
Cook’s ability to create and extend plays on his legs can’t be overstated, either. He rushed for 1,127 rushing yards in his three seasons as a starter. It’s an underrated part of his skillset as a quarterback and tends to get overshadowed by what he brings to the table as a passer.
Overall, Cook’s time in Columbia was defined by his character and leadership. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and his quarterback grew quite close over his time there, delivering over and over again when the Missouri Tigers needed it the most. Now, in somber fashion, it’s time for Cook to move on to the professional level.
“What’s that old weird saying? Don’t cry because you’re sad; be excited because it happened, or something like that? I’m fortunate that it happened,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m fortunate that he stayed with us.”
Mock Draft
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In ESPN’s 7-round mock draft done by Matt Miller, Cook was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round with the No. 230 pick in the draft. NFL Mock Draft Database also refers to Cook as a day-three selection, with a variety of selections in between rounds five and seven.
Trevor Sikkeman of Pro Football Focus listed Cook as the 200th-best prospect in the class. He has yet to release a scouting report on Cook.
Lance Zierlein of the NFL Network had this to say about Cook.
“Tantalizing prospect thanks to his athleticism and arm talent but the more I studied, the more doubt creeped in. Cook played with a better command of the offense in 2023, which led to better in-game rhythm and results. He can make every NFL throw but struggles to make them with consistent timing and accuracy. Cook needs to improve his eye discipline to keep windows open and safeties out of his business. He’s an average decision-maker and field-reader who defaults to unsound passing platforms when he feels pressure. He has the size and mobility to make plays as a scrambler and with designed runs. Cook’s physical traits and athletic ability are worth a discussion as a developmental prospect.”
“ll always be indebted to him for what he’s done for my family and what he’s done for this program.”
– Drinkwitz on Cook
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This story will be updated as the 2025 NFL Draft draws closer.
This is one of the final stories in a series of profiles of former Missouri football players who could be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
A tractor-trailer carrying tofu that crashed southwest of Rolla has been stinking up a part of Phelps County for weeks.
The semi crashed March 1 on Interstate 44 near a ravine known as Tater Hollow.
Local authorities say no one was hurt, but the crash scene at the 172-mile marker is still there. One local resident wrote online that the rotting tofu left behind smells similar to catfish bait.
“For those of you who drive by this everyday and wonder to yourself ‘why is this still sitting here three weeks after the crash?’ You are not alone,” wrote officials from the nearby Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District, which responded to the wreck.
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Pictures of the site on the fire department’s Facebook page show the semi buckled in a ditch below a low bridge. The front part of the trailer burst open, and dozens of rectangular-shaped boxes, presumably containing tofu, poured out of the truck.
In a social media post, the fire department said cleanup has been slow as the Missouri Department of Transportation works with the truck company’s insurance carrier.
“As we have gathered, it has been a logistical nightmare. We have been given the runaround while attempting to recoup the costs that our department endured during the response and initial cleanup,” the post said.
MoDOT officials said they are working closely with the Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to figure out how to get the truck out of the ditch.
“We are looking at a towing company to coordinate that removal, and it could begin as early as the end of this week,” said MoDOT Central District Communications Manager Marcia Johnson. “But it is going to be a time-consuming removal that could cause some traffic impacts.”
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Johnson added that the cleanup could be slightly more complicated than other operations because the wreck involves food products.
For residents nearby, the cleanup can’t come soon enough.
“In case you were wondering, tofu tends to stink pretty bad after sitting out for three weeks!” said the fire department’s post.
RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) — Former Missouri City police officer Blademir Viveros was convicted of aggravated assault by a public servant on Monday.
After five days of witness testimony, body camera footage, and tears in the courtroom, the jury found Viveros guilty after he was accused of killing three people in a high-speed wreck while responding to an emergency.
PREVIOUS REPORT: Families of victims testify, state and defense rest cases in former MCPD officer manslaughter trial
Arguments closed just after 2:30 p.m. on Monday.
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Chief Prosecutor Alison Baimbridge made it clear throughout the trial that no stone was left unturned in the investigation in this case, saying that this crash was avoidable and not an accident.
Defense attorneys tag-teamed their closing argument, with Eric Cagle going first as he told the jury Viveros intended to help the victims of the robbery he was responding to.
Defense attorney Robert McCabe then spoke, adding that Viveros has a servant’s heart. He called the crash an accident and said that Viveros did not drive his car intentionally into the car of Mason and Angela Stewart.
McCabe told the jurors Viveros was negligent and should’ve done better, and mentioned the failures by the police department and his supervisors.
“This case just doesn’t belong here, it just doesn’t in this court…in criminal court…in criminal district court on a felony offense with a weapon, alleged for these facts. For this case, it doesn’t belong here. Justice comes in many forms and shouldn’t be sought in this court. There’s plenty of reasonable doubt.” McCabe said.
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“If you think about the facts in this case, they’re not disputed,” Baimbridge said. “Nobody is arguing that this crash did not happen in the way that the officers say it did. No one is arguing the defendant turned off his patrol lights and his sirens. No one is arguing he was going 107 miles per hour when he took lives from our community – he just wants a pass.”
After the closing arguments, the jury was sent out of the courtroom to deliberate. The jury then returned about two and a half hours later, finding Viveros guilty on all three counts of aggravated assault by a public servant.
The punishment phase of the trial begins on Tuesday morning. Viveros now faces five years to life in prison.
For updates on this story, follow Daniela Hurtado on Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Missouri Department of Transportation announced a segment of I-70 Drive Southeast from Woodridge to Glenstone Drive in Columbia will close beginning Monday after being delayed for 14 days.
The entrance to Woodridge Drive from I-70 Drive Southeast will also be closed. The closure is set to last 300 days and aims to be completed in January 2027, according to a news release from MoDOT.
The closure will enable crews to shift traffic on I-70 to construct two new bridges on I-70. This will allow the construction of the new underpass connecting Hanover Boulevard to I-70 Drive Southeast.
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All businesses will remain accessible during the closure. Motorists will be directed around the closure via Keene Street and St. Charles Road, according to the news release.
The closure was originally set for March 9. According to past KOMU 8 reporting, MoDOT postponed the project due to weather and crew availability.
