Raider quarterback signs with Miami
A Rice Raider star quarterback has officially signed to play football with the Miami Hurricanes.
Taylor Cook, a senior at Rice High School, said he is very excited about the chance to play quarterback at a Division I school.
"I am not nervous at all about the move out of state," Cook said. "Football is football wherever you play."
He said that the competition will be a challenge in Division I with athletes bigger, stronger and faster then he has been used to on the high school level, but Cook opens his arms to the challenge.
"I just have to get stronger and faster to compete up there with them," Cook said.
Cook completed a 31-8 record as a starting quarterback during his career at Rice High School.
During the 2007 season, he helped guide his team to the state semi-finals, where they lost to Elysian Fields at Waco.
He recorded nearly 1,600 yards passing and 19 touchdowns as well as 11 rushing touchdowns during his senior year.
He also was a punter during his varsity football career and played as a safety during his senior season.
Rice Independent School District Athletic Director and head varsity football coach Brad Dumont said he has been proud to watch Cook become a leader on the field
"He has had a tremendous career," Dumont said. "He has goals to play as long as he can and hopes to become worthy of being a Division I quarterback."
Cook's father, state representative Robby Cook, said he and the entire family have been proud to watch Taylor succeed in his football career from the time that he played youth football in Columbus, to his successful varsity football career.
"He has worked so long and hard," Robby said. "His goal has always been for the entire team to do well and has considered football to be a team effort."
Robby said that their family thinks Taylor has made a great decision going to Miami, being one of the top recruiting classes in the nation and thinks that Taylor will shine among such great competition.
"He is focused on becoming quarterback," Robby said.
Taylor has also been involved in many sports during his high school career including basketball and baseball, but has set his sights on a future in college football.
"My career was pretty good throughout high school but I am ready to play at the college level and hope to succeed there," Taylor said.
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