We tell you everything you need to know about the 2025 Cook High School football team in this preview, including roster changes and what fans can expect from the Hornets this season.
2024 Season Stats
- Overall Record: 4-7
- Points Scored: 239
- Points Allowed: 316
Key Roster Losses
Fortunately for Cook head football coach Byron Slack, the Hornets did not lose many seniors, and few of those saw significant playing time last season. Slack said the player that he and his staff will miss the most is TJ Jones.
“TJ was a guy that played several positions as well as running the defense for us the past few years,” Slack said.
Jones saw time on offense as a receiver and running back, and on defense he played linebacker. Jones will continue his football career after signing with Reinhardt University this offseason.
Key Players Returning
The Hornets will return just about all of their contributors from last year’s rebuilding season.
“Our top five will be our entire returning senior class,” Slack said.
That includes MJ Tippins.
“MJ will be our Everything Guy this season,” Slack said. “He will see time this season at wide receiver, quarterback, and safety.”
The other returning seniors are offensive linemen Kyle Terrell, Tyler Terrell, and Eric Joyce, as well as All-State punter Brooks Moore, whom Slack described as “the most talented punter I have ever seen at the high school ranks.”
Returning underclassmen include offensive lineman Malcolm Merritt, along with Bralyn Bennett, Carter Morrison, and Jabari Dawson on defense.
Running back Dawson Davis and quarterback Nole Register are two incoming freshmen who could see playing time in 2025, according to Slack.
Last season’s leading rusher, junior Nigel Kenney, will return this season.
What to Expect From the Cook Hornets in 2025
Cook went through a rebuilding year in 2024 with almost the entire starting units consisting of underclassmen. They stumbled to four wins but got playing experience that will no doubt pay off this year.
“At any given time, we would have had up to nine sophomores on the field last year,” Slack said. “There were a lot of guys out there that were young and seeing playing time for the first time last year, but we still were close in all but one of the games we lost last season, so our expectations this year are to simply be better.”
2025 Season Prediction
Overall, this could be the best Hornets team in Slack’s tenure at Cook. I see 11 wins in 2025.
Game to Watch
Aug. 29 at Brooks County
