Westerville (OH) North offensive lineman Jake Cook committed to Louisville on February 2 after receiving scholarship offers from North Carolina State, Boston College, West Virginia, Kentucky, Duke, and others. Cook, however, revealed on June 18 that he had decommitted from the Cardinals.
Cook had an official visit to Ohio State this weekend and has officially declared his commitment to the Buckeyes, taking the center position in the Ohio State 2025 recruiting class.
“No. 1 because, as we all know, I’m a hometown kid,” Cook replied when asked why he chose the Buckeyes. “It’s every kid’s dream who grows up an Ohio State fan to play football at Ohio State.”
Cook was also drawn to Ohio State because of their reputation for developing football talents.
“Ohio State is a huge school for development,” Cook said the audience. “You play against the best, you go in and be developed by the best.”
And, of course, Cook enjoyed his official visit with the Buckeyes this weekend.
“The best part for me was the walk from the Blackwell to the arena where they have the Skull Session and then to the stadium,” Cook told me. “Also, the meetings with coach (Ryan) Day and coach (Justin) Frye and watching film with coach Frye and spending time with the commitments.”
Cook, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 295 pounds, has been a rising prospect. In the last month, he played admirably at the Under Armour Camp Series in Canton, Ohio, where he was awarded offensive line MVP, and then again at the Rivals Camp in Indianapolis.
The Buckeyes took note of Cook’s performance at both camps. Cook then worked out at Ohio State’s first summer camp on June 5. He performed admirably and later chatted with Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye about his performance.
Then, on June 12, Westerville North participated in the 7-on-7 Ohio State team camp, and while linemen did not play, Cook returned to Ohio State with his squad and worked out with Frye for an hour and 15 minutes. On June 15, Frye extended the scholarship offer to Cook, and an official visit was promptly scheduled.
Cook eloquently perfectly what it means to be a Buckeye.
“I would describe it as one of the nicest feelings in the world. “It feels great,” Cook remarked. “I am blessed. “My family has been freaking out.”
Cook is a 3-star talent according to the 247Sports Composite. He is the nation’s No. 617 overall prospect, the No. 39 interior offensive lineman, and the No. 21 prospect in Ohio.
The Ohio State coaching staff has been looking for a center for their 2025 class, and they now have one. The Buckeyes now have a top tackle and a center, allowing them to focus on at least one more tackle, if not two, as well as a guard and maybe a swing player who can play guard or tackle.
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