Cook’s Iowa dream will begin at quarterback

IOWA CITY - You wouldn't think he needs it, but Drew Cook has done some reading on Hawkeye history.

Cook (6-5, 218) grew up in Iowa City. His dad is Marv Cook, former all-American tight end with the Hawkeyes (1986-88). On Wednesday morning, Drew signed a national letter of intent with the Hawkeyes at the Regina High School library. The four Class 1A state championship trophies were lined up in front of the table where Cook and Regina teammates Jake Brinkman (North Dakota State), Phil Arendt (Nothern Iowa) and Jacob Adam (Northern Iowa) also signed college letters.

It was a day to celebrate the dream. Here's how Drew Cook's recruitment went: Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz offered him a scholarship last February. Cook got out of his chair, shook Ferentz's hand and said he was in.

'I'm not going to lie to you, Drew basically didn't give them a chance to take it back,” said Marv, Regina's head coach. 'He stood up and shook their hand and was all-in from that point on.”

More than anything else for Drew Cook, the dream became a reality on Wednesday morning.

'All I can say is I'm excited to be a Hawk,” said Cook, who passed for 53 TDs and just six interceptions in the last two seasons as Regina's QB. 'I've dreamed about this as a kid, just being at Kinnick on Saturdays. There's just no better feeling.”

Marv Cook said he hopes his son enjoys the moments. He said he vividly remembers his first run through the tunnel onto the field.

'My wife and I recently bought him the book called ‘Nile,'” Marv said. 'He's learning a lot about some of the great men who've come through this program and ultimately understanding that there's a bigger picture than the football part of it.”

It's time to talk about what position Drew Cook will play at Iowa. For now, the discussion begins and ends with quarterback.

'I want to play quarterback, that's what I want to do,” said Cook, who completed 65.2 percent of his passes last season for 2,504 yards, 31 TDs and three interceptions. 'They've told me they're going to start me at quarterback, which is what I want to do. I'll be happy to go in there as a QB.”

This is obviously something that can and will evolve over four or five years. Iowa also signed West Des Moines Dowling Catholic quarterback Ryan Boyle on Wednesday morning. Boyle (6-1, 215) is a legit dual-threat quarterback, rushing for more than 2,400 yards and 43 TDs while leading Dowling to back-to-back Class 4A titles the last two seasons.

Yes, Cook might make a great tight end down the line. And sure, Boyle is already built like a linebacker. For now, they are quarterbacks and, if you look at the roster, that's probably how it should be.

Iowa has junior C.J. Beathard listed as the starter, with senior Jake Rudock in chase. Redshirt freshman Tyler Wiegers is the only other scholarship QB on the roster.

In Cook's case, the argument to start out at QB is a very good one. He produced 74 TDs for the Regals the last two years, passed for more than 5,000 yards and won state championships.

Marv Cook remembers the times where adversity showed up and how Drew reacted.

'If and when he did have something go against him, he would answer the next series,” Marv said. 'He would always comeback and right the ship, be smarter, better and more crisp. His first game in the UNI-Dome his junior year, his first pass is a pick. He ended up with 300 yards in a semifinal game. This year, similar situation, he gets a ball tipped in a quarterfinal game. He goes on and has one of his better games.

'Who knows what the future brings. He's 6-5, 220, he can run and throw, can read defenses, throws the ball where it needs to get. If it doesn't work out, he can catch, he can run and do other things. Ultimately, he just wants to be a Hawkeye, wants to play and hopefully be a part of big things in black and gold.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com