Syracuse is heading into 2026 with a major hole in its offense. Wide receiver Johntay Cook II has officially entered the transfer portal, marking one of the biggest departures from the program this offseason. Cook joins starting running back Yasin Willis and fellow wideout Darrell Gill Jr. in exiting the Orange, leaving head coach Fran Brown with some serious rebuilding to do-especially at the skill positions.
Cook was expected to be a cornerstone for Syracuse’s offense moving forward. In his lone season with the Orange, he hauled in 45 receptions for 549 yards and two touchdowns. At times, especially early in the year, he looked every bit the high-upside receiver Syracuse hoped they were getting when they landed him in the transfer portal last spring.
The former four-star recruit out of DeSoto, Texas, had already taken a winding road before arriving in Syracuse. He started his college career at Texas, where he saw limited action-just 16 catches over two seasons.
A brief stop at Washington followed, but off-the-field issues kept him from ever suiting up for the Huskies. Syracuse was supposed to be the fresh start, the place where he could finally tap into that elite potential and build a résumé for the next level.
And for a moment, it looked like that plan was working. In the first four games of the season, Cook was electric.
He developed strong chemistry with quarterback Steve Angeli, racking up 18 receptions for 234 yards before Angeli suffered a torn Achilles. That injury derailed more than just the quarterback’s season-it disrupted the rhythm of the entire offense.
Cook’s production dipped along with the unit’s overall effectiveness, and the flashes of brilliance early on never quite turned into sustained dominance.
Now, with Cook on his way out, Fran Brown is facing a near-total reset at wide receiver. Along with Cook and Gill, the Orange are also losing Jaylan Hornsby and Emanuel Ross. That’s four scholarship wideouts gone, and suddenly a position that had depth and promise is looking thin.
There’s no doubt Cook will draw serious interest in the portal. He’s got the pedigree, the tape, and the upside that Power Five programs covet.
For Syracuse, though, it’s back to the drawing board. The portal will need to be a key tool this offseason if Brown wants to give Angeli the weapons he needs to lead the offense effectively in 2026.
That said, reinforcements could come from within, too. Five-star freshman Calvin Russell is expected to arrive with plenty of hype-and he may be asked to contribute right away.
Four-star signee Amare Gough is another name to watch. But relying on freshmen to carry the load in the ACC is a tough ask, especially without veteran support around them.
Brown and his staff have their work cut out for them. The departure of Johntay Cook II is more than just the loss of a top playmaker-it’s a signal that this offense is entering a new phase. Whether that next chapter is a step forward or a rebuilding year will depend on how quickly Syracuse can reload.