Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook declares for NFL Draft
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
It's the end of an era for Mizzou football.
On Friday, graduate quarterback Brady Cook declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the seventh Tiger to do so since the regular season ended.
The St. Louis native ends his time in Columbia in the MU record books. As a starter, he went 26-13 in his career, which is second for most wins in program history. He also helped lead this program to new heights under head coach Eli Drinkwitz.
Over the course of the last two seasons, the Tigers have won 21 games, two-straight bowls game and have notched back-to-back 10 win campaigns for just the third time in program history.
Cook's role in that run can't be understated. In 2023, he started in all 13 games and lifted his team to a Cotton Bowl championship, claiming the offensive MVP award in that win over Ohio State. In that season, the quarterback completed about 66 percent of his passes for more than 3,300 yards and 21 touchdowns. He finished second on the team in rushing, as well, with 319 yards on 113 carries and 14 touchdowns.
In 2024, the three-time captain really showed fans what they already knew: just how tough he is.
On Oct. 19, in the win over Auburn, Cook went down with an ankle injury. After going to the hospital during the game, getting an MRI and battling for more than an hour to get back in the fight, he accomplished that task. After returning in the second half, Cook led a pair of long touchdown drives to bring his team to victory and bowl eligibility.
After that game, the remainder of the 2024 season was a consistent battle to get healthy. Right after his hospital game, he took the field for the road trip to Alabama, where he sustained another injury, this time to his wrist.
Despite sitting one week, for the Oklahoma game, Cook played through a break in his wrist and finished out the season with a nail-biter against South Carolina, a dominant victory over Mississippi State and one last rivalry win over Arkansas.
He couldn't have asked for a better finale with one more championship: a Music City Bowl win over Iowa. He, once again, was named the most valuable player in that game, as he threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns to compliment 54 yards on the ground.
Cook ended his final season in the black gold throwing for 2,535 yards and 11 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. The dual threat QB also ran for 223 yards and five touchdowns on 87 carries.
Cook will now work towards the NFL Draft, which will take place Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
