From Akron, Ohio, and with multiple offers to his name, four-star athlete Payton Cook had plenty of options regarding where he’ll end up playing college ball.
He visited the Louisville Cardinals last weekend, though, and something about the trip made him decide to commit.
“I really felt like I was at home,” Cook told Chad Simmons of On3 regarding his decision. “I knew I wanted to commit on Saturday when I was there. When I was there, I watched practice and took everything in, and after seeing it, I knew Louisville was the right place and where I wanted to be.”
Michigan was high on Cook’s list ,and he boasts other intriguing offers from the likes of Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami, Pitt, Tennessee and Wisconsin, among others, but Louisville made the cut.
Not only did it feel like home, but the hiring of Deion Branch — former NFL wideout and Super Bowl MVP — as wideouts coach at his alma mater really set the Cardinals apart for Cook.
“Right off the rip, as soon as he got in office, he said I was the first dude he texted. I knew then how interested he was in me and knowing a guy like that, who played there and won Super Bowls, was interested in me, it showed me a lot, Cook said. “As soon coach Branch was hired, and we started talking, they became the top school for me. He was pushing for me as soon as he got into the office. I could tell that he wanted me, and to have the chance to play for a legend like coach Branch, I couldn’t turn it down.”
We’ll now have to wait and see what Branch can do with the four-star wideout from Ohio. According to the 247Sports Composite, Cook is ranked as the No. 46 wideout in the 2026 class.
He’s head coach Jeff Brohm’s 12th 2026 commitment for a class that’s ranked No. 7 nationally.
