Bryan Cook Representing Special UC Rookie Class In Super Bowl LVII

The Bearcats can't lose on Sunday.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Updated:
Feb 9, 2023 7:40 AM EST

In this story:

Cincinnati Bearcats

Kansas City Chiefs

CINCINNATI — Bryan Cook has earned a firm playoff role with the Kansas City Chiefs as a rookie. He's the latest Bearcat to make the Super Bowl, and the first one to do it from the special 2021 Cincinnati team.

Cook discussed why his favorite UC memory came from the squad's only loss.

"It was after the Alabama game," Cook told University of Cincinnati Athletics. "I saw some young men that was destined for greatness. ... Coby (Bryant) and Ahmad (Gardner) and them guys, and Desmond (Ridder) the list goes on and on.

"Seeing them develop. I was like, 'dang, like now I get to watch you go off and do your thing. I experienced it firsthand.' So I think sitting in that moment and realizing that we helped an organization as a whole, put a stamp on it. That was a beautiful moment for us."

Cincinnati fell short of winning the National Championship, but it was a special run nonetheless. One that Cook parlayed into a nice rookie campaign, joining Bryant and Gardner as impact NFL players.

He made a crucial pass breakup in the AFC Championship Game and earned a respectable 64.3 PFF grade this season.

UC is well-represented in NFL secondaries.

"I've seen it," Cook said about the trio's talents transferring to the next level. "I worked with it. I woke up, and we lived together, you understand? So I've seen the guys every day, and the work they put in, the effort they put in, the energy they put in, and now seeing it all come to fruition, it's beautiful. It's a beautiful thing to see."

One thing's for sure, at least one Bearcats player is winning the Super Bowl on Sunday.

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