Penn State picks up commitment from defensive tackle DeAndre Cook
Penn State picked up commitment No. 21 in the Class of 2024 Friday evening, adding Washington, D.C., defensive tackle DeAndre Cook. A three-star prospect from Friendship Collegiate Academy, Cook visited for the first time as a freshman back in 2021, but it wasn’t until this past spring that things got serious.
In March, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound interior lineman said he began speaking more regularly with just-hired defensive line coach Deion Barnes. That was followed by an unofficial visit on April 1, one that landed Cook an offer from the Nittany Lions by the time he left campus.
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As spring progressed, it became clear that Penn State would be a serious player, but Cook had to take his official visits first before truly sorting it all out. Trips to Rutgers (June 2-4) and North Carolina (June 9-11) gave him something to think about, but by the time he wrapped up his June 16-18 official visit to State College, Cook knew where he wanted to be.
“Before I took my officials, Penn State was at the top,” Cook told Blue White Illustrated. “Then, as my visits started, I did start weighing my options more. When I got to UNC, they did become a serious option for me. But then, when I went back to Penn State, I realized that I needed that refresher.
“So, the answer was really always Penn State. I liked UNC, but I realized after that visit that I needed to be strong and pull the trigger on them. I did make sure that I still took my visit to Boston College, just to make sure that feeling for Penn State wasn’t a fluke.”
When asked what specifically separated the Nittany Lions, Cook said, “They did everything right. A lot of schools pushed that one thing they were amazing at, but I’d never hear about other things. It wasn’t like that with Penn State. They showed me everything at Penn State I needed to know.
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“I also had a great relationship with Deion. He’s real. If you ever got to sit in a room with me and him, we’re probably not gonna be talking about football. We were both raised similarly and just relate well.”
He added that the atmosphere inside the Lasch Building also left a strong impression on him.
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“I love the atmosphere, I love the fan base,” Cook told On3’s Chad Simmons. “It is one big family. Everyone works together at Penn State. All are cool with each other. The coaches are in tune with the players. Everyone is there to help and support each other. Then once the whistle blows, it is straight business. Everyone gets to work. I love that combination of how it works on and off the field at Penn State.”
Cook currently holds an 87 overall rating, making him a three-star prospect. He’s the fourth-ranked player in Washington, D.C. Penn State now holds two defensive line commitments from Cook and Maryland native Xavier Gilliam.
“I honestly knew I wanted to be at Penn State when I first stepped on campus for my official visit,” Cook said. “It was different. It feels great to be committed. I am so excited to be committed to Penn State.”
