Gap Down Backer.

Post by **Soapy** » 09 Feb 2026, 09:38

Stanford star receiver Rodney Cookus returns for senior season with legacy on his mind
Michael Okorie -- SB Nation.com College Football Contributor

Stanford receiver Rodney Cookus set the single-season record at Stanford for receptions (95), receiving yards (1649) and touchdowns (19) while helping the Cardinal win a national championship. A redshirt junior, Cookus had the chance to enter the NFL Draft. The Los Angeles native never even considered it.

"It was a pretty easy decision for me," says Cookus, who had a chance to enter the draft last season as well as a redshirt sophomore following his 1,000-yard season, "I love playing at Stanford and the chance to repeat as national champion made it an easy one."

Draft analysts are torn on Cookus who some view him as a potential Day 2 draft pick with his combination of size at six-foot-four, straight line speed and production while others are more skeptical about his route running and short area quickness with one scout describing him as a "go-ball pony".

Admittedly, Cookus doesn't run a variety of routes in Stanford's offense as the X receiver which has led to some feast or famine in the past but with better quarterback play this past season, it's been almost all feast for Cookus. Outside of the first Ohio State game where he caught just two catches in the 42-21 blowout win, Cookus has scored at least one touchdown or gone over hundred yards in every game this past season and scored a touchdown in each of the last nine games.

Cookus says he isn't worried about his draft stock and wasn't a factor in his decision to return, feeling that it will take care of itself. He's more focused on Troy Walters and Ken Margerum, Stanford's current record holders for career stats at the receiver position.

He needs eighty-eight receptions and 1,214 yards to catch Walters and three touchdowns to match Margerum. For Cookus, who caught four passes in his first two seasons at Stanford, the chance to litter Stanford's record book was too much to pass on.

"I think leaving a legacy is one of the things that every young kid dreams of when they first get to a school," Cookus told ESPN of his decision to return to school, "Being part of two national championship teams and now having a chance to be the best receiver in school history as someone that wasn't a five-star, that didn't play my first few years, I think that's a legacy that I want to create and I want to inspire other young kids, at Stanford and elsewhere."

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 09 Feb 2026, 12:42

COOKUS SAID LET ME COOK

Post by **Caesar** » 10 Feb 2026, 01:45

Cookus not that guy. That's why ain't go to the league.

Post by **Soapy** » 10 Feb 2026, 08:19

redsox907 wrote: ↑
09 Feb 2026, 12:42
COOKUS SAID LET ME COOK

Caesar wrote: ↑
10 Feb 2026, 01:45
Cookus not that guy. That's why ain't go to the league.

idk why the game is hating on him

he didn't get a big ratings bump last year after his 1k season and he's still mid 80s with star dev

i thought about forcing him to enter the draft but turned it into a storyline instead

Post by **Soapy** » 10 Feb 2026, 08:46

A couple names come off the board as transfer portal settles into shape
Chris Wallace -- 247Sports Stanford Football Insider

Former Georgia Tech cornerback Emmanuel Ogbogu has committed to Ohio State, picking the Buckeyes over Clemson, Notre Dame and Stanford following his visit to Columbus.

Stanford was working hard on getting the Atlanta native to take a visit this week but it never materialized as their focus now intensifies on top ranked corner Thomas Gann. Gann is Stanford's top transfer portal target and a major priority this offseason which only increases with the Cardinal missing out on Ogbogu.

Other commitments include Washington receiver Dennis Horan committing to Oregon and Oregon State quarterback Trevor Sarria returning to the state of California to play for the Trojans.

Sarria had been trending towards USC for a while with Stanford extending an offer to Notre Dame's Jamichael Jackson, who they recruited out of high school prior to Jackson choosing the Fighting Irish where he battled for the starting quarterback spot as a true freshman.

Some other names that have entered the picture for Stanford is Ellaville, Georgia native Greg Dillard who most recently played at Minnesota where he had five pass breakups and two interceptions for the Gophers as a starter. Dillard has one-year of eligibility left, as does San Jose State's Gordon Pratt. Stanford also offered another Georgia player in Kevin Nagy from Navy where he was a standout freshmen with 77 tackles.

2032 Stanford Cardinal Transfer Recruiting Class

2032 Stanford Cardinal Transfer Recruiting Board
Thomas Gann [CB #1]: 6'1", 196lbs | Westlake Village, CA

4-star (Soph)
Paul Garrison [CB #7]: 6'2", 168lbs | Bronx, NY

4-star (Jr)
Kendrick Trahan [EDGE #8]: 6'0", 246lbs | Madison, MS

4-star (Soph)
Logan Everett [QB #20]: 6'5", 215lbs | Rancho Cucamonga, CA

3-star (Fr)
Kevin Nagy [ILB #6]: 6'1", 234lbs | Brunswick, GA

3-star (Fr)
Leon Shurmur [QB #23]: 6'0", 211lbs | San Clemente, CA

3-star (Fr)
JaMichael Jackson [QB #31]: 6'3", 190lbs | Corona, CA

3-star (Fr)
Greg Dillard [CB #35]: 5'10", 199lbs | Ellaville, GA

3-star (Jr)
Gordon Pratt [CB #67]: 6'2", 180lbs | San Clemente, CA

3-star (Jr)
----------------------
Dennis Horan [WR #11]: 6'1", 188lbs | Sammamish, WA

4-star (Jr) »

Larry Sharp [EDGE #3]: 6'6'", 242lbs | Annapolis, MD

4-star (Fr)
Emmanuel Ogbogu [CB #9]: 6'1", 205lbs | Atlanta, GA

4-star (Soph) »

Trevor Sarria [QB #16]: 5'11", 217lbs | Hesperia, CA

4-star (Fr) »

Top 25 Transfer Portal Players
#1 Dennis Taylor [LG #1]: Loganville, GA | Prev Team: Tennessee »

#2 Sammy Harris [WR #1]: Cincinnati, OH | Prev Team: Wisconsin
#3 Jordan Nwagbuo [HB #1]: Charlotte, NC | Prev Team: North Carolina
#4 Thomas Gann [CB #1]: Westlake Village, CA | Prev Team: Colorado
#5 Taylor Alexis [C #1]: Sicklerville, NJ | Prev Team: Michigan »

#6 Stanley Agholor [ILB #1]: Harvey, LA | Prev Team: Houston
#7 Anthony DeCicco [ILB #2]: Jacksonville, FL | Prev Team: Florida
#8 LaMarcus Hendrix [WR #2]: Belleville, MI | Prev Team: Michigan State »

#9 LaDarius Brink [RG #1]: Fort Myers, FL | Prev Team: Miami
#10 Sergio Yusaf [QB #1]: Honolulu, HI | Prev Team: USC
#11 Spencer Loranger [HB #2]: York, SC | Prev Team: North Carolina
#12 Kurt Dieter [RG #2]: Parma, MI | Prev Team: Michigan State
#13 Ricky Everett [WR #3]: Dedham, MA | Prev Team: Boston College
#14 Jimmy Thierry [TE #1]: Brentwood, CA | Prev Team: Michigan
#15 Tye Sloman [FS #1]: Tyrone, GA | Prev Team: Auburn
#16 Neil Priest [C #2]: Joliet, IL | Prev Team: Iowa
#17 Lyndell Mon [LG #2]: Pittsburgh, PA | Prev Team: Buffalo »

#18 Terrence Urbik [QB #2]: Lafayette, LA | Prev Team: Florida »

#19 Tyrone Carlyle [QB #3]: Wichita, KS | Prev Team: USC
#20 Femi Unga [ILB #3]: Sachse, TX | Prev Team: Oklahoma State
#21 Dillon Low [WR #4]: Jacksonville, FL | Prev Team: Virginia Tech
#22 Soma Singh [EDGE #1]: Norco, CA | Prev Team: USC »

-----------------------------------
George Ogbonnaya [QB #2]: 6'0", 184lbs | Conroe, TX | 5-star

Jamerson Rasmussen [EDGE #4]: 6'3", 251lbs | Albany, GA | 5-star

Nick Vincent [FS #2]: 6'2", 213lbs | Bellflower, CA | 5-star

Jabu Igbinoghene [RG #7]: 6'2", 279lbs | Amarillo, TX | 4-star

Jahlil Stanford [RG #17]: 6'4", 291lbs | Prosper, TX | 4-star

247Sports Five-Star Commitments
#1 Charles Conte [SS #1]: 6'2", 189lbs | Grand Rapids, MI

#4 Joey Kent [CB #1]: 5'11", 183lbs | Cincinnati, OH

#5 Earl Virgin [CB #2]: 6'1", 202lbs | Harbor City, CA

#7 George Ogbpnnaya [QB #2]: 6'0", 184lbs | Conroe, TX

#9 Trevor Flowers [FS #1]: 6'0", 185lbs | Lafayette, LA

#10 Ronnie Keenan [LT #1]: 6'4", 318lbs | Lees Summit, MO

#11 Terrence Swaim [HB #1]: 6'1", 216lbs | Boonville, MO

#12 Nick Vincent [FS #1]: 6'2", 213lbs | Bellflower, CA

#13 Creed Stewart [OLB #1]: 6'0", 216lbs | Nacogdoches, TX

#14 George Hilliman [WR #2]: 6'3", 205lbs | Spring, TX

#15 Dakota Pyne [QB #3]: 6'1", 188lbs | Novi, MI

#16 Gill Parris [SS #2]: 5'11", 210lbs | Dallas, TX

#17 Josh Surratt [CB #3]: 6'2", 186lbs | Peoria, IL

#18 Terrelle Lucien [CB #4]: 6'1", 207lbs | Virginia Beach, VA

#19 Isaac Sharp [OLB #2]: 6'3", 212lbs | Humble, TX

#20 Duke Hixon [CB #5]: 6'1", 192lbs | Lexington, MS

#21 Stephen Tripucka [EDGE #3]: 6'3", 231lbs | Augusta, GA

#22 Evan Keenan [SS #3]: 6'0", 194lbs | Gurnee, IL

#23 Jimmy Earl [HB #2]: 6'1", 203lbs | High Point, NC

#25 Chad Wicks [DT #1]: 6'1", 290lbs | Alabaster, AL

#26 Jacoby Brewer [RG #1]: 6'3", 314lbs | Minneapolis, MN

#27 Mateo DiNapoli [CB #6]: 6'2", 209lbs | Southlake, TX

#28 Danny Volk [RT #2]: 6'7", 323lbs | Salt Lake City, UT

#30 Brian Woods [OLB #3]: 6'1", 220lbs | Columbus, GA

#31 Keke Umenyiora [CB #7]: 6'1", 203lbs | Apokpa, FL

#32 Jamerson Rasmussen [EDGE #4]: 6'3", 251lbs | Albany, GA

Post by **Captain Canada** » 10 Feb 2026, 11:26

Don't tell me we gonna do all this swinging just to hit air?

Post by **Soapy** » 11 Feb 2026, 08:16

Captain Canada wrote: ↑
10 Feb 2026, 11:26
Don't tell me we gonna do all this swinging just to hit air?

terrified to advance to next week, ngl

Post by **djp73** » 11 Feb 2026, 08:34

Soapy wrote: ↑
11 Feb 2026, 08:16
Captain Canada wrote: ↑
10 Feb 2026, 11:26
Don't tell me we gonna do all this swinging just to hit air?
terrified to advance to next week, ngl

Post by **Soapy** » 11 Feb 2026, 09:00

djp73 wrote: ↑
11 Feb 2026, 08:34

Soapy wrote: ↑
11 Feb 2026, 08:16
Captain Canada wrote: ↑
10 Feb 2026, 11:26
Don't tell me we gonna do all this swinging just to hit air?
terrified to advance to next week, ngl

dropped my nuts.

lets move.

Post by **Soapy** » 11 Feb 2026, 09:00

Login • Register