His final Clyde football season cements Jaden Cook's passion to play at Ashland University

Jaden Cook didn't have much voluntary spare time as a student and athlete in high school.

The manner in which Cook spent such minutes allows him to continue his football career at Ashland.

"Thinking about how many other guys are like me around the state and thinking about what they're doing," he said of his mentality. "When I'm at home, what's the guy I'm competing with doing right now? When you consider the next level, I'm a good player in the area, but I need more looks.

"I'm trying to be the best around here and I'm competing against more guys. You have to drive. Someone is always better. I always thought of that."

Thus, idle time was rare. Still, Cook knows what it's like to wait when you feel ready.

A broken collarbone eliminated opportunities to play quarterback as a freshman and a recurrence stunted his sophomore season as well. He was varsity starter his final two years.

"Junior year was the best in high school health wise," he said. "That's life and that's sports. You deal with it the best you can."

Cook is always anxious to demonstrate he belongs and expel doubts. They rarely come from within.

"Proving coming off a state title that we had another deep run in us," he said. "Injuries freshman and sophomore year fueled me to prove I can play junior and senior year, and step up and be that leader we lost like Ryan [Lozier].

"Proving I could ball and step in to lead the team to success for two years."

Clyde shared a conference crown with Bellevue last season, before winning two games in the postseason. It topped Shelby in double overtime.

Cook passed for 2,392 yards and 22 touchdowns. He had 1,612 yards and 13 touchdowns passing as the Fliers were 6-4 two years ago.

He knows the position group at Ashland consists of a handful of the quarterbacks he thought about in high school, including Buffalo transfer Trevor Bycznski. A freshman redshirt is possible for Cook.

"It's hard to do a lot in college freshman year, unless you get the call up," Cook said. "It's a very talented quarterback room. A six-year super senior transfer. A very competitive room. The goal is to understand and be comfortable with everything entering sophomore year to be in the running for the quarterback spot."

Cook takes pride in occupying a leadership position. He wasn't afraid to communicate, even with teammates less accustomed to such critiques.

"Being a leader from freshman to senior, embracing that role as quarterback," he said. "You're the guy who touches the ball every play and the offense runs through you. It's trust. You have to know where the receivers are going, my drop, the line, the running back.

"Freshman year, I had skills to be quarterback, but I lacked leadership to get all my guys on the same page. Fire people up. Rip into someone and fix it. Maybe a guy who doesn't usually hear it. That leadership grew and I focused as a junior

Cook wasn't sure whether he wanted to play football or basketball in college. Until he was a senior.

"Until the end of football," he said. "I didn't know what I was going to do. Through middle school and early in high school, I was stuck on playing basketball. What set me to football was the final year. My love grew senior year and I was with the guys I grew up with, 20 guys.

"I fell in love even more. I loved every part of senior year and what it means to be on a football team. It's just different, that family bond."

He'll study business management and marketing.

"When I had my visit, it was a little different than my other visits," he said. "It felt like home. The feeling walking around the with the coaches. I could see myself there the next four years. It stood out and felt like the right place."

Cook won't stop working now. He already spends four days a week at Ashland.

"Doing summer stuff, I was nervous coming into a DII school as a freshman again," he said. "An underdog. Everyone has been accepting and the energy everyone brings to lifting and conditioning and 7-on-7s, I'm excited.

"It's a big step from high school to college. In everything, life and sports and leadership. I picked Ashland with the competition and the bond we're creating before camp even starts."

He won't have to wonder what work they're doing, they'll be right there with him. We know what Cook will be doing.

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Clyde's Jaden Cook heads to Ashland football team ready to work