FAYETTEVILLE -- Offensive lineman Brey Cook found himself on the Arkansas bench last season when the Razorbacks opened SEC play against Texas A&M.
After moving from tackle the previous spring and starting the first four games at right guard, Cook was replaced in the lineup by freshman Denver Kirkland against the Aggies.
Cook, who signed with Arkansas after graduating from Springdale Har-Ber, was a junior with 11 career starts.
Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman said a lot of veteran players who were benched in favor of a freshman might have gone in the tank.
"Not Brey," Pittman said. "He's from here locally, and it means a lot for him to represent this community. I just think he said, 'I'm not going to be on the bench. It's too embarrassing for me, and I'm not going to do it.' "
A week after the Texas A&M game, Cook was back in the starting lineup at right tackle, where he's become a fixture. Cook will make his 18th consecutive start at right tackle when Arkansas plays Ole Miss today at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"I wanted to come out and fight and give it one last shot," Cook said. "Obviously, it paid off for me and I just wanted to keep it rolling."
Cook, a team captain, has replaced Travis Swanson as the leader of the offensive line. Swanson, a four-year starter at center, is a rookie with the Detroit Lions.
"Brey's been awesome this year," sophomore left tackle Dan Skipper said. "He's a guy that cares a lot about the game and a lot about us. He means a great deal to us on and off the field. He's taught us a lot about football as well as a lot about life."
Pittman said Cook is in Swanson's class as a leader.
"We appreciate him for that, and Brey's a good football player as well," Pittman said. "We're going to miss him next year."
Cook is among 20 Arkansas seniors who will play their final home game today. The seniors will be honored on the field during a pregame ceremony.
"You try not to think about it as much and focus on the Xs and Os and everything at practice," Cook said. "I honestly couldn't tell you how I'm going to feel. I'm excited about it. It's going to be different."
Bret Bielema, in his second season as Arkansas' coach, said Cook has been instrumental in helping revive the program after Bobby Petrino's firing and John L. Smith's stint as interim coach.
"The legacy that he'll leave here is second to none," Bielema said.
Cook may not receive All-American or All-SEC honors, Bielema said, but he has been a player who bought into the new coaching staff's message and convinced teammates to do the same.
"The mark he's left on this program, it may not be very well-documented to the general public," Bielema said. "But for the people on the inside that know, his weight is worth a thousand times more in gold."
Leadership qualities aside, Cook wouldn't be starting if he wasn't playing well.
"He's had a really good career here," Pittman said. "He's real physical in the run game. When he hits you, he knocks you around a little bit. He's a better puller than people might think. He's got to continue to work on his pass protection, but the rest of his game is pretty solid."
Pittman said he believes Cook is good enough to play in the NFL and will be impressive in workouts if he gets an invitation to the scouting combine.
"He'd blow some numbers away," Pittman said. "I think Brey would shock them in the running category, and he'd lift 225 pounds 40 times or so."
Bielema said Cook has made tremendous improvement the past two seasons.
"The player I see now versus the player I saw when we first got here has come a million miles," Bielema said.
Cook has played for three head coaches at Arkansas on teams with records of 11-2, 4-8, 3-9 and 5-5.
"It's been a roller coaster," Cook said. "It's been all over the place, but I would't trade it for the world. I'd do it over again if I could. It's been so much fun. I'm excited to try to end it up right."
Cook even would want to go through the tough times again?
"I grew a lot from everything," he said. "We all did. I love these guys."
Skipper said Cook's experiences -- good and bad -- made him a better leader.
"He's a guy that's been tested and proven," Skipper said. "He's overcome a lot of adversity."
Sports on 11/22/2014