Bryan Cook is an American football safety who shall play for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft by the Chiefs as the 62nd overall pick. 

Smith was born on September 7th, 1999 in Cincinnati Ohio. He moved to Mount Healthy Ohio where did his schooling at Mount Healthy High School. In his senior year, Smith earned a place in the first-team All-Southwest Ohio Conference after making 35 tackles, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 9 games on defence, as well as catching four passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns on offence. 

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His performances earned him a scholarship at Howard University which he accepted, to play his football for the Howard Bisons. In his Freshman year in 2017, he featured in 11 games 10 of them starts, and led the Bisons with 4 interceptions as well as 37 tackles, and five breakups. In 2018, his sophomore year, Cook started all 10 games for the Bisons making 56 tackles, four for loss, one interception returned for a touchdown, and seven pass breakups, before entering the NCAA transfer portal in order to continue his career back home in Cincinnati to play for the Bearcats. 

However, as per NCAA rules, he had to sit out the 2019 season, making it a redshirt year in which he was moved from cornerback to safety. In his first full season for the Bearcats, he made 26 tackles with two passes broken up, and in his senior year in 2021, he became regarded as one of the best safeties in the country as he was named to the first-team All-American Athletic Conference after a season where he made 96 tackles, five tackles for loss, and one sack with 9 passes defended and two interceptions. This earned him a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Cook has imposing size and strength that helps him hold up near the box, and also possesses a quick change of direction when reading the quarterback. His fine balance and tackle strength allow him to go about his business with good efficiency, avoiding unnecessary yardage, and he isn’t afraid to stick his nose into the thick of things. His ball skills are average though, and he is susceptible to missing tackles altogether at times. However his mentality is what stands out most, and he will definitely add depth to a squad and can be a high-level backup down the road, and more.