Originally appeared on Vype.com.

HOUSTON—Moments before stepping out to sit at the table with cameras pointed in his direction, Anthony Cook delivered some bad news.

Cook called Texas coach Tom Herman to let him know he would be choosing another school.

After breaking his heart, Cook came out and finished off the joke on Herman by pulling out a bright burnt orange cap with the white Longhorn logo across the front and committed to the University of Texas on Wednesday.

“He was laughing,” Cook said about Herman’s reaction when he Facetimed him after his commitment. “‘I knew you were playing,'"(Herman said).

Cook had his top three schools narrowed down to Texas, LSU and Ohio State heading into the first ever early National Signing Day.

In past years a trend in Houston has seen top players leave the state to play college football but Cook wasn’t going to follow that.

“I’m from Texas,” Cook said. “If I would have went to any other school and then I see my Texas school winning a national championship that would have hurt my heart. So I couldn’t let that pass.”

On this day Cook was joined by teammates D’Shawn Jamison and Al’vonte Woodard, who both also signed to the University of Texas.

“It does make it easier (having) familiar faces,” Cook said. “We’re going in and we’re all going to experience the same thing. We’re going to be new but we’re going to get through it together.”

Cook had 30 offers heading into the day, according to Rivals.com, which ranked him as the No. 1 prospect to come out of Texas this recruiting class. Cook was ranked as the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class.