Newcomer Cox pushes to be pass-rushing force
After sitting out 2019, transfer from Georgia has been working hard
GAINESVILLE — The best candidate to become UF defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s next star pass rusher spent last season in the shadows and on the Gators scout team.
Brenton Cox Jr. is now ready to break out and live up to his five-star billing.
The fact the Georgia transfer is wearing jersey No. 1 — reserved for the team’s top playmakers — is a good start.
“I would think the player makes the jersey, not vice versa,” coach Dan Mullen said. “But I have high expectations for him no matter what jersey number he’s going to be in this year. We’ll see if he stays the No. 1.”
Doling out jersey numbers is a necessary evil for Mullen and can be a major distraction for his players. The Gators have yet to release an official 2020 roster as those decisions are sorted out.
“Guys like their jerseys numbers and the number actually does mean something to guys as a player,” Mullen said. “It did to me. It does to everybody. But it’s a colossal pain in the rear end.”
Whatever number Cox wears, Mullen hopes he’s a headache for opposing offenses.
Cox is champing at the bit after he had to sit out following his transfer last August.
Cox, a five-star recruit in 2018 from Stockbridge, Georgia, tallied 20 tackles as a Georgia freshman, including six during a loss to Texas in the 2019 Sugar Bowl. Last summer, though, he left the Bulldogs at the beginning of preseason camp and soon joined the Gators.
Cox made the most of his year away from football.
“I think he’s worked hard,” Mullen said. “He’s done a great job in the classroom since he’s been here, had over a 3.0 GPA every semester. Really worked hard in the off-season program … worked had on the scout team. Missed a spring ball [due to the pandemic] but has worked hard during going through our walkthroughs, learning the defense in the practices every day, works hard.”
Mullen still wonders why the NCAA did not grant Cox an eligibility waiver, given the ease with which most transfers have received them lately.
“I mean, love to see some transparency on how all those things go through, the why and what causes it,” Mullen said.
The Gators are happy to have Cox this season following the departure of SEC 2019 sacks leader Jon Greenard, a third-round pick by the Houston Texans. Greenard, who had 10 sacks last season, flourished during his one season in Gainesville playing in Grantham’s aggressive scheme. In 2018, Jachai Polite had 11 sacks and a nation-leading six forced fumbles.
Cox will line up primarily at the UF’s Buck position, but will move around the front seven as he looks to pressure the quarterback.
“You’ve got to cross-train a lot of different guys, especially a season like this where you don’t know how things are going to shape up,” Mullen said, referring the potential challenges posed by COVID-19. “You better have the depth and versatility. But I think he’s a guy that wants to play after college as well. In the NFL you want guys; the more versatility you have the better, so he’s a pretty versatile guy.”
The Gators also put sophomore linebacker Mohamoud Diabate in different positions to capitalize on his speed off the edge. Diabate looked unblockable during a three-sack day against Vanderbilt last season and will get a lot more chances to chase the QB in 2020. He also has the ability to line up at times in the middle of the defense.
“He’s a really athletic guy and he’s great pass rusher,” Mullen said. “But again, it’s flexibility. We want guys who can play multiple positions. So he’s the guy that we’re moving around to different spots on the field to try to create mismatches against the offense. When guys have that position flexibility and the ability to do multiple things, the key is making sure they do those things very, very well.
“Find out what they and keep putting him in to do well.” do well that position