100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 94 Days - Former No. 94 Fletcher Cox
Jeff Lebby’s era of Mississippi State football has arrived.
The Bulldogs are on their third coach in as many years as Mike Leach’s tragic passing opened the door for defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s debut as head coach last year. That experiment failed before the year even ended for State and now it’s Lebby’s turn to take the wheel.
While there is always a risk in hiring first time head coaches, Lebby brings to Starkville an exciting offensive scheme that has been productive everywhere he’s been. The coach has also brought with him some swagger that has the fanbase ready to see what’s next.
Over the course of the next 100 days, we will take a look at Lebby’s roster and even some fun historical rewinds that will bring back memories for Dawg fans of all ages.
Today, we take a look back at an all-time great in Starkville and beyond.
100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 94 Days – Former Bulldog great Fletcher Cox
It seems like yesterday that Cox was starting his career in Starkville, but the incredible football run has come to an end for the big man.
Cox came to MSU as a freakish athlete with a frame built for growth. At Yazoo City, Cox was one of the best linemen in the country. He was recruited heavily by Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn and LSU, but he wanted to play ball for State.
On the field, Cox had 104 tackles during his final season at Yazoo and added 10.0 sacks with an interception and fumble recovery. Cox was also a track runner and had an unbelievable 4.47 40-yard dash.
Cox’s first couple of season gave fans a taste of the type of player he could be. He made 58 tackles total in those two seasons and had 10.0 tackles for loss with 3.5 sacks. His freshman work earned him Freshman All-SEC honors.
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By his junior season, Cox was starting to hit his stride. He had built his body into a machine and had 56 tackles in 2011 with 14.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, two blocked field goals a fumble recovery and forced fumble. He earned All-American honors and shot up draft boards due to his freakish abilities at 6’4 and nearly 300 pounds.
Draft day came for Cox in 2012 and he walked across the stage as the No. 12 pick by the Philadelphia Eagles. His loyalty to the Eagles and theirs in return would prove to be admirable over the course of the next decade.
Cox starred for Philly for 12 seasons. He amassed 519 tackles, had 70.0 sacks, 16 pass deflections, 16 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries and three touchdowns. He was a four-time All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl Champion. In 2019, Cox was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team and recognized as one of the best defensive linemen in the league for the last 10 years.
He finished his career this past season with 5.0 sacks and retired a couple of months ago where he started.
Cox has built a resume that will see him one day enter the Bulldogs’ Ring of Honor. He’s one of the all-time greats in Philly, but he also has collected a Hall of Fame legacy. State fans should be proud that he is one of theirs.
