Junior defensive lineman Fletcher Cox entered the season bearing high expectations from fans, coaches and players, alike. With the departure of Pernell McPhee to the NFL, Cox looked to become the most feared presence on the Mississippi State defensive line.
But things did not start out as planned for the Yazoo City native. After being suspended for the first game of the season, Cox made just six solo tackles and 11 assisted tackles through his first four games of the season.
With injuries plaguing the line and doubts arising in the minds of many due to a 2-3 record for the Bulldogs, something needed to happen to turn the season around, and Cox was the one to do it.
Three consecutive SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors, four sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and 18 total tackles over three games brought Cox’s name back in the spotlight and more importantly, helped Mississippi State get back on track and pull to an even 4-4 record.
What happened to Cox that turned things around so suddenly and drastically? He answered that question with one theme: practice. Cox said the awards mean a lot because they let him know his hard work has paid off, but he said he is practicing a whole lot better than he was earlier in the season.
“I am just coming out in practice and leaving it all on the field; not to say I wasn’t leaving it all on the field before, but I’m just practicing at a high level,” Cox said. “If I go back and look at film, the play that I made in practice will be probably the exact plays I made during the game.”
Defensive coordinator Chris Wilson said he has noticed a few changes in Cox. Wilson said he has not sprinkled any magic dust on Cox lately, but he is just playing harder.
“The biggest thing is we have played with his fundamentals a little bit and got him into some stances he’s more comfortable with,” Wilson said. “He’s a talented player, but now he’s putting that together with a great work ethic and great preparation.”
In State’s most recent game against Kentucky, Cox had back to back sacks in the first quarter but did not even realize this. He said he thought the sacks were from two different series. Wilson said it was neat to hear Cox did not notice the sacks coming back to back because that is how it should be, and Cox is just like that.
Cox’s renewed hard work at practice and outstanding play during games have affected more than just himself. His counterpart, junior Josh Boyd, has recorded 15 tackles in the last three games, and senior Sean Ferguson has added 14.
Wilson said Cox is definitely motivating the other guys on the line.
“You sit back and you watch some of his guys like Boyd, guys who came in with him, and Ferguson, who’s a year older, and they’re seeing the benefits of his hard work, his preparation, how hard he practices and the carry-over that he’s bringing to the games,” Wilson said. “He’s really getting a lot of those other guys excited about playing, too.”
Head coach Dan Mullen noticed how the improvement of the guys around Cox has helped him. Mullen said Cox is starting to play up to a level where he is expected to be.
“Earlier in the season, we were going through some growing pains. We had SEC talented players, but we just needed them SEC ready as soon as possible, and now these guys are playing at the SEC level that is expected of them,” Mullen said. “It’s not just Fletcher playing great; it’s the improvement of the other guys that’s strengthened Fletcher and allowed him to play with confidence.”
Cox is now the lone player in MSU history to earn a weekly award following three consecutive games. Though Cox said he does not care much about stats, he is getting the attention from teams around the league as well as the respect from his own team.
When he is not on the field practicing, Cox can be found in the film room with the rest of the d-line. Cox said there is a lot to be fixed concerning fundamentals and technique but is confident of the team’s ability to progress the rest of the season.
“I can be better at a lot of things technique-wise and pad level-wise. I’ll work on that as the season progresses, not saying we have a ton of games left, but I still go out and work on that every day,” Cox said. “Everybody is confident lately. The whole team is confident and the coaches are confident.”
Cox will look to continue his SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week streak to four consecutive weeks as State takes on UT Martin this weekend but, more importantly, he is seeking a Bulldog win on homecoming weekend.