Oak Hills eclectic, electric 3-star back Karson Cox not adverse to house calls

Imposing junior with sprinter speed has been on unofficial visits throughout the Pac-12 conference, most recently to Oregon, where fans chanted his name

HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA – The Oak Hills High football team leads Highland by 14 points but is backed up to its 1-yard line.

The play is sent in, but Karson Cox changes it.

“The coach gives us the freedom to audible, and he changed it to an outside zone,” quarterback Diego Lopez said. “And the line blocked it super good.”

Cox, the three-star running back, takes a handoff and bursts over the right side through a huge hole. “Whooo!” an excited fan yells. Cox evades a tackle at his own 30 and another at the Highland 40 and zooms into the end zone, waving his arms like a surfer paddling out.

Not done yet, Cox whiffs on a flying chest bump with a lineman, high-fives his way to the bench, then circles back to toss the ball to a ref.

“I was surfing,” Cox said of his gyrations. “I got it from (offensive lineman) Bell Tulafono’s brother. When I was a ball boy here he used to do that. So I started doing it too.”

Karson Cox with both hands securing the ball during a recent game. He's rushed for more than 900 yards and 11 touchdowns. Photo: Courtesy of Karson Cox

Physically imposing at 6-foot, 190 pounds and with sprinter’s speed, Cox is a junior star for the Bulldogs (5-1), who travel to Serrano (3-3) on Friday. He’s rushed for 933 yards and 11 touchdowns, has 11 Division I offers, and recently returned from a visit to Oregon.

“He’s patient and has good vision, and the breakaway speed to finish things off,” Oak Hills coach Robert Metzger said.

Quick study

Cox sat on a sideline bench in Oak Hills’ massive stadium on Sept. 26 and told his story. That happened to be the day UCLA running backs coach DeShaun Foster visited.

“I started out in Victorville playing soccer and this coach saw me and said to come out and play football,” Cox said. “My first team was the Adelanto Raiders.”

By 12, Cox was a seasoned player with the Oak Hills Bulldogs youth team, lining up behind current teammate Paki Finau, a University of Washington commit.

A portrait after a recent practice. Photo: John Murphy

“Paki didn’t start playing until he was 12,” said Si’i Finau, the mother of the future Husky. “Karson was already an up-and-coming player. The first game Paki was supposed to block a guy and he didn’t, and Karson just got blown up. He helped Karson up and Karson just patted Paki on the back and told him who he was supposed to block.”

That’s not unusual at Oak Hills practice where younger players often go to Cox for guidance.

4-star Washington-bound lineman Paki Finau, Pou Tatofi all about family at Oak Hills

“He’s rare,” said injured Bulldog quarterback Lopez, as Lopez munched on sunflower seeds. “You just don’t see that kind of leadership that often. He’s super smart and he knows not only his job but everyone else’s.”

Boom! Cox to the house

Cox started the 2023 season with a bang. He bolted for an 80-yard touchdown against Aquinas of San Bernardino on the first play from scrimmage.

“I broke three tackles and scored,” Cox said. “Started off the year with a bang. The line blocked it perfectly.”

The Bulldogs (5-1) were really at their smashing best last Friday. That's when they defeated previously unbeaten rival Hesperia 42-3. Cox rushed for 212 yards, including an 80-yard TD romp.

Karson Cox during a break at practice. Photo: John Murphy

“The O-line does an amazing job,” said Cox, rattling off the names of linemen Joseph James, Nicholas Fovozzo, Tupou Tatofi, Bell Tulafono, Johnny Notarianni, and Finau. “They know on game day to ball out. As long as they just do their jobs, everything’s gonna be all right.”

Oregon Dreamin'

Cox has been to games at USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon. He visited Oregon two weekends ago.

That’s when the Deion Sanders roadshow touched down in Eugene. Sanders’ Colorado team was humbled by Oregon 42-6 .

“I saw Deion,” Cox said of the Colorado coach. “He was making his lap around, but he didn’t make it over to the Oregon side.”

Calling the Oregon experience “amazing,” Cox described the thrill of having the cheering section chant his name.

“It was a very special moment to me,” he said.

Cox poses in Oregon uniform during his recent trip to Eugene. Photos: Courtesy University of Oregon 

Eclectic, driven

Cox still lives in Victorville with his parents Kenny and Tanishaa Cox. He has three sisters – 10-year-old Kruise and 20-year-old twins Kayla and Kelsy. And don’t forget the two Dobermans, Sir and Lady, Cox’s frequent running partners.

A straight-A student with eclectic tastes, Cox listens to such diverse musical artists as NBA YoungBoy, Korn, and Luke Bryan.

“My team goal is to go back-to-back-to-back in league,” Cox said. “I’d like to lead the area in touchdowns and rushing and make it to CIF and to state. I believe we can do that with this team.” 

(All photos below by John Murphy)

Future Oregon Ducks' receiver Dillon Gresham is cautionary 'real deal' at San Jacinto

Cajon's Chapman twins soar toward stardom, lifted by role models