Undrafted Cox: ‘It’s a Blessing’ to Get Opportunity

After a troubled college career, talented Brenton Cox will have to do the right things on and off the field to make it with the Green Bay Packers.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Jul 25, 2023 1:57 PM EDT
Original:
Jul 25, 2023

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Not every player gets a second chance. Brenton Cox did and wasted it. Given another chance – perhaps a final chance – by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent, Cox knows what’s at stake with training camp on the horizon.

“It means everything,” Cox said at the end of minicamp last month. “I’ve been through a lot. Just trying to make ends meet and get me a job here.”

Cox was a five-star recruit who was so good that he started in the Sugar Bowl as a true freshman in 2018. That, however, would be his final game for the powerhouse Bulldogs. Cox was dismissed from the team and landed at Florida.

After sitting out the 2019 season, Cox started all 12 games in 2020 and all 13 games during a breakout 2021 in which he had 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for losses. He started the first eight games of the 2022 season with two sacks and six tackles for losses before he was dismissed from the Gators, as well, for an “accumulation” of issues.

“I think that being a football player at the University of Florida is a privilege [and] there are certainly expectations that come with that,” Gators coach Billy Napier said at the time. “We’re certainly going to do everything in our power to help him.”

Napier lived up to his word. Cox remained in school and earned his degree. Napier allowed Cox to go through drills at the Gators’ annual pro day.

Those two things helped pave Cox’s way to Green Bay.

“I would think so,” he said. “I just put my head down and keep working. I’ve been through a lot of things. Them giving me this opportunity, it’s just a blessing, man. I’m just trying to make the most of it.”

Cox said he talked to a “a few teams” before the draft. One of those teams was Green Bay, with outside linebackers coach Jason Rebrovich asking a blunt question.

“I’ve grown, I’ve matured a lot,” Cox said of his message to teams. “If you want to take a chance on me, I understand; if you don’t, I understand, as well. Just give me a shot, give me a way to put my foot back in the door.”

The Packers did, making him part of their undrafted class.

“They told me with my situation, it’d be hard to take me” in the draft, Cox said. “I was just very lucky for Green Bay to give me that call on draft day. I was very appreciative. I’m just coming out here, showing what I can do, competing with the guys, being around the team again. It’s been fun to me. Just being around the team, that’s something that I missed the last few games at Florida.

Cox got off to a good start. On June 6, coach Matt LaFleur was asked which rookies had impressed him during the practices when reporters were not present. He mentioned first-round pick Lukas Van Ness among a few draft picks. He also mentioned Cox as making “splash” plays.

“Getting to know the team, getting to know the coaches, having fun, working hard, going hard in practice and showing up on time and being a professional,” Cox said when asked what he’d been doing so well.

“Being around a lot of professional guys has motivated me to be better. Just come in every day and work and get better. Being around guys like Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander and Jordan Love at times, even though we’re on the other side of the ball, I’m watching guys on how to get better.”

Cox’s productivity at Florida was impressive. At 6-foot-4 and 259 pounds, he’s got the requisite size. After the draft, one team’s top college scout said a Cox without the red flags would have been worth a sixth-round draft pick.

“I’m looking for a violent approach,” he said. “Every rush, I’m just trying to get pressure on the quarterback. Obviously, you can’t hit the quarterback in training camp but just being consistent, just going hard every day.

“Showing up’s Step 1. That’s the start of the day: showing up, getting to know your guys, knowing your plays, knowing your technique and go out there and fly around. That’s what I plan on doing.”

Following three weeks of OTAs and the minicamp, Cox said he’d return home to Stockbridge, Ga. After a quick break to get his legs fresh, he said it would be “straight grinding” to get ready for training camp.

He’ll compete in a crowded position group led by Rashan Gary and Preston Smith and including Van Ness and returning players Kingsley Enagbare and Justin Hollins. It will be up to Cox to force his way onto the roster through his actions on and off the field.

“I would love to stay here,” he said. “It’s up to the people upstairs. Like I said, I’m just going to put my head down and keep working.”