02 Aug Preseason Scouting Notes: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Redshirt Senior | 6’3″ 233 lbs | Kansas City, Missouri | April 16, 1998
A versatile, high-flying linebacker with high-level athleticism and coverage capabilities
Overview:
Jabril Cox was a highly touted recruit until a horrific injury wiped out his junior year of high school and caused him to lose all of his FBS offers. He came to North Dakota State as a 2-star recruit and redshirted his freshman year. During his next three years, he would accumulate numerous accolades and awards and took his talents to Baton Rouge as a graduate transfer. While at NDSU, Cox played as a weak side backer with stints as a slot defender in their standard 4-3 base defense. At LSU, he will likely play a similar role on the weak side, but in their notorious 3-4 defense.
Strengths:
– High-level athleticism. Goes sideline to sideline with ease
– Possess ideal size and length for the position
– Able to recover from missed tackles and blocks to chase ball carries down field
– Advanced coverage skills. His athleticism allows him to hold up in man coverage with backs, tight ends and even some receivers. In zone, he shows comfort and route recognition across the middle as well as in the flats
– Closes space quickly downhill
– Offers a fair amount of speed off the edge when called upon
Areas to improve:
– Struggles to stack and shed to get off blocks consistently
– Pursuit angles are naive. Will consistently overrun ball carriers
– Lacks necessary physicality in run defense. Needs to improve his tackling technique
– Lacks a quick trigger when keying and diagnosing plays
– Motor is inconsistent. Will hustle down the field for a tackle but lazily pursue the ball carrier on the next play
Injury concerns:
– Torn ACL junior season of high school
– 2019 unspecified injury (missed South Dakota game)
Projection:
Cox looks to be a high potential player; high enough to boost his stock further than his play at the FCS level may suggest. Day one, he projects best as a sub-package linebacker with possibility to become a three down player in the future. Cox brings what is expected of modern day linebackers with his explosive athleticism and consistent production. Given his current abilities he will provide value as a core special teams member. With a good run this season in one of the toughest conferences in the country, Cox has a good chance to be a Day 1 selection, falling to mid-Day 2 at the latest.
What to watch in 2020:
While it was nearly six years ago, an ACL tear is nothing to take lightly, and continuing to strengthen his leg will be important for the remainder of his career. Going from an FCS school to the defending National Champs is quite the anomaly. Cox has the athletic prowess to hold up in the SEC, but can he hang with the physicality? Can the advanced coaching from Ed Orgeron and Bo Pelini help clean up the tackling technique and pursuit blunders? His development and usage as a Tiger will be vital for his stock for the 2021 draft.
- A native of southern Connecticut, Tim has been a passionate Cowboys fan since birth.
- Sports-Leisure Management major, knowledgeable in all aspects of sport and plans to get a career in this field.
- His interest in football has been life-long and he found his niche in scouting.
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