Demetrious Cox
{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Demetrious Cox
| image =
| current_team =
| number = 37
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|4|20}}
| birth_place = Jeannette, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 200
| high_school = Jeannette
| college = Michigan State
| undraftedyear = 2017
| pastteams =
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
- Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})*
- New York Guardians ({{XFL Year|2020}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2021}})*
| status =
| cflstatus =
| highlights =
- Third-team All-Big Ten (2015)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 4
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Pass deflections
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 =
| pfr = CoxxDe00
}}
Demetrious Cox (born April 20, 1994) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans, and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
Early life
Cox played high school football at Jeannette Senior High School in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, and was a three-year starter. He completed 55 of 88 passes for 698 yards and 4 touchdowns while also rushing for 621 yards and 12 touchdowns his junior year in 2010. He also recorded 55 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2010. Cox completed 62 of 106 passes for 910 yards and 9 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,263 yards and 22 touchdowns his senior year in 2011. He also recorded 63 tackles and 3 interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, in 2011. Jeannette had a 12–1 record and advanced to the state championship game in 2011. He was named an All-American by SuperPrep, MaxPreps and PrepStar. Cox also played basketball at Jeannette and scored over 1,000 career points. He averaged 18 points per game his junior season, earning All-Conference honors.{{cite web | url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/DemetriousCox.pdf | title=Demetrious Cox | publisher=grfx.cstv.com | access-date=October 10, 2017 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010224327/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/DemetriousCox.pdf | archive-date=October 10, 2017 }}
College career
At Michigan State University, Cox was a four-year letterman for the Spartans from 2013 to 2016. He was redshirted in 2012.
He played in 14 games in 2013, recording 3 solo tackles and 3 tackle assists. He played in 13 games, starting 1, in 2014, totaling 19 solo tackles, 7 tackle assists, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. His one start was at cornerback. Cox played in 14 games, all starts, in 2015, recording 48 solo tackles, 31 tackle assists, 7 pass breakups, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery which was returned for a touchdown. He started eight games at cornerback and six at safety. He was named Third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the media. Cox played in ten games, all starts at free safety, in 2016, totaling 21 solo tackles, 34 tackle assists, 5 pass breakups and 1 interception which was returned for a touchdown. He was one of three team captains in 2016.
He played in 51 games, starting 25, during his college career, recording 91 solo tackles, 75 tackle assists, 1 sack, 14 pass breakups, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumbled, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 touchdowns. He graduated from Michigan State in May 2016 with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies in social science.
Professional career
Cox was rated the 12th best free safety in the 2017 NFL draft by NFLDraftScout.com.
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0
| weight = 200
| dash = 4.55
| ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.61
| shuttle = 4.33
| cone drill = 7.02
| vertical = 34
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 4
| bench = 26
| note = All values from Michigan State Pro Day{{cite web | url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=122547&draftyear=2017&genpos=CB | title=Demetrious Cox | website=NFLDraftScout.com | access-date=October 10, 2017 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010225150/http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=122547&draftyear=2017&genpos=CB | archive-date=October 10, 2017 }}
}}
Cox signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2017.{{cite web | url=http://www.bengals.com/news/transactions.html | title=Transactions | publisher=bengals.com | access-date=October 10, 2017 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010225458/http://www.bengals.com/news/transactions.html | archive-date=October 10, 2017 }} He was waived on September 2, 2017.
On September 3, 2017, Cox was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers.{{cite web | url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-claim-Brad-Kaaya-and-Demetrious-Cox/74b9ed41-5f37-4ce3-b8f1-b6d973c85fad | title=Panthers claim Brad Kaaya and Demetrious Cox | website=Panthers.com | date=September 3, 2017 | access-date=October 10, 2017 | author=Henson, Max | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010225712/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-claim-Brad-Kaaya-and-Demetrious-Cox/74b9ed41-5f37-4ce3-b8f1-b6d973c85fad | archive-date=October 10, 2017 }} He was placed on injured reserve on October 24, 2017, with an ankle injury.{{cite web|title=Panthers claim WR Kaelin Clay off waivers|url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-claim-WR-Kaelin-Clay-off-waivers/3aa675f8-8686-418c-b908-34e816809aba|author=Strickland, Bryan|website=Panthers.com|date=October 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308223811/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-claim-WR-Kaelin-Clay-off-waivers/3aa675f8-8686-418c-b908-34e816809aba|archive-date=March 8, 2018}} On August 31, 2018, Cox was waived by the Panthers.{{cite web|title=Panthers announce first wave of cuts|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-announce-first-wave-of-cuts|author=Henson, Max|website=Panthers.com|date=August 31, 2018}}
On September 3, 2018, Cox was signed to the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Cardinals round out practice squad with 3 defensive players|url=https://cardswire.usatoday.com/2018/09/03/az-arizona-cardinals-practice-squad/|work=Cards Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=September 3, 2018}} He was released on October 2, 2018.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Sign Former Starter Darian Thompson For Practice Squad|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-sign-former-starter-darian-thompson-for-practice-squad|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=October 2, 2018}}
On October 10, 2018, Cox was signed to the Bengals practice squad.{{cite web|title=Bengals sign DB Demetrious Cox to practice squad|url=https://www.cincyjungle.com/2018/10/10/17960676/bengals-sign-db-demetrious-cox-to-practice-squad|website=CincyJungle.com|date=October 10, 2018}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bengals on December 31, 2018.{{cite web|title=Bengals Sign Five To Reserve/Future Contracts|url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-five-to-reserve-future-contracts|website=Bengals.com|date=December 31, 2018}} He was waived during final roster cuts on August 30, 2019.{{cite news |title=Bengals Waive 11 Players |url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-waive-11-players |website=Bengals.com |date=August 30, 2019 |access-date=August 30, 2019}}
Cox was selected in the 5th round during phase four in the 2020 XFL Draft by the New York Guardians.{{cite web|title=DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD DRAFT TRACKER|url=https://www.xfl.com/en-US/articles/defensive-backfield-draft-tracker|website=XFL.com|date=October 14, 2019}} He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.{{cite news |author=Condotta, Bob |title=XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/xfl-suspends-operations-terminates-all-employees/ |website=SeattleTimes.com |date=April 10, 2020 |access-date=July 17, 2020}}
Cox signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL on January 15, 2021.{{cite news |title=Blue Bombers add three to roster |url=https://www.bluebombers.com/2021/01/15/blue-bombers-add-three-roster-2/ |website=BlueBombers.com |date=January 15, 2021 |access-date=February 22, 2021}} He was released on June 18, 2021.{{cite tweet |user=Wpg_BlueBombers |author=Winnipeg Blue Bombers |title=The teams released the following players from the roster:• DB Malik Boynton • WR Kayaune Ross • DB Demetrious Cox • DB Damian Swann |number=1405877183382491137 |date=June 18, 2021 |access-date=June 21, 2021}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/demetrious-cox-1.html College stats]
- [http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/demetrious_cox_810667.html Michigan State Spartans bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014084328/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/demetrious_cox_810667.html |date=October 14, 2017 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Demetrious}}
Category:People from Jeannette, Pennsylvania
Category:Players of American football from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Category:American football safeties
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:Michigan State Spartans football players
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players
Category:Carolina Panthers players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:New York Guardians players