Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The annual Florida-Georgia game is a rivalry stuffed with pride, passion and history.

And Brenton Cox Jr. is written into the game's history in recent years — from both sides.

Raised in Georgia and a Bulldogs freshman linebacker in 2018, Cox and his family previously pulled for the Dawgs. The game still raises questions for Cox, who transferred to Florida in 2019 and is set to play in his fourth Florida-Georgia game on Saturday when the Gators and Bulldogs clash once more in Jacksonville.

The playful banter remains within his family about who's repping who. 

"Like my Dad, he says he's a Florida fan, but he's been a Georgia fan for 18 years," Cox said. "If he's lying to me, I don't know."

Family jokes aside, Cox means business come Saturday against the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs. 

"I'm looking to have the best game of my career — always — whether it's Georgia or another team," he said. "As far as for the team, we're working hard this week, the communication is better, and we want to give them a run for their money." Cox knows the key is to contain Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, who has been electric in leading the Bulldogs to an undefeated season so far. Bennett has passed for 2,033 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception through seven games and is 21-3 in his career as Georgia's starter.

For a Gators defense coming off a game in which LSU's Jayden Daniels passed for 349 yards, there is no secret on what they must do to try and knock Bennett off his game.

"You have to stay in your rush lane. That's the most important factor," Cox said.

Cox has become the most likely player in Orange & Blue to pressure Bennett. Cox leads the Gators with eight tackles for loss and is tied with Princely Umanmielen for the team lead in sacks (two). Cox has been a disruptive force all season for opposing offenses, missing out on sacks but racking up eight quarterback hurries.

He has flashed the ability that made him a five-star recruit out of Stockbridge (Ga.) High. When his season at Georgia didn't work out, he transferred to Florida and began his long road back. He played for the Bulldogs in their 36-17 win over Florida in 2018 and then was on the winning side two years later when Florida beat Georgia 44-28. Cox is a rarity in that he has played for both schools in the rivalry.

"I was kind of beat up coming from Georgia already, trying to get into that rotation over there," Cox said of sitting out the 2019 season due to then-NCAA transfer rules. "Coming here it gave me some time to recover and figure out the game more."

The fifth-year junior has undoubtedly developed his game. 

Once he returned to the field in 2020, he played eight games and recorded 24 tackles while earning two sacks and six tackles for losses. In the 2021 season, Cox nearly doubled his tackles, recording 41 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for losses. 

Through seven games this season, Cox has recorded 33 tackles.

The veteran has a message to the younger players on the UF defense, with the Bulldogs looming.

"I just tell them to keep their poise," Cox said. "It's a big game." 

TIAA Bank Field will be flooded with both orange and blue and red and black on Saturday. The Gators will be chomping, and the Dawgs will be barking.

Meanwhile, the Georgia native is fully aware of what to expect from the Georgia side of the stadium. 

"A whole fan base knowing me and wishing for our downfall," Cox said. "All you can do is take that with a grain of salt and keep moving, that's all. We are the underdogs. Obviously, they're the No. 1 team for a reason."

In what is expected to be Cox's final Florida-Georgia game, he plans to leave everything he has on the field. He expects the same from his teammates.

"We're ready to play, and we're ready to play hard,'' he said.