Fifth-year senior linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. is ready for a breakout season in 2022. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Cox Takes Aim At Record, Powell Speaks Up
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Brenton Cox Jr. saved his best for last a season ago, recording five sacks in the final two games.
Cox wants to repeat the feat this season — but on a larger scale.
"I'm going to try and beat the sack record this year,'' Cox said.
The sack record Cox eyes belongs to Alex Brown, who in 1999 set the single-season school record of 13 sacks. Cox boosted his team-high 8.5 sacks in 2021 by tying the single-game school record of four in the win over Florida State. He added another one in the Gasparilla Bowl loss to UCF.
If Cox maintains that pace, he'll supplant Brown in the school record book by midseason. Of course, vocalizing goals in spring camp and reaching them on the field are two different worlds. Still, there is no doubt the 6-foot-4, 253-pound fifth-year senior has flashed intriguing potential when healthy.
"Brenton, he was one of the first ones that came up to the meeting room. We sat and talked for a while," said outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson, a former UF and NFL standout. "I wanted him to get to know me, and I wanted to get him to know him as well. I've been watching him for a while. I actually recruited him when he was coming out. So I was familiar with him. I'm excited to get out there on the field and let him do his thing."
The problem for Cox last season was that he was never fully healthy, hampered by a foot injury that required offseason surgery. Cox played in all 13 games and finished with 14.5 tackles for loss. He flirted with entering the draft, but when he received a mid-round grade from the NFL, Cox refocused on finishing strong with the Gators.
"I just felt I had more in the tank,'' Cox said.
A former five-star recruit who transferred to UF from Georgia following the 2018 season, Cox said he is healthy and that his foot feels good. He is also motivated to shed the label of not playing hard on every play.
He said Peterson discussed his reputation with him when they first talked.
"He's been preaching to me that if you're not at the TV box by the time the play is over then it's a loaf, you're not running to the ball," Cox said. "That's helped me turn the other way and get going when I'm done with my rush. I can't make all the plays, but the ones that I could have gone harder on, I took off. I can honestly say I took off a couple plays, but I'm here to make it up. It's all mental. It's a learning experience."
If Cox is serious about that sack record, he must avoid hitting the off switch.
PROJECTING POWELL
Gators redshirt sophomore linebacker Antwaun Powell is a bit of a mystery. First, he goes by Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. nowadays, a change from last season's roster.
In his first two seasons at UF, Powell surfaced a couple of times for what he did on the field. He was ejected along with teammate Zachary Carter after the scuffle against Missouri entering halftime in 2020, and he had 1.5 sacks last season in the wild win over Vanderbilt. Otherwise, Powell's best work has come in the classroom, where he made the All-SEC academic fall honor roll twice.
However, with a new coaching staff and a fresh start, Powell is vying for more playing time at outside linebacker behind Cox and Lloyd Summerall III.
And with Peterson's encouragement, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Powell has turned up the volume on the field – literally.
"He's a great kid,'' Peterson said. "Real quiet."
"I try to use my voice a lot more," Powell said. "When calling out the plays, we use hand signals. So, I try to make noise and try to let the defense know what's going on and how to play it."
Powell said the most significant adjustment for him as he gets more reps this spring is the game's speed. Otherwise, like so many unproven players on the roster, Powell seeks to crack the regular rotation in the first season with head coach Billy Napier in charge.
Peterson is trying to help Powell make it happen.
"The guy's explosive man; he's powerful," Peterson said.
Cox wants to repeat the feat this season — but on a larger scale.
"I'm going to try and beat the sack record this year,'' Cox said.
The sack record Cox eyes belongs to Alex Brown, who in 1999 set the single-season school record of 13 sacks. Cox boosted his team-high 8.5 sacks in 2021 by tying the single-game school record of four in the win over Florida State. He added another one in the Gasparilla Bowl loss to UCF.
If Cox maintains that pace, he'll supplant Brown in the school record book by midseason. Of course, vocalizing goals in spring camp and reaching them on the field are two different worlds. Still, there is no doubt the 6-foot-4, 253-pound fifth-year senior has flashed intriguing potential when healthy.
"Brenton, he was one of the first ones that came up to the meeting room. We sat and talked for a while," said outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson, a former UF and NFL standout. "I wanted him to get to know me, and I wanted to get him to know him as well. I've been watching him for a while. I actually recruited him when he was coming out. So I was familiar with him. I'm excited to get out there on the field and let him do his thing."
The problem for Cox last season was that he was never fully healthy, hampered by a foot injury that required offseason surgery. Cox played in all 13 games and finished with 14.5 tackles for loss. He flirted with entering the draft, but when he received a mid-round grade from the NFL, Cox refocused on finishing strong with the Gators.
"I just felt I had more in the tank,'' Cox said.
A former five-star recruit who transferred to UF from Georgia following the 2018 season, Cox said he is healthy and that his foot feels good. He is also motivated to shed the label of not playing hard on every play.
He said Peterson discussed his reputation with him when they first talked.
"He's been preaching to me that if you're not at the TV box by the time the play is over then it's a loaf, you're not running to the ball," Cox said. "That's helped me turn the other way and get going when I'm done with my rush. I can't make all the plays, but the ones that I could have gone harder on, I took off. I can honestly say I took off a couple plays, but I'm here to make it up. It's all mental. It's a learning experience."
If Cox is serious about that sack record, he must avoid hitting the off switch.
Gators redshirt sophomore linebacker Antwaun Powell is a bit of a mystery. First, he goes by Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. nowadays, a change from last season's roster.
In his first two seasons at UF, Powell surfaced a couple of times for what he did on the field. He was ejected along with teammate Zachary Carter after the scuffle against Missouri entering halftime in 2020, and he had 1.5 sacks last season in the wild win over Vanderbilt. Otherwise, Powell's best work has come in the classroom, where he made the All-SEC academic fall honor roll twice.
However, with a new coaching staff and a fresh start, Powell is vying for more playing time at outside linebacker behind Cox and Lloyd Summerall III.
And with Peterson's encouragement, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Powell has turned up the volume on the field – literally.
"He's a great kid,'' Peterson said. "Real quiet."
"I try to use my voice a lot more," Powell said. "When calling out the plays, we use hand signals. So, I try to make noise and try to let the defense know what's going on and how to play it."
Powell said the most significant adjustment for him as he gets more reps this spring is the game's speed. Otherwise, like so many unproven players on the roster, Powell seeks to crack the regular rotation in the first season with head coach Billy Napier in charge.
Peterson is trying to help Powell make it happen.
"The guy's explosive man; he's powerful," Peterson said.
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