Derek Cox

Former NFL player

What is Derek Cox known for?

Derek Sinclair Cox, born on September 22, 1986 in Winterville, North Carolina, is a former American football player renowned for his skills as a cornerback. He began his journey towards professional football at Junius H. Rose High School located in Greenville, North Carolina. As a student, he played alongside Andre Brown, who would later become a running back for the Houston Texans.

Following high school, Cox continued his athletic career at William & Mary. There, he was a four-year starter and a two-time all-Colonial Athletic Association selection. His senior season was particularly impressive, finishing tied for fifth in the CAA with four interceptions and returned two of these for touchdowns.

Despite not being invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, Cox was selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his first NFL game, he made headlines by intercepting a pass from Peyton Manning, intended for Reggie Wayne, and recovered a fumble. Cox ended his rookie season with 58 tackles and 4 interceptions.

Following his stint with the Jaguars, Cox moved to the San Diego Chargers in 2013. While there, he had the opportunity to intercept Andrew Luck, eventually helping his team secure a victory. However, due to inconsistent play, he was shifted to special teams and concluded the season with a career-low 38 tackles and 1 interception.

Cox further went on to play briefly for the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, followed by a short-term contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Throughout his career, he secured 241 total tackles, 13 interceptions, 39 pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

For additional details on Derek Cox's career statistics, you can visit his profile on NFL.com.