Chargers 90-in-90: RB Jeremy Cox

Jeremy Cox was raised in Hope Mills, N.C. and attended South View High School where he was a two-time First-Team All-Conference selection. He rushed for over 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior and was a 3-star recuit by both Rivals and 247 Sports after graduation.

Cox played four seasons at Old Dominion playing in 39 games and amassing 2,175 yards on 441 carries (4.9 yards per attempt) while scoring 23 rushing touchdowns.

As a freshman in 2015, Cox started 4 games and appeared in 6 others. He was second on the team in rushing and generally acquitted himself well. In his sophomore campaign, he played in what would end up being a career-high 12 games (starting 8) and by far his most impressive year. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground and also added the only receiving touchdown of his collegiate career.

Coming off that great season, Cox started 9 games, tallying 621 rushing yards and 4 scores, before he suffered a season-ending. He appeared in another 9 games as a senior and ended his time at Old Dominion on a high note, rushing for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns (including a game-clinching 40-yarder) in a win over VMI.

Cox ultimately went undrafted in 2019, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Chargers on May 10, 2019.

Basic Info

Height: 6-0

Weight: 235

College: Old Dominion

Experience: R

Years with team: 0

Contract Status

Jeremy Cox is signed to a 3-year, $1,755,000 contract with an average annual value of $585,000.

The Good

Cox is a quality athlete with good size. He clocked in at 4.42 in the 40-yard dash while tipping the scales at over 220 pounds. He also logged an impressive 39-inch vertical jump. As a bigger than average back, Cox runs like a man less encumbered by those extra pounds, but he also knows how to run with power and pick up the extra yards after contact. What really stands out when you watch him, though, is his balance. He is not easily knocked from his feet and those feet rarely stop moving.

The Bad

Despite playing at Old Dominion, Cox was unable to force the coaches’ hand and play him as a true feature back. He was limited to a share (albeit a large share) of the backfield work. And in addition to that, he also was only able to complete one full season without succumbing to injury. The thing that is most likely to hold him back is that he was not able to demonstrate the ability to be a receiving threat. He never caught more than 24 balls or claimed more than 175 yards through the air. It’s possible that he could become an asset in the passing game, but we certainly haven’t seen it.

Odds of making the roster/What to expect in 2019

The rookie out of Old Dominion, Jeremy Cox, is an undrafted free agent with an intriguing combination of size and athleticism. He brings a running style that the Chargers’ roster otherwise does not have. That said, he will probably need an injury to one of the guys above him on the depth chart to even compete for a spot on the 53-man. As it stands, his best chance of being part of the organization after August is to beat out Troymaine Pope for a slot on the practice squad. Either way, I’m rooting for him.

Fun Fact: Jeremy Cox says he models his game after Marshawn Lynch, Adrian Peterson, and Saquon Barkley (and he stressed how much he appreciates their humility).