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Marcus Cox - Running Back - Appalachian State
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 205 lbs
Vertical Jump (Pro Day): 30.5”
Broad Jump (Pro Day): 10”
40 Yard Dash (Pro Day): 4.58 Seconds (1st Attempt), 4.62 Seconds (2nd Attempt)
Bench Press (Pro Day): 13 Reps
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The Dacula, Georgia native set App State ablaze in 2013 as a freshman with 1,250 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns. He tied the school freshman record with 15 rushing touchdowns and was named SoCon freshman of the year. Everyone around the Appalachian State program knew they had something special in the former two-star prospect.
Marcus put together another great season in 2014 as a sophomore. He ranked 22nd in FBS rushing with 1,415 rushing yards averaging 118 yards a game. He also tallied 19 rushing touchdowns which led the Sun Belt and ranked 4th in single season ASU history. He was also a second team All-Sun Belt selection.
In 2015 as a junior, Marcus had a near identical season as he was once again an all Sun Belt 2nd team selection with 1,423 rushing yards on the year, good enough for 13th nationally. He averaged 118.6 yards per game and also ranked among the nation’s leaders (20th) with 131.92 all-purpose yards per game. Cox was one of only three running backs to have at least 100 yards rushing against Clemson as he finished the game with 103 yards on the ground. He was also named MVP of the Camellia Bowl with a 162 yard effort.
2016 was the swan song for Marcus. He entered his senior season as the nation’s 2nd active leading rusher with 4,088 yards for his career and was just 716 yards short of the school’s all time leading rusher in Kevin Richardson. Cox’s senior season would see him reach the milestone he was expected to hit. Cox suffered an injury early on against Miami and would miss the next few games. During a blowout win against ULM in November he became the all-time leading rusher in ASU history. Cox would further advance his history-making season when in the Camellia Bowl against Toledo he eclipsed the 5,000 yard mark for his career.
No doubt about it, Cox is small for a NFL back but if he can be put in the right system he could be utilized in a different way than just strictly as a running back. I could see him possibly being a special teams guy if he can up his speed just a tick.
I can’t say for sure that Marcus will get drafted. I would love to see him taken in the sixth or seventh round and that could be a possibility. I think if you’re a team that has multiple picks in the sixth or seventh round you have to at least think hard about drafting Marcus. You are going to get the all-time leading rusher in ASU history and a kid that comes from a winning culture. More than likely he will be one of the first backs signed after the draft is completed should he not get his name called.