Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

After playing his freshman year at Georgia, Gators linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. transferred to Florida to become a part of the Gator Nation. While waiting for his opportunity to return to the field due to NCAA transfer rules, Cox Jr. earned a redshirt his sophomore year.

The Stockbridge, Georgia native made his debut as a Gator during Florida’s 2020 season opener at Ole Miss, where he tallied a total of eight tackles—four of which were solo, one sack for four yards, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Since his first game as a Gator, Cox Jr. has become an essential piece of the Gators defensive front. This season, Cox Jr. started in all regular-season games in addition to the 2020 SEC Championship Game against the No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Prior to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Cox Jr. recorded 41 total tackles (21 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery. His 9.5 tackles for loss are tied for the most among Gators defenders this year and fourth in the SEC, while his four sacks rank second in the team.

However, his performance on the field is not the only item that stands out about Cox Jr. He currently is majoring in Educational Sciences and boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.69, one of the highest among his teammates. Although Cox Jr. had to take a pause from competing in the game that he loves, his unwavering commitment to his team and the game itself—paired with his achievements in the classroom, have exemplified his character, work ethic and leadership nature among his teammates.