Oklahoma State cornerback Perrish Cox has a lot to prove in this Senior Bowl game.
Firstly, to the Senior Bowl selection committee. To show that as a late addition, his selection was a worthy one. Secondly, to himself. To cement in his own mind that he is a top caliber player. And thirdly, to this doubters. To show that his suspension prior to the Cotton Bowl is not a reflection on him, his play on the field or his potential future at the next level.
Cox is working hard to show his value in Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Alabama and this hard work is not going unnoticed. In Wednesday’s practices, Cox picked off back-to-back passes and turned the heads of the scouts watching his performance. This Senior Bowl opportunity is a welcome one for Cox and if followed by a strong game performance and combine showing could vault this Cowboy up the draft board in into the place he dreams of playing – the National Football League.
After practices early in the week, Perrish stopped to talk with Jason Roberts of sister-site PRISM Press Group to share his thoughts on the Oklahoma State season and his week at the Senior Bowl:
How do you feel after two days of Senior Bowl practice completed?
I’m feeling alright. I don’t feel like I did what I know I can do. I feel like I came out, started off slow, but that’s coming off of a few weeks out of a game. Coming back in first day, getting some time with the players, so it’s coming around. I think I’m doing alright, but it could be better.
Are you getting comfortable with the defensive schemes for the game?
We’re not really running too many schemes. We’ve got only two coverages – the man and cover three so that ain’t too much. I’ve got to try to get my footwork right, try to polish up the technique and the footwork. When you get that right, you’re rolling.
What’s it mean to be out here with all these great players?
Man, it’s great. It’s one of those dreams, it’s one of those big-time goals you set when you was [sic] young. You know, I want to go to the NFL. Finally I’m here with all the NFL teams; a lot of players that’s going first round and that’s a great feeling. You can’t ask for nothing better, but to keep improving on it.
Do you think it’s hard to draw attention because you’re Big 12 at an event so focused on the SEC, it seems?
No, not really. As far as the fans – I am in Alabama. They did just win the national championship and then Alabama facing Florida, the Georgia Bulldogs and a lot of top teams but other than that – other than the fans – with everybody else, just kind of keep it simple.
How do you feel like your year was at Oklahoma State?
Compared to all the rest of the years I’ve been in college – I’d describe it [as] great. You know, with all the injuries we had and the suspensions and to still come out ranked Top 20 – you can’t ask for nothing better than that. There’s a lot of adversity we went through at the school. A lot of missed curfews and getting in trouble before games, a lot of people getting suspended and playing with not that many people – a lot of people playing over 90 snaps a game. It’s kind of big with the season we had. If you were to look at all the injuries and try to tell what kind of season we was [sic] going to have, you’d probably say oh man and everybody drop their head. But we stuck together, played as a team and played like we knew how to play. Then we had a lot of young players to step in and made a lot of plays, that was kind of big. I would describe it great compared to the rest of our seasons.
What’s that say about the coach of the Cowboys?
It all starts with the coaches, they keep us motivated. But also it comes down to all the seniors being there. We had like 19 seniors; a lot of them started. It comes down to the coaches and then the seniors – we all stay together and keep the team improving and keep working hard and you can’t ask for nothing better.
What are you doing after the Senior Bowl?
Going back to school, getting my books and getting prepared for the combine, going to put up some big numbers.
