Sometime over breakfast Sunday morning at Village Inn, it dawned on Dillon Cox — he wanted to be a Hornet.
With just days to go before national signing day, which is Wednesday, the Emporia High senior linebacker finally came to the realization that he wanted to continue his football playing days for his hometown university, Emporia State.
“I was just thinking about it because its always on my mind,” Cox said, “and I just kind of realized that here (ESU) would be a good place to go.”
A stalwart for the Spartans as a senior in 2006, Cox led the team with 107 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and nabbed two interceptions, one of which he returned 55-yards for a touchdown in a 35-14 victory over Topeka West.
For his efforts, Cox was named first-team All-Area by The Gazette, first-team All-Centennial League by the league’s coaches and first-team All-State in Class 6A.
Cox said his decision to commit to Emporia State was largely based on new head coach Garin Higgins and his staff of assistants, along with the idea of staying in Emporia.
“Everything there is getting a fresh start, with new coaches and everything. I feel comfortable going here, and it’s close to home,” he said. “From what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen, he (Higgins) is real fiery and intense, and that’s how it seems the rest of his coaching staff is. I really like that. They’re all a great group of guys that he brought in, and I really like them.”
The transition to college football is not expected to bring a change in Cox’s position, as he said he was being recruited as a linebacker for the Hornets. However, Cox said he would switch positions if need be.
“If they need to move me somewhere else, I’ll play wherever,” he said, “but I’d like to play linebacker.”
In choosing Emporia State, Cox turned down scholarship offers from fellow MIAA members Washburn and Pittsburg State.
kejanos5 (anonymous) says...
He won't sniff the field here at ESU
February 6, 2007 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )