Cox is a well-grounded, mature player, who is a role model in his community, with firmly entrenched local roots. As a four star HS recruit, he had scholarship offers from austere programs such as Alabama, LSU, and Auburn, but Cox chose to eschew the limelight and stay close to home in Mississippi.  Being described by coaches as a tireless worker, Cox came to Starkville as a 240 lb DE before dedicating himself in the weight room, adding 60 lbs in only three years. Cox is also humble, refusing to take credit for his development, choosing rather to credit MSU alum, NE Patriot Kyle Love for mentoring him. After working with two defensive coordinators in three years, Cox suffered more adversity when he was one of five players suspended for the first game of 2011for a minor violation of team rules. As a team leader, who lets his actions speak for him, Cox was disappointed in himself, and looked at it as "something you just have to learn from." To his credit, after the game, he phoned teammates to congratulate them and offer support. As evidence of his re-dedication to the program, Cox, unlike most NFL prospects, remains in school, working towards his degree. He trained for the NFL combine during time between classes, making his strong showing that much more impressive.

    At 6'4" 298 pounds, Cox possesses a solid, muscular frame, capable of carrying 10-15 more pounds, ideally as lower body girth added to enhance anchoring and leg drive.  He owns big, strong hands (10.5") and long arms (34.5") that he uses to keep himself clean and make tackles outside his frame.  He has top level athleticism, for a 300 lb. defensive line prospect, showcasing excellent balance, above average agility, and impressive change of direction skills, as evidenced by his strong showing during the physical skills portion of the scouting combine, where Cox had the fastest time, among all defensive tackles, in the cone drill, which tests agility and the ability to quickly change direction. Though only possessing average lateral acceleration, Cox flashes impressive speed when able to turn his hips and run.  His 4.79 second forty yard dash time at the combine, again, was tops in the defensive tackle category, and in fact, was faster than ten of the linebackers. His straightline speed is not only impressive in front of the stopwatch, but also on display in games, when he closes on a quarterback or chases plays downfield. Cox displays good bend in the knees, but lacks flexibility in the upper torso, most noticeably when edge rushing from the DE position, where he can't really lower that inside shoulder, to get under the opponent's pads, while maintaining acceleration. However, he's an excellent all-around athlete, effectively manning all line positions at Miss State, and playing on multiple special teams' units, where he blocked five kicks over his career.

    Though he exhibits only average snap anticipation, Cox compensates with impressive initial burst. He may not be the first player moving, but he is often the first to make contact, even on running plays, where he seems to beat the offensive lineman to the spot, then kicks into an even higher gear. Utilizing first rate short area quickness, he can fluidly cross the face of the defender or simply knife into the line's gaps, causing the opposing player to overextend, possibly losing balance or leverage, and drawing an inordinate number of holding calls. Cox locates the ballcarrier quickly, and does an admirable job not only of reading screens, but also of stopping his rush and getting his hands up to disrupt the three step passing game. His attacking style makes reading draws difficult, and, as such, he can aggressively overrun plays. On the edge, he plays his assignment with discipline, notably staying at home versus read options. Cox's agility and athleticism give him excellent range, and he can adroitly pursue down the line and make plays on the back side. He also looks comfortable dropping into coverage on zone blitzes. Cox will keep battling all day till the whistle, and, often that extra effort is rewarded with a hit on a QB who holds the ball too long. And, with sustained aggression, he consistently plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage, piling up tackles for loss.

    Cox sits comfortably in his stance, with a flat back pre-snap, and a good knee bend, setting him in an attacking position.  Versus the run, he generally keeps good pad level, and is able to get the initial shot on the opponent. However, at times, he gets too upright, sacrificing leverage, and can be stopped in his tracks, or even bent back at the waist. Against the run, Cox is a slashing, one gap penetrator, not looking to engage and shed; rather, he effectively slices into the backfield, avoiding as much interference as possible. He splits defenders, rarely engaging them head-on, often, skillfully angling his body to minimize potential surface area for an opponent to attack or latch onto. Cox extends his hands and arms quickly, aggressively fighting off the defender, essentially defeating the block before it starts. Versus the pass, Cox regularly gets too upright, often almost standing up after the snap, exposing too much of his frame, and losing the leverage battle. To his credit, he still generates a substantial rush, due to his athleticism and aggressive approach; however, to be successful in the NFL, he'll have to couple that raw talent with better technique. Cox is a linear rusher, whose primary, and most successful move is the arm under. He lacks the power to win with the bullrush, but does flash an impressive spin move, usually with good results. However, he only employs the spin when the initial assault is rebuffed. It should be in his arsenal as a weapon, not just a last resort. As a tackler, Cox is as solid as they come, rarely letting any ballcarrier get away. He's not an explosive hitter, who'll sink his hips and fire through a runner (he only forced 2 fumbles at Miss State); rather, he's a sure, wrap-up, old school defender, who gets the job done virtually every time.

    Though Cox displays a suddenness off the ball, and the ability to explode into a gap, he doesn't possess the lower body strength for a sustained push. He's a hit and run driver, delivering a quick blow, then firing past the lineman into the backfield. When required to anchor and hold his ground, he struggles significantly, especially in short yardage and goalline situations, where he can get completely swallowed in the wash. In addition, though his explosiveness often demands that two blockers be assigned to him, he's weak versus the doubleteam, and lacks the strength to anchor on the edge against the run. Here, he understands his containment responsibilities, but can be overwhelmed by bigger linemen. As a two gap player, or hole clogger, he will be ineffective unless he adds substantial lower body strength. Cox does play fluidly in space, and moves exceptionally well for a 300 pound lineman, with the ability and drive to chase plays all over the field. To stay clean, Cox employs quick hands and maximizes his armlength to keep blockers at a distance, skillfully defeating low blocks or fending off slide-down block attempts. However, when he doesn't read a trap block, he can be sealed off, and if an opposing player gets into Cox's frame, he lacks the strength to separate, and often is forced to spin out to disengage.

    Overall, Fletcher Cox has been a steadily improving, productive, sometimes dominant defensive lineman at the college level, and has the potential to produce a similar, or more impressive, professional career. As a person, Cox is well grounded, with an established work ethic, and the desire not only to lead, but also to be a role model.  For a player of his size, he displays rare athleticism, manifested in speed, burst, agility, and change of directions skills, each of which he employs to consistently make plays in all phases of the game. Versus both the run and the pass, Cox exhibits solid recognition skills, impressive short area quickness, a relentless motor, and unyielding aggression. Likewise, in both areas of the game, he's a disrupting force, looking to attack the opponent on every snap, and defeat the play on the other side of the line of scrimmage.  He skillfully shoots gaps, avoiding blocks using a combination of aggressive hands, body positioning, and acceleration. As a pass rusher, he's still a work in progress, but shows genuine potential. Despite the fact that, as a rusher, he plays with a consistently poor pad level, Cox repeatedly, through effort and athleticism, puts pressure on the quarterback. And, though he deploys an effective arm under move, he needs to both utilize his spin move more often, and develop a more complete arsenal of pass rush techniques. The fact that Cox is a coachable player, who has consistently improved over his three years at Mississippi State, bodes well for his growth under the tutelage of NFL coaches. Another area of needed attention is lower core strength. Though Cox is highly capable of defeating blockers when given space, if he is forced to engage chest to chest, he is unable to hold his position, and can be driven off the line.  Make no mistake, Cox is not a two gap, blocker-eater, who can plug holes and keep linebackers clean behind him. Rather, he is a one gap penetrator, looking to attack the offense, and to create negative plays, mistakes, and possibly turnovers. Cox is suited to play five technique defensive end in a 3-4, but he has a versatile enough skill set to succeed as a gap penetrating three technique defensive tackle in a 4-3. In addition, with an improved pass rushing repertoire, Cox could see occasional duty as a defensive end in a 4-3, at times moving inside on likely passing downs to use his athletic ability to defeat offensive guards. Because of his character, productivity, potential, and versatility, Cox should be a first round selection, likely between picks 6 and 10. And, when all is said and done, he could be the best defensive player to come out of this class.