Perrish Cox, CB

After a U.S. Army All-American prep career in Waco, Cox made an immediate impact for the Cowboys. He returned the opening kickoff of the 2006 season for a touchdown, becoming the first 'Poke true freshman to do that since Barry Sanders in 1988.

That season Cox made 24 tackles and two interceptions, then followed it up with another solid campaign in 2007, when he started the last eight contests. He was named honorable mention All-Big 12 by league coaches in 2008 after putting together his second consecutive season with two interceptions and eight pass breakups. Cox capped off his career in Stillwater with a first-team all-conference senior year in which he led the nation in passes defended per game (1.73, four interceptions, 15 pass breakups).

Simply looking at Cox's size, straight-line speed and statistics, including his return skills (six career touchdowns) leads one to believe he could be a top-40 pick. But questions about his maturity, tackling, and technique against top-flight receivers might cause him to fall further than expected.

Read & React: Recognizes routes and diagnoses whether the receiver is the primary read by reading body language. Alert to swing passes in the flat in zone coverage. Reads receiver screens, avoids the block and closes to make the play near or behind the line. A step slow attacking in his zone or to chase plays, and will take poor angles to the ball.

Man Coverage: Should flourish as a press cover corner at the next level. Smooth hip transition from backpedal. Best in press coverage, using his length and size to neutralize the receiver, but could be more consistent getting his hands on jersey at the line. Keeps contact with receiver downfield to prevent separation. Has height and vertical leap to win jump balls. Often forces quarterback to look in another direction. Will lose his balance and footing on double moves. Likes to be physical downfield and must be more disciplined in this area.

Zone Coverage: Smooth pedal for his height and usually stays low. Maintains cushion for a few steps. Changes direction easily to shadow receiver. Can knock receiver off a route before letting him go to the safety. Keeps eyes in the backfield to make play on short throws or runs. Will come off his man to give help behind him when the ball is in the air.

Closing/Recovery: Good arm length to knock away passes after recovering, will take the ball out of receivers' hands during the catch. Must learn to read receivers' eyes and turn for the ball in man. Can accelerate to the ball in front of him, but has only adequate recovery speed if beaten off the line or on double moves. Only average hands for the interception, and will drop catchable passes.

Run Support: Willing in run support, displaying the toughness to get after a ballcarrier. Maintains outside leverage to keep running backs from getting the corner. Despite his height and well-developed upper body and leg builds, does not stand up against or get off downfield blocks from larger receivers very well. Uses his speed to run around blocks on receiver screens.

Tackling: Closes on receivers well when playing off, and will wrap the legs or waist to secure the tackle immediately after the catch. Has the strength to lift and plant receivers when tackling with squared shoulders. Drops his head when tackling in the open field, however, leading to missed tackles.

Intangibles: Started to take on a leadership role in the secondary as a senior, but his maturity is under question again after missing curfew before the Cotton Bowl and later tweeting about it. Good work ethic in the weight room, although it does not always translate on the field. Has three children. Arrested for speeding and driving with a suspended license in September 2009. Solid kickoff returner with necessary size and speed but must improve his vision to find open lanes and hit them hard instead of dancing; he will not get the corner against NFL special teams coverage units. Needs work on his blocking when in tandem return formation.

A starter at cornerback who is closing in on several milestones in the return game and is a returning All-American in that category … Needs just 110 kickoff return yards to set the Big 12 career record … Already holds the OSU record in that category with 2,155 yards … That yardage total is second among all active NCAA players … Has held down a starting corner spot for the past two seasons … A 2006 first-team Freshman All-America pick by Rivals.com in the return game, second-team all-Big 12 by Associated Press and honorable mention all-Big 12 by the coaches as a return specialist … Also a member of The Sporting News Big 12 all-frosh team … During the 2007 season, he was one of just three players in America with a punt return and kickoff return for a touchdown … A 2007 honorable mention all-Big 12 selection as a kick returner by the league coaches … Has five returns for scores in his career (four kickoffs and a punt) … Leads all active NCAA players with four kickoff returns for touchdowns.

Cox was number one in the nation in 2009 when it came to passes defended, breaking up fifteen and intercepting four. He also made 36 total tackles, including one for a loss in helping lead the Cowboys to a 9-and-3 mark in the regular season. Cox is also the Big 12's all-time leader in kickoff return yardage. This season, Cox averaged 20.9 yards per kickoff return and 10.4 yards per punt return. He also had a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Honorable mention All-Big 12. Finished the season with 32 tackles, eight pass break-ups and and two interceptions … Opened the season with a bang, returning his first kickoff of the season 90 yards for a touchdown against Washington State … Had a season-best five tackles against Troy, Missouri and Texas Tech … Broke up passes against Houston, Texas A&M, Missouri, Baylor, Iowa State, Colorado and Oklahoma (2) … Had two tackles vs. Texas A&M, Iowa State and Houston … Picked off a pass against the Cyclones as well … Had a tackle for a loss at Texas Tech … Along with the 90-yarder at Washington State, he had a 57-yard kickoff return against Texas A&M and a 52-yarder at Texas … Closed the regular season with a 90-yard kickoff return for a score against Oklahoma … Against Oregon, he blocked a field goal, recorded an interception and had a 43-yard kickoff return.

Started the last eight games of the regular season at corner … Tied for second on the team with two interceptions while breaking up eight passes … Credited with 42 tackles as a sophomore … Took a kickoff back 52 yards in the season opener at Georgia … Had a career-long 67-yard punt return to set up a touchdown in Oklahoma State's 42-6 win over Florida Atlantic and had a 20-yard punt return against the Owls … Picked off a pass in the end zone at Troy and broke up a pass against the Trojans as well … Logged five tackles in the Cowboys' 49-45 win over Texas Tech … Made his first defensive start of the season in the victory over the Red Raiders … Scored his first special teams touchdown of the season when he took a punt back 49 yards for a touchdown in the Cowboys' 39-3 win over Sam Houston State … Matched a career high with seven tackles against Sam Houston State and broke up a career-best three passes in that win over the Bearkats as well … Recorded four tackles and matched a career high with three passes broken up at Texas A&M … Picked off a Sam Keller pass in OSU's 45-14 win over Nebraska in Lincoln … Returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and logged six tackles in OSU's dramatic 41-39 win over No. 25 Kansas State … His 98-yard return in that game was the longest of his career, tied for the fourth-longest return in school history and was the longest for an OSU player since Barry Sanders took a kick back 100 yards for a touchdown in 1988 … Made six tackles against Texas … Recorded two tackles and broke up a pass against Kansas … Had five stops at OU … Finished third in the Big 12 and No. 25 nationally with 11.1 yards per punt return … Averaged 21.5 yards on 31 kickoff returns.

Missed the Oklahoma game and the Independence Bowl with injury but still ended the season No. 14 nationally and second in the Big 12 in punt returns (12.8 yards per try) and No. 35 nationally in kickoff returns (23.8 yards) … Became the first Cowboy since Barry Sanders to open a season with a kickoff return for a touchdown when he went 96 yards against Missouri State … Had six returns that set up OSU scores, including a 49-yard return of a quick kick at Arkansas State, a 25-yard punt return against Florida Atlantic, a 63-yard punt return at Kansas State, a 39-yard kickoff return at Kansas, a 39-yard kickoff return vs. Nebraska and a 57-yard kickoff return against Baylor … Had 24 tackles on defense while breaking up five passes … Had interceptions against Missouri State (returned for 21 yards) and Baylor … Had a season-high seven stops against the Bears.

Was a standout on both sides of the football … As a senior, recorded 27 tackles and led the team with nine interceptions … Had a quarterback sack … As a receiver, had 47 catches for 670 yards and 12 touchdowns … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Game and was listed as a Scout.com national top-100 player … Other honors included first-team Class 4A all-state and first-team all-Central Texas … District 16-4A MVP … First-team all-district as both a defensive back and a kick returner … Dallas Morning News top-100 prospect.

Born Jan. 10, 1987 … Son of Carolyn and Perrish Cox, Sr. … Undecided on a major.