Packers Signing Pass Rusher Who Was Kicked Off Two SEC Teams

Brenton Cox, a high school All-American and five-star recruit, was an impact player at Florida.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
May 1, 2023 2:19 PM EDT
Original:
May 1, 2023

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers plan to sign undrafted free agent Brenton Cox, a source said in confirming an announcement by one of his former schools.

Cox was kicked off the teams at Georgia and then Florida, though he participated in the Gators’ pro day. The Packers were one of about eight teams who reached out during the draft.

With the Gators in 2022, he started all eight appearances, finishing with two sacks and eight tackles for losses. In his final game, a loss to his former team, he threw a punch in the end zone after a Bulldogs touchdown. That was the final straw, not the only straw.

“It was a cumulative effect,” Gators coach Billy Napier said on Oct. 31.

“Sometimes you have to make decisions in the best interest of the team,” Napier added. “We decided to move on.”

Cox was invited to the Scouting Combine, where he measured 6-foot-3 7/8 and 250 pounds and ran his 40 in 4.82 seconds. His history was the focal point of his conversations with teams.

“They never questioned that,” he said of his ability. “They wanted to know other things. My play has always been pretty much what you see on film – hard-nosed guy.”

Cox said he appreciated the opportunity to explain his story and that he was in position to get another shot to play.

“I feel like I’m blessed to answer these questions,” he said. “A lot of guys in my situation don’t really make it out of them. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to answer these questions and tell my side of the story.”

“I’m ready to move on from it,” he added. How? “You just keep working and get ready for the next task at hand.”

A five-star recruit and high school All-American, Cox played in 13 games for Georgia in 2018 but was kicked off the team during fall camp in 2019.

When he made his Florida debut, he was given jersey No. 1 – a sign of the progress he’d made in the mind of then-coach Dan Mullen.

“I think he’s worked hard,” Mullen told The Orlando Sentinel. “He’s done a great job in the classroom since he’s been here, had over a 3.0 GPA every semester. Really worked hard in the off-season program … worked had on the scout team. Missed a spring ball [due to the pandemic] but has worked hard during going through our walk-throughs, learning the defense in the practices every day, works hard.”

After sitting out the season due to NCAA transfer rules, he started 33 games in his three years with Florida. In 2021, he had 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for losses.

With Cox having earned his degree, Napier allowed him to compete with his former teammates at pro day, where he put up an impressive 29 reps on the 225-pound bench press.

“He certainly looks great today,” Napier said at the time. “He’s been working hard, and I think he’s going to get a new opportunity and he will make the most of that.”

Cox was invited to the East-West Shrine Game, where he was given some one-on-one coaching by Bill Belichick.

“It’s much different than working with college coaches,” Cox said at the Combine. “They’re pretty straight-forward. What they want you to do, you have to do it right away. They want to see if you can take coaching on the spot. It was great working with them.”