Like most newcomers, Jake Cox has clear memories of treading water alongside other incoming Kansas University football players last spring.
So it comes as quite a relief for him finally to float to the top with less and less effort.
“There’s difficulties just learning the whole system,” Cox said of his spring, after enrolling at KU as a midyear transfer. “And you’re trying to do that all within a month.”
After the spring game, Cox was thrown in the stockpile of offensive linemen to be sorted out later, along with other junior-college transfers and red-shirt freshmen wanting a crack at playing time.
Basically, the unproven stash.
Somewhere between then and now, though, the work paid dividends. Cox proved himself enough at practice to get the opportunity to prove himself in games. The reward, for now, is a starting right guard spot and loads of playing time.
“He’s done a great job of developing himself physically,” offensive line coach John Reagan said. “Mentally, it was a process. He’s understanding what we’re doing, and every day he’s understanding more.”
Cox admits the pit stop at Iowa Central Community College, where he was an All-American last year, was instrumental to his adaptation. While the jump from high school to major-college football is so difficult for offensive linemen that a red shirt almost is a guarantee, a stop at junior college is like a stepping stone to help cross that raging creek.
“As I found out in the spring game, speed obviously picked up,” Cox said. “That picked up from high school to juco, too, and that was kind of a nice thing, having a step in between there.”
Also adding to the transition were more complex – and just plain more – assignments to memorize. Cox gradually soaked it all up.
With four of the five starting linemen from last year returning, cracking the first team was no small task. But it worked out: David Ochoa was moved from guard to center in a last-second move, and Cox settled in to the vacancy at right guard after an impressive summer camp.
“Jake really worked hard in the summer, and I think it’s evident that it’s showing up on Saturdays,” said Ochoa, a team captain. “I’m proud of Jake. He’s coming along well.”
Cox, Bob Whitaker and Travis Dambach played extensively at guard Saturday against Florida Atlantic, and such a rotation is what coach Mark Mangino desired. The fresh legs led to a nice unit-wide performance, when KU rushed for 201 yards on 37 carries and the Jayhawk quarterbacks were sacked only once.
“It was a handoff that was screwed up,” Mangino said of the blemish, “and Brian Luke was tackled in the backfield.”
The effort certainly has members of the line not only pumped, but confident the solid play can continue.
It’s doubly important for Cox. Suddenly, he’s feeling a strong bond with the unit, and considering he’s the new guy, that means a lot.
“The main role was just getting confidence and getting time in there with the other guys as far as team cohesion and offensive-line cohesion,” Cox said. “I worked at it day in and day out. I try to give 110 percent every day.”
