Yazoo City native Fletcher Cox declares for NFL draft | Community Spirit

Yazoo City native and Mississippi State University junior defensive lineman Fletcher Cox will skip his senior season and enter the National Football League draft.

Cox and Mississippi State made the announcement in a news release Tuesday morning.

"This is a chance for me to do what I've always dreamed of, play in the NFL," Cox said, according to the news release.

Cox was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week four times this season and first-team all-SEC by the Associated Press. He finished the season with 56 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, according to Mississippi State.

Cox had 114 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in his 36 games and 27 starts at Mississippi State. He also blocked five kicks, including a field goal against Wake Forest in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Dec. 30.

The Bulldogs went on to win the Music City Bowl 23-17.

"Our goal is to develop young men to put them in a position to achieve their goals," head coach Dan Mullen said. "Fletcher bought in to our program and matured during his time here. I've always said that we'll support our players in their efforts to reach their dreams, and Fletcher has a chance to reach his. We wish him nothing but the best and look forward to him representing Mississippi State on Sundays."

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