Cox's highlights growing at UCA

CONWAY -- When asked to choose his career highlight, University Central Arkansas senior receiver Brandon Cox doesn't hesitate.

Cox's came last year on a late September evening at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro. There were just under seven minutes left in the Bears' game against Arkansas State of the FBS.

UCA -- then in its 11th season at the FCS level -- trailed 23-22 and had used 10 plays to drive from its 14 to the ASU 18, where it faced second and 16. UCA quarterback Hayden Hildebrand dropped to pass and saw Cox break open in the back of the end zone. Cox caught Hildebrand's pass for a touchdown that held up as the winning score in the Bears' 28-23 victory.

"It was a play that didn't work the way it was designed," Cox said. "Hayden started scrambling my way, and I just found the open grass. He threw it, and I was just thinking the whole time the ball was in the air, 'Please don't drop it.' I caught it, had one foot down, and ballgame."

For Cox, the highlight was extra special since it came against his former teammates. He had signed out of Conway High to play for ASU, where he caught 16 passes as a freshman in 2014.

"For Brandon to make that play for his hometown team against a team he used to play for, it was big," Campbell said. "It was a fourth-quarter play and a big play."

"It was just fitting that I scored the winning touchdown to beat my old team," Cox said. "It was a surreal moment."

Cox cited being homesick as a reason to transfer to UCA for the 2015 season.

"There were a lot of factors, but I just thought it was best that I come back home and play for UCA," Cox said. "I don't think people understand how hard it is to be an athlete and to be away from home. It's hard to be away from what you're used to for 18 years. You move away, and you're on your own."

Campbell said he carefully examined Cox's experience at ASU and the Red Wolves' experience with Cox. He said he was satisfied that all was in order. Combined with the praise for Cox's talent he heard from coaches on his staff and others, he said he was eager to add the receiver to his team's roster.

"I asked everyone and I heard, 'Yeah, the kid for Conway. Great player,' " Campbell said. "Everyone knew who he was."

Cox will likely start his final regular-season home game today when UCA plays Abilene Christian at Estes Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Cox caught 16 passes for 99 yards as a UCA sophomore in 2015. He also returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown, and finished second in the Southland Conference with an average of 12.3 yard on 15 punts returned. Last season, Cox caught 20 passes for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game-winner against ASU.

Campbell said statistics offer far less than a complete accounting of a player's contributions.

"It's not all about how many balls did he catch," Campbell said. "He blocked well. He returned kicks. He returned punts. Brandon understands that as a football player. There's a lot of football to be played without getting the ball thrown to you."

"There's a lot more to do at the receiver position than catch passes," Cox said.

From a statistical standpoint, Desmond Smith and Jatavious Wilson were limiting factors for all other UCA receivers through last season. Smith completed his career in 2016 with school records for career receptions (226) and receiving yards (2,828). Wilson finished with a school-record 5,659 all-purpose yards.

Through 10 games this season, Cox has caught 35 passes for 675 yards and 5 touchdowns.

"We really don't care about the numbers or who makes the play," Cox said. "We just want to win."

A victory against Abilene Christian will lock up an outright Southland Conference championship for UCA. It would likely ensure a bye through the first round of the FCS playoffs and at least one home game thereafter. Cox said he believes UCA's potential lies in Frisco, Texas, the site of the FCS championship game.

"We have it in the back of our heads," Cox said. "We talk about it. If we play our football, we're going to be in the national championship game. We're going to be in Frisco."

Sports on 11/18/2017

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