A strong defensive line is one of the keys to FAU’s upcoming season, and a player on that unit who will need to perform is defensive tackle Dino Cox. A senior entering fall practice, Cox has seen action since his freshman season in which he played in nine games, recorded seven tackles and had three for a loss. With his best outing coming his junior year, Cox started 10 games, played in all 12 and recorded 24 tackles, five for a loss with three sacks. One of the most experienced defensive players, Cox was tied with Kevin Cyrille for the most sacks on the team last season. FAU will need Cox’s production again, as last season’s sack total was tied for second worst in the Sun Belt and needs to improve.

Leaving the Tampa area to come play for the Owls, Cox earned second team All-State and first team All-County honors his senior year while playing at Wharton High School. Cox enjoys bowling when he can and claims he is pretty good with a high score of 220. He also likes to listen to heavy metal music and mentioned his favorite bands are Under Oath and As I lay Dying.

Cox recently sat down with us for “Up Close”.

Quick Hits

What is your favorite food?

“Fried chicken.”

What is your pet peeve?

“Annoying people.”

Who is your current off the field role model?

“My brother.”

What are you most proud of?

“How successful I am, after having a rough childhood.”

What is your major?

“Business, Health Administration. I want to work in a hospital, in the marketing department.”

What is your Faith?

“Christian. I give a lot of credit to God, he’s blessed me.”

Line of scrimmage

What aspect of your game do you feel is your strength?

“Everything, I’m the man. But I’m just joking so I would have to say my pass rush."

What aspect of your game do you feel is your weakness?

"Taking on double teams. I’m a really good run stopper, but when it comes to double teams I need to work on that."

Down the field

Besides football, what brought you to FAU?

“I love it here. As soon as I came here on my visit I loved the environment and the people. I could have gone to USF or out of state, but I liked it here.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

“To be an All American. I want to win the Sun Belt conference and go to a January bowl game, hopefully a BCS bowl game.”

What game are you looking forward to the most next season?

“USF baby, I cannot wait for that game. I have six former teammates on that team, and I personally met B.J. Daniels (USF’s quarterback) at a club last time I was in Tampa. I saw how puny he is, and I told him on Facebook that I was going to eat him. I’m going to be so amped.”

What do you want FAU fans to know about you personally?

“I play a lot of video games, mostly EA Sports NCAA Football. I’m the man when I play with myself; I know how to exactly use me. It sucks because my ratings are so bad and I know that I’m good, but you get to know how to use your team. It get’s exciting because your cheering on your real teammates in the game.”

Touchdown

Coming up, our next player was born and raised in Jamaica.

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