Jabril Cox

4th-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE: The Dallas Cowboys drafted linebacker Jabril Cox in the fourth round (115th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, tabbing a highly productive and athletic defensive player. Cox, a graduate transfer from North Dakota State, played one season for the LSU Tigers, starting all 10 games and finishing third on the team with 58 tackles while adding 6.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and a sack in 2020. Prior to joining LSU, Cox helped NDSU win three straight FCS Championships from 2017-19, compiling 258 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks and six interceptions in 45 games played, earning two FCS All-America honors. One of the best coverage linebackers in the 2021 draft class, Cox should help new Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn convert more takeaways for a Cowboys defense that allowed 34 touchdowns through the air in 2020, as well as make an immediate impact on special teams.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY:

5/1/21: Drafted in the fourth round (115th overall) by Dallas.

2020 (LSU):

• Started all 10 games as a graduate transfer senior for the Tigers defense, finishing third on the defense with 58 tackles while adding 6.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and a sack.
• Tallied six tackles, a sack and returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown in his first game with LSU, the season-opener against Mississippi State.
• Showed pass rushing and coverage ability in a win over Florida with three hurries and two pass breakups.
• Had an LSU career-best nine tackles against Alabama.

2019 (North Dakota State):

• As a junior in 2019, recorded 92 tackles to go with 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, including eight tackles in NDSU's FCS Championship Game win over James Madison, earning FCS All-America honors.
• Led the Bison with 57 solo tackles, two shy of the school record, and finished his NDSU career fourth in Bison history with 158 career solo stops.
• Made a season-high eight tackles three times.

2018 (North Dakota State):

• As a sophomore in 2018, finished fourth in the Buck Buchanan Award voting, which is presented to the top defensive player in FCS, leading NDSU with 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and four interceptions - returning two of those for touchdowns - in helping the Bison to a 15-0 mark.
• Named Mountain Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
• Returned interceptions for touchdowns in back-to-back games against North Alabama (43 yards) and Delaware (36 yards).

2017 (North Dakota State):

• Earned Freshman All-America honors after leading NDSU in tackles (75) and tackles for loss (13), adding 4.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries for the 14-1 Bison.
• Finished sixth in the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the top freshman in the FCS, and was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman and Newcomer of the Year.
• Had a career-best 13 tackles in FCS semifinal win over Sam Houston State.

2017 (North Dakota State):

• Redshirted as a freshman in 2016.

PERSONAL:

• Prepped at Raytown South High School in Kansas City, Mo., where he performed as a dual-threat quarterback who also played wide receiver, linebacker, safety and cornerback in his career as a two-time captain. 
• Accounted for 3,107 yards of total offense and 31 touchdowns his senior year, passing for 2,103 yards and 18 touchdowns while running for 1,004 yards and 13 scores as a first team all-district honoree.
• Graduated from North Dakota State in the spring of 2019 with a degree in psychology and a minor in business.