The 2016 version of the Mountain West Connection top 50 football players countdown is here and the 13th player is New Mexico linebacker Dakota Cox.
He is well over a year removed from his torn ACL and that did not really slow him down. The media put him on the preseason all-conference team. Last year, Cox had 11 tackles for a loss, five sacks and 96 total tackles.
If the New Mexico defense is going to keep improving they need Cox to have an even bigger year in 2016.
Here are the staff picks and composite rankings.
Composite | Jeremy Mauss | Duane Grasmick | Daniel Arbino | Matthew Kenerly | Brandon Blake | erwinism | Josh Fredlund | DontWarriorBoutIt | Terrance Dickens |
1 | |||||||||
2 | |||||||||
3 | |||||||||
4 | |||||||||
5 | |||||||||
6 | |||||||||
7 | |||||||||
8 | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | ||||||
9 | Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | |||
10 | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | |||||||
11 | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | Travis Seefeldt, USU, DT | Fred Zerblis, CSU, G | ||||||
12 | Teriyon Gipson, UNM, RB | Andrew Wingard, WYO, DB | Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | Hasaan Henderson, NEV, WR | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | Teriyon Gipson, UNM, RB | ||
13 Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | Joe Martarano, BSU, LB | Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Austin Stephens, USU, OL | Ben Weaver, BSU, LB | Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | Joe Martarano, BSU, LB | ||
14 Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | Kent Myers, USU, QB | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Andrew Wingard, WYO, DB | Tanner Gentry, WYO, WR | Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | ||
15 Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | Tau Lotulelei, UNLV, LB | Tanner Vallejo, BSU, LB | Kenny Potter, SJSU, QB | Austin Stephens, USU, OL | Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Tau Lotulelei, UNLV, LB | ||
16 Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | NIck Stevens, CSU, QB | Nik D'Avanso, UNM, DE | Fred Zerblis, CSU, G | Fred Zerblis, CSU, G | Austin Stephens, USU, OL | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | ||
17 Andrew Wingard, WYO, DB | Rashaad Penny, SDSU, RB/KR/PR | Kenny Potter, SJSU, QB | DJ Dunn, Jr, AFA, LB | Andrew Wingard, WYO, DB | Rashaad Penny, SDSU, RB/KR/PR | ||||
18 Kent Myers, USU, QB | Kenny Potter, SJSU, QB | Rashaad Penny, SDSU, RB/KR/PR | Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | Kent Myers, USU, QB | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | Fred Zerblis, CSU, G | NIck Stevens, CSU, QB | ||
19 Austin Stephens, USU, OL | Roland Ladipo, CB, AFA | Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | Travis Seefeldt, USU, DT | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | Dakota Cox, UNM, LB | Jalen Robinette, AFA, WR | Austin Stephens, USU, OL | Roland Ladipo, CB, AFA | |
20 Joe Martarano, BSU, LB | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | Jake Roh, BSU, TE | Chase Roullier, WYO, OL | Nik D'Avanso, UNM, DE | Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Tau Lotulelei, UNLV, LB | Joe Martarano, BSU, LB | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | |
21 Tau Lotulelei, UNLV, LB | Austin Stephens, USU, OL | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | NIck Stevens, CSU, QB | Tanner Vallejo, BSU, LB | Kent Myers, USU, QB | Tau Lotulelei, UNLV, LB | Austin Stephens, USU, OL | ||
22 Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | Jake Roh, BSU, TE | Maurice McKnight, SJSU, DB | Joe Martarano, BSU, LB | Kenny Potter, SJSU, QB | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | Jake Roh, BSU, TE | ||
23 Fred Zerblis, CSU, G | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | Tanner Vallejo, BSU, LB | Tau Lotulelei, UNLV, LB | Jake Roh, BSU, TE | Austin Stephens, USU, OL | Kent Myers, USU, QB | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | ||
24 Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | Malik Smith, SDSU, DB | Jonathan Moxey, BSU, CB | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | Roland Ladipo, AFA, CB | NIck Stevens, CSU, QB | Roland Ladipo, CB, AFA | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | |
25 Tanner Vallejo, BSU, LB | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Chase Roullier, WYO, OL | Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | Andre Chachere, SJSU, CB | Austin Corbett, NEV, OL | Ricky Ali'ifua, USU, DT | Tanner Vallejo, BSU, LB | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | |
26 NIck Stevens, CSU, QB | Andrew Wingard, WYO, DB | Jalen Robinette, AFA, WR | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | Ben Weaver, BSU, LB | Roland Ladipo, CB, AFA | Billy Freeman, SJSU, TE | Jake Simonich, USU, T | Rashaad Penny, SDSU, RB/KR/PR | Andrew Wingard, WYO, DB |
27 Rashaad Penny, SDSU, RB/KR/PR | Kendall Keys, UNLV, WR | Jalen Robinette, AFA, WR | Jake Simonich, USU, T | Fred Zerblis, CSU, G | Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Jake Roh, BSU, TE | Kendall Keys, UNLV, WR | ||
28 Travis Seefeldt, USU, DT | Jonathan Moxey, BSU, CB | Fred Zerblis, CSU, G | Timothy McVey, AFA, RB | Chase Roullier, WYO, OL | Chase Roullier, WYO, OL | Nik D'Avanzo, UNM, DE | Austin Corbett, NEV, OL | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Jonathan Moxey, BSU, CB |
29 Roland Ladipo, CB, AFA | Devante Mays, USU, RB | Kent Myers, USU, QB | Tanner Gentry, WYO, WR | Devin Centers, USU, FS | Devin Centers, USU, FS | Ricky Ali'ifua, USU, DT | Nik D'Avanzo, UNM, DE | Jalen Robinette, AFA, WR | Devante Mays, USU, RB |
30 Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Kent Myers, USU, QB | Joe Martarano, BSU, LB | Roland Ladipo, AFA, CB | Austin Corbett, NEV, OL | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | Salesa Faraimo, DT, NEV | Chase Roullier, WYO, OL | Kent Myers, USU, QB | |
31 Jake Roh, BSU, TE | Fred Zerblis, CSU, G | Tau Lotulelei, UNLV, LB | Jake Roh, BSU, TE | Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | Will Kreitler, C, UNLV | Tyler Winston, SJSU, WR | Rashaad Penny, SDSU, RB/KR/PR | Jonathan Moxey, BSU, CB | Fred Zerblis, CSU, G |
32 Hasaan Henderson, NEV, WR | Jake Simonich, USU, T | Hasaan Henderson, NEV, WR | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Alex Barrett, SDSU, DL | Kent Myers, USU, QB | Hasaan Henderson, NEV, WR | Jake Simonich, USU, T | ||
33 Nik D'Avanzo, UNM, DE | Travis Seefeldt, USU, DT | Kevin Davis Jr., CSU, LB | Kenny Potter, SJSU, QB | Izzy Matthews, CSU, RB | Gabe Perez, DE, Boise State | Jermaine Kelly, SJSU, LB | Travis Seefeldt, USU, DT | Travis Seefeldt, USU, DT | |
34 Chase Roullier, WYO, OL | Tyler Winston, SJSU, WR | Jalen Davis, USU, DB |
Jerico Richardson, NEV, WR |
Devante Mays, USU, RB | Gabe Perez, DE, Boise State | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Tyler Winston, SJSU, WR | ||
35 Jonathan Moxey, BSU, CB | Reno Henderson, UNM, OL | Nik D'Avanzo, UNM, DE | Jalen Robinette, AFA, WR | Jalen Davis, USU, DB | Nik D'Avanzo, UNM, DE | Dalyn Dawkins, CSU, RB | |||
36 Jalen Robinette, AFA, WR | Nik D'Avanszo, UNM, DE | Tyler Winston, SJSU, WR | Jarred Gipson, Nev, TE | Dalyn Dawkins, CSU, RB | Ricky Ali'ifua, USU, DT | Nik D'Avanzo, UNM, DE | |||
37 Jake Simonich, USU, T | Jerico Richardson, NEV, WR | Teriyon Gipson, UNM, RB | Ricky Ali'ifua, USU, DT | Tau Lotulelei, UNLV, LB | Izzy Matthews, RB, CSU | Jamire Jordan, WR,FSU | Jalen Davis, USU, DB | Jake Simonich, USU, T | Jerico Richardson, NEV, WR |
38 Ricky Ali'ifua, USU, DT | Mike Hughes, UNLV, LB | Gabe Perez, BSU, DL | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | Jermaine Kelly, SJSU, LB | Devante Mays, USU, RB | NIck Stevens, CSU, QB | Mike Hughes, UNLV, LB | |
39 Tyler Winston, SJSU, WR* (Ineligible) | Ricky Ali'ifua, USU, DT | Jermaine Kelly, SJSU, DB | Dylan Sumner-Gardner, BSU, S | Asauni Rufus, Nev, SS | Devante Mays, USU, RB | Dalyn Dawkins, CSU, RB | Devante Mays, USU, RB | Ricky Ali'ifua, USU, DT | |
39 Devante Mays, USU, RB | Tanner Vallejo, BSU, LB | Jamire Jordan, FSU, WR | Jamire Jordan, WR, FSU | Jarred Gipson, Nev, TE | Izzy Matthews, RB CSU | Austin Corbett, NEV, OL | |||
39 Teriyon Gipson, UNM, RB | Dalyn Dawkins, CSU, RB | Jonathan Moxey, BSU, CB | Jonathan Moxey, BSU, CB | Tyler Rausa, K, Boise St | Arthur Flores, SDSU, OL | Travis Averill, Boise St, OG | Ben Weaver, BSU, LB | Reno Henderson, UNM, OL | |
42 Ben Weaver, BSU, LB | Tanner Gentry, WYO, WR | Hasaan Henderson, NEV, WR | Tyler Winston, SJSU, WR | Tanner Gentry, WYO, WR | Jonathan Moxey, BSU, CB | Jacobi Owens, AFA, RB | Tyler Winston, SJSU, WR | Tanner Gentry, WYO, WR | |
43 Tanner Gentry, WYO, WR | Johnny Stanton, UNLV, QB | Jarred Gipson, NEV, TE | Jake Simonich, USU, T | Malik Smith, SDSU, FS | Tanner Gentry, WYO, WR | Dylan Sumner-Gardner, BSU, DB | |||
44 Jalen Davis, USU, DB | Malik Smith, SDSU, FS | Asauni Rufus, NEV, DB | Ben Weaver, BSU, LB | Dylan Sumner-Gardner, BSU, S | Travis Averill, G, Boise St | Christian Chapman, SDSU, QB | Jerico Richardson, NEV, WR | Malik Smith, SDSU, FS | |
45 Jerico Richardson, NEV, WR | DJ Dunn, AFA, LB | Travis Seefeldt, USU, DT | Teriyon Gipson, UNM, RB | NIck Stevens, CSU, QB | Mike Hughes, DT, UNLV | Josh Lovingood, CSU, DT | Kevin Davis Jr., CSU, LB | ||
46 Dalyn Dawkins, CSU, RB | Dylan Sumner-Gardner, BSU, DB | Paul Harris, Hawaii, RB | Dameon Baber, DB, Nevada | Ben Weaver, BSU, LB | Kevin Davis Jr., CSU, LB | ||||
47 Kenny Potter, SJSU, QB | Hasaan Henderson, NEV, WR | DJ Dunn, LB, AFA | Gabe Perez, BSU, DE | Hasaan Henderson, NEV, WR | DJ Dunn, LB, AFA | Jerico Richardson, NEV, WR | Malik Smith, SDSU, DB | Hasaan Henderson, NEV, WR | |
48 Kevin Davis Jr., CSU, LB | D.J. May, WYO, LB | Austin Stephens, USU, OL | Marcus Kemp, UH, WR | Jake Roh, BSU, TE | Kwayde Miller, T, SDSU | Malik Smith, SDSU, FS | Dalyn Dawkins, CSU, RB | ||
49 Malik Smith, DB, SDSU | Jalen Davis, USU, DB | Austin Corbett, NEV, OL | Jesse Washington, AFA, DB | Travis Seefeldt, USU, DT | Marcus Kemp, UH, WR | Josh Lovingood, CSU, DT | |||
50 DJ May, WYO, LB | Nico Siragusa, SDSU, OL | Jake Simonich, USU, T | Rashaad Penny, SDSU, RB/KR/PR | Rashaad Penny, SDSU, RB/KR/PR | Michael Carrizosa, P, SJSU | NIck Stevens, CSU, QB | Dalyn Dawkins, CSU, RB | Teriyon Gipson, UNM, RB | Chase Roullier, WYO, OL |