Brenton Cox addresses his dismissal from Florida while speaking at 2023 NFL Combine
After totaling eight tackles for loss in eight games in 2022, Florida dismissed Brenton Cox from the program. He later declared for the 2023 NFL Draft — and he addressed his dismissal head-on at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
“I mean, it’s not my business to figure out why another man did something else,” Cox told reporters. “I just tell [teams] I’m a hard-nosed guy and I’m ready to move on from it.”
Cox was one of the top defenders for Florida during his time in Gainesville, totaling 118 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks over three years with the Gators. As he noted, he started his career at Georgia in 2018.
That means it wasn’t the first time Cox left a program, and he knows how he wants to try and put the situation behind him.
“Just keep working,” Cox said. As you know, this wasn’t my first school. I also left Georgia, as well. You just keep working and you get ready for the next task at hand.”
As far as whether he’s tired of the questions, though, Cox put that point into unique perspective.
“I feel like I’m blessed to get asked these questions,” Cox said. “A lot of guys in my situation don’t really make it out of them. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to answer these questions to tell my side of the story. I really appreciate it.”
Billy Napier after Brenton Cox’s dismissal: ‘Being a football player at the University of Florida is a privilege, right?’
After On3 and Gators Online’s Zach Abolverdi reported Florida’s decision to dismiss Cox, Billy Napier confirmed the news and noted the “privilege” that comes with being a Gator.
“I appreciate you asking that question,” Napier said, asked about the Gators Online report. “Brenton, we’ve kind of decided to move on here. I think — you know, I think that being a football player at the University of Florida is a privilege, right? There’s certain expectations and standards that come with that.
“Brenton’s been here in his third year. Obviously he’s done a lot of good things for the University of Florida, and we wish him nothing but the best.”