Tywan Cox wasn’t alive when his father starred at Pitt as a defensive back and kick returner, but he’s seen enough of his father’s tape to see how his father had a lot of fun while he was on the football field.
Torrie Cox, who played at Pitt from 1999-2002 before being selected in the 2003 NFL Draft, brought his sons Tywan and Torrie Jr. to Pittsburgh a few times as they grew up.
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It’s almost come full circle for Tywan now after he picked up a Pitt offer from Charlie Partridge Thursday at his high school.
“It’s great, dream’s finally coming true from all the hard work I’ve been putting and also my dad, he went here, so very grateful to get an offer from the same school that he went to,” Cox told Pittsburgh Sports Now.
Cox — a 5-foot-11, 170-pound defensive back from Northwestern High in Miami, Fla. — received an in-school visit from Partridge Thursday, and while the relationship is still in the early phases, Partridge delivered the good news.
It’s a new, growing relationship between Cox and the Pitt coaching staff, Partridge primarily at this point, but Cox is excited for the opportunity to foster the bond with Partridge and the entire staff.
“(Partridge is) a good coach,” Cox said. “I’m ready to build a relationship with him and the other Pitt coaches, but he’s a good coach.”
There haven’t been any talks about a potential visit at this point, but that will come in time. Cox, who obviously has been to Pittsburgh already, is looking forward to making an unofficial visit himself to Pitt at some point in the coming weeks and months.
Pitt was one of the latest schools to offer Cox, along with Nebraska, but he’s also picked up offers from FIU, Marshall, Ohio and Western Michigan.
Cox is a defensive back like his father, able to play cornerback or safety at the next level, and he tries to play with the same level of fun his father did during his days as a Panther. Cox tries to play with a particular level of confidence on the back end.
Cox isn’t the biggest defensive back, but he plays with a level of physicality off the line, pressing opposing wide receivers, and he has the sort of speed and skill to pick off a pass in the end zone and race back to the opposing end zone for a pick-six.
Cox has not yet been rated by the major recruiting services (247Sports and Rivals), but it appears to only be a matter of time. A busy spring will certainly change that.
It’s early in Cox’s recruiting process, but he sees Pitt as a good program with good facilities in a good city. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a legacy recruit either. His father will certainly be in his ear.
“He was very grateful,” Cox said. “He led the path for us to be great, but I’ve gotta get my own opportunities and lead my own path.”
There aren’t any current plans for visits, but he will be camping and taking unofficial visits all throughout the spring. Pitt and Nebraska are fresh offers, and he’s also heard a lot from FIU, Coastal Carolina, ECU and Marshall. It will eventually come down to the school that gives Cox the best opportunity.
Pitt, as it stands early in his recruiting process, is in a very good place.
“That’s one of my dream schools,” Cox said. “They’re at the top right now. I’d love to go to Pitt.”
The Panthers are in the mix for four-star linebacker Dayshaun Burnett (Pittsburgh, Pa.), three-star athlete Emmanuel Taylor (Virginia Beach, Va.), three-star offensive lineman Raphael Greene (Cincinnati, Ohio), four-star wide receiver Jadyn Robinson (San Juan Capistrano, Cal.), three-star running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. (Woodbridge, Va.) and three-star edge rusher Sharlandiin Strange (Wyncote, Pa).
Loved watching Torrie Cox play with reckless abandon. He was a hitter.