Chandler Cox was built to lead. And all those who wanted to jump aboard and follow, he carried them.
The Apopka senior churned out 105 yards and touchdown on the ground and added another through the air en route to the Blue Darters second 8A state championship in three years with a win over Miami Columbus.
“I think it was more special because of the road we took to get here. Losing four games, everyone counted us out,” Cox said.
But the Blue Darters could always count on Cox. Since his freshman year, he’s been one of the cornerstones of the Apopka football program.
“I loved these past four years and I’m glad that I had these coaches to be right there behind me, helping me out there on the football field but also in life. Being there as a father-like figure for me if I needed them for anything.”
Cox, who is headed to Auburn in January, has always been a team-first guy. He’s played multiple positions including running back, linebacker and quarterback. He rushed for more than 1,200 yards in his final season. However, head coach Rick Darlington says it’s not Cox’s stats that make him a great high school player, it’s his character.
“I’ve never heard Chandler say a negative word about another person, about a situation,” Darlington said. “No way is he anything but positive. I’ll try to get him to be negative and he won’t. He just looks at me and leads the way he leads.”