Wednesday, August 27, 2003

By Paul Zeise, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Lucas Cox was set to become the next great power forward for Springdale High School's basketball team, but Dynamos football coach Chuck Wagner had other ideas.

Cox, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior tight end/defensive end for the Dynamos, was a junior high basketball star at Cheswick Christian Academy, but he was searching for more of a challenge.

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"I transferred to Springdale before my freshman season so I could take my shot at playing public school basketball," he said. "I figured if I did well there, I may get a scholarship. But a lot of my friends played football and one of them convinced me to try out for the team. I never thought about football before that, but I loved it and I was pretty good, too."

Wagner said Cox was a fast learner and a regular in the weight room, and by the end of his freshman season, was one of Springdale's best players. Since then, Cox has gained 60 pounds and has learned how to play the game.

Now, Wagner is talking about Cox in historical terms.

"He's probably the best tight end I've ever coached," said Wagner, a 35-year veteran. "He has great hands, he is an excellent blocker, he is fast and he can really run with the ball after the catch. He's not a blazing speed guy, but he is quick and has great feet and that makes up for it."

Cox attended the A-K recruiting camp in Harmarville in the spring and impressed college recruiters with his strength and his size. He also worked on his speed with trainer Tony Mitchell, and it paid off as he blossomed into a Division I prospect.

So far he has offers from Duke, Toledo, Akron, Bowling Green and Kent. Duke is his favorite, but the Blue Devils want him as a defensive end and he would like the chance to play offense.

"Duke has really been coming after me hard," Cox said. "I went down to visit and the coaches were talking to me about how they think I could add some weight and play defensive line at 270 or something. My mom looked at them and said, '270? Are you going to buy him new clothes?'

"I'll play defensive end if that's what I have to do, but I think I'm a better tight end. But football is football, so I'll pick the school based on what is the best fit for me and play whatever position they ask."

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